Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #179

08-27-15  Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #179 is a lovely and affecting series of songs by Mariam Massaro and improvisations from the Gaea Star Band, featuring Mariam on vocals, ukelele, acoustic guitar and native flute, Dameron Midgett on mandolin, banjo and didjeridoo, Robert Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas.  Recorded on a sultry early August day at Singing Bridge Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, this week’s episode begins with the playful and profound “Seven” before we ease into the wistful “Taking In Grace”, a celebration of life with a beautiful, prayerful vocal from Mariam that receives subtle, imaginative commentary from all the players.  We crossfade into Mariam’s native flute soaring through waves of electronics to gradually begin today’s centerpiece, a sweeping, epic restatement of the former piece encompassing many moods and movements.  We hit the break with a Tibetan-flavored groove driven by Dameron’s didjeridoo.  “Always Believe” follows, another poetic prayer from Mariam set to a drifting and evocative piano-driven theme.  “Reunification” is today’s final offering, an elegant and mysterious song built on a circular, minimalist piano figure in urgent twelve-eight time.