07-07-22 Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #497 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music played live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, kalimba, dulcimer, ukulele, acoustic guitar and Native flute, Craig Harris on Native drums and congas and Bob Sherwood on piano. Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in late June of 2022, today’s show begins with the languid, groovy “As We Hold Steady” a melodically rich piece constructed around Mariam’s kalimba and smooth vocals. The band eases into a second movement called “Let The Circle Begin With You”, an intense prayer with lush Native flute passages from Mariam and circular piano figures from Bob above Craig’s fundamental Native drum groove. “Sweet Healing Herbs” is a raga built around Mariam’s rhythmic dulcimer drone and “Just Flowing With The River” is a pretty, evocative folk ballad with a gorgeous, lilting melody from Mariam above a shifting, beautiful, bittersweet accompaniment from the band. Mariam strums her baritone ukulele to set the foundation for the misty, veiled minor folk ballad “Star Rays”, a simple, sparse meditation with a midnight vibe. “Freedom To Be Me” is a driving, rolling folk song with enormous energy and a lovely vocal from Mariam and “Butterfly Life” closes today’s show with a slow, ambitious build in intensity around a mystical chord change and fine Native flute soloing from Mariam.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com
