06-11-26 This week on Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #672 the Gaea Star Band present another hour of visionary acoustic improv music featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Celtic harp, Native flute, ukulele, acoustic 6- and 12-string guitars, mandolin and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the mystical raga “Did You Hear The Song Inside Your Heart?”, a rich, floating piece built around Mariam’s enormous-toned Martin acoustic 12-string guitar tuned in DADGAD open tuning. “What A Way” is a crisp, dancing minor folk song featuring Mariam’s chiming ukulele, energized congas from Craig and nimble, racing piano from Bob supporting Mariam’s dramatic vocal and “The Easy Way” is a fantastical, deeply evocative ballad that achieves a beautiful balance between throbbing Native drum, crisp, ancient-sounding mandolin, minimalist, mysterious piano and Mariam’s beautifully controlled, narrative vocal. “Such Good Fortune” celebrates the year of the Fire Horse through a rich, staid raga built on Mariam’s hypnotizing shruti box drone and featuring soaring Native flute explorations and an appealingly solemn, reverent vocal from Mariam. The piece shifts dramatically into a long, soaring gospel coda punctuated with passionate Native flute excursions, powerful, circular piano and thrumming Native drum. “Celebrate Diversity” is a fantastically creative, upbeat song that explores several jazz, classical and Indigenous directions while always returning to a powerful main motif in support of Mariam’s powerful message. “Transform” is a fine, acoustic-guitar driven blues with a light, relaxed vocal and tight contributions from the ensemble and we conclude today’s show with “Make The Best”, another 12-string based raga with dramatic, granitic piano and Native drum supporting Mariam’s inspiring vocal.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com
