The Whole Music Experience

Native American/World   Nitanis “Kit” Largo   Serenity   Canyon Records     Bear Creek   Kaagige-Forever   Pow-Wow Songs   Canyon Records Randall Paskemin   Christmas Cheer   Christmas Round Dance Songs   Canyon Records Sometimes I wonder why so few Native American woman musicians record albums or why labels release few recordings by Native American women.   I would love to see women pow-wow drumming and vocal groups, and more in Native American women musicians such as Joanne Shenandoah, Sandy Scofield, Mary Youngblood and Sharon Burch, personally.   So I can’t tell you how pleased I am to review First Nation vocalist-songwriter Nitanis “Kit” Largo debut solo album, Serenity . Largo has been around for a while, singing with the First Nation pow-wow group Bear Creek (also mentioned in this review round-up) and you’ll hear her vocals gracing the albums of Alex E. Smith ...

Randall Paskemin Emotions Cree Round Dance Songs Canyon Records Tony Duncan Earth Warrior (Native American Flute) Canyon Records I first encountered Cree singer Randall Paskemin when he released a children’s album, Goodnight, Sweet Dreams, I Love You (Canyon Records).   His newest CD, Emotions features love songs for adults, sung in the same passionate and witty voice as the previous album.   You listen to this set of round dance songs, with the gentle thump of the frame drum accompanied by soaring vocals and you might just want to hang out with Randall. Certainly, he seems articulate and reflective with his songs telling slice-of-life stories. The love song Tattoo tells us about a man who doesn’t need to get a tattoo to prove his love to his partner.   She’s My Girl revolves around a dual by two men who love the same woman.   Marlon Deschamps plays the role of the other man.   All I Have to Do is Close My Eyes ...

Best Music DVD: Marina Rossell, Classics Catalans..., World Village Best Children's Album: Randall Paskemin, Goodnight Sweet Dreams, I Love You, Canyon Records Best Book on Music: The Cello Suites, Eric Siblin, Grove Press/Atlantic Press

Randall Paskemin Good Night Sweet Dreams to You, I Love You Native American Lullabies and Songs for Children Canyon Records Talibah Navajo Songs for Children Canyon Records Plains Cree Indian and a loving father of several children, Randall Paskemin brings us a collection of gentle songs which can be sung to children at bedtime or anytime. Sung in a round dance style with the calm pulse of the mother earth heartbeat drum, Paskemin sings mainly in English and has provided lyrics to the songs on his album Good Night Sweet Dreams to You, I Love You. While these songs feel sweet and simple enough for a young child to grasp and even sing along, I believe that the tranquility presented in each song could also assist adults in relaxing after a challenging day. Use these songs as de-stressors for the entire family (provided you don’t have teens that rebel against the idea). Therapists of all stripes could also apply this love-felt music to healing the inner child. While the s...