03-27-25 Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #612 is a dynamic, exploratory hour of visionary acoustic improved music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, hand drum, shruti box, acoustic guitar, 4- and 8-string ukuleles, acoustic guitar¸ dulcimer and marimba, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded in Worthington, Massachusetts at Singing Brook Studio in late March of 2025, today’s show begins with the languid, unhurried, rhythmically compelling “Odaway”, led by Mariam’s dancing melody and tight marimba harmonies and rhythms. “Ring In The Moonlight” is another mesmerizing, slowly unfolding piece supported by chiming 8-string ukulele, ambitious, exploratory gospel and classical piano and a loose, loping waltz setup from Craig on congas. The piece opens up into a beautifully unwinding Native flute solo over an ambitious series of harmonic setups and motifs on the piano. “We’re Being Human” is a powerful, fundamental chant propelled by the rhythm section of Native drum from Craig and hand drum from Mariam before gracefully unwinding into a long, languid instrumental coda and “May We All Be Well” is a jazzy, tasteful blues workout with a fine vocal and acrobatic fat-fingered piano. “Flowers Of Delight” is a track from Mariam’s “Release” album and the band renders it as a gorgeous, misty ballad driven by Mariam’s tight acoustic guitar work and fine vocal and “Welcome In” is a sparse, funky workout with a mesmerizing lyric from Mariam over hip piano, tight congas and ukulele. “Windy, Windy” is a dulcimer-driven, mystical forest song with a beautiful, wild, pagan air and leads into the gorgeous ballad “Surrender To That Moment”, a deeply emotional vocal-and-Native flute conversation with an aching, beautiful piano ostinato that unfolds in waves of harmonic contrast. Today’s show completes with another raga, the exotic “We Are All Called For A Different Purpose”, underpinned by Mariam’s shruti box drone, stentorian piano and throbbing Native drum.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com
