The Whole Music Experience

World / Native American   Wayne Silas, Jr. Infinite Passion   Canyon Records Hey everyone, it’s that time of year for Native American round dances--a merry cycle of socializing, dancing, drumming and singing personal as well as, humorous songs.   A regular performer on the pow-wow trail and round dance circles, Wayne Silas, Jr. (Menominee/Oneida) brings us his newest collection of round dance songs, lullabies, and traditional women’s songs on Infinite Passion .   One minute he’s singing at the top of his lungs, another a moment he sings from the bottom of his heart with songs so sweet, intimate and tender that I feel like I’m eavesdropping on his family.   On the other hand, when his group of talented friends joins Silas, I feel like I dropped into a party. My favorite songs lean on the slower melodic side such as Tha Mash Up which features polyrhythms, chimes, and vocal harmonies.   Pray , a duet with Veronica Keeswood also hits th...

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 ...

Fawn Wood Iskwewak Canyon Records Fawn Wood (Cree and Salish lineages) represents a new and powerful voice on Canyon Records. Along with her husband Dallas Waskahat and her Native American musician family members, Wood honors indigenous women on her CD, Iskwewak (means all women in the Cree language).   Her collection of mostly round dance songs sung in Plains Cree, vocables and English, reflect on the different situations women face from participating in relationships with the “wrong man” or honoring elders, as in Grandmother Song .   Mostly, Wood sings about love for her husband and for her baby son. I cannot emphasis enough the beauty and power in Wood’s vocals, along with her sense of humor, and songwriting skills.   The text to Mr. Wrong cracks me up every time I hear it, especially the line “Mr. Wrong with five kids on the side...” However, most of the songs fall on the tender side expressing love and appreciation for relations.   If y...