Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #194

12-17-15   Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #194 is recorded on a temperate, sunny late November day at Singing Bridge Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts.  Today we feature a series of compelling songs and improvisations featuring The Gaea Star Band:  Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, native flute, sitar and percussion, Robert Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and marimba.  Our first piece today is Mariam’s deep, tranquil “Into The Forest”, a series of sunny harmonic variations framing Mariam’s fantastical nature poetry.  Craig Harris brings both steady, warm conga textures and driving marimba to this gorgeous piece.  The lush and wistful “Golden Days, Starry Nights” follows, led by Mariam’s acoustic guitar and her gentle, calming vocal reciting a beautiful lyric in praise of creativity and serene, perfect nature.  “Oh Hey Hey Oh (Everywhere)”  is an acoustic guitar-driven folk waltz full of beautiful nature imagery from Mariam and “Octavius and Kokopelli” is a stately and celestial tale of spirits featuring soaring native flute from Mariam.  Mariam picks up her new sitar for today’s final piece “Mahayashaya”.   Inscribing an arc from peaceful and meditative to driving and assertive, this richly-textured raga is a study in texture and atmosphere.