The Whole Music Experience

World/ Classical   Mario Adnet Villa Lobos   Borandá I had heard of Heitor Villa Lobos for many years while reviewing classical music, but I had not listened to any music by this Brazilian composer until the arrival of Mario Adnet’s Villa Lobos --a beautiful collection of vernacular classical and Brazilian popular songs performed by some of Brazil's finest musical talent.   While I’m not going to delve into history or give you biographical information of Villa Lobos, I encourage you to look up this fascinating early 20th century composer after listening to this stunning recording. As an homage to Villa Lobos, Adnet teams up with a Brazilian orchestra (Orqestra de Cordas), Edu Lobo, Milton Nascimento, Mônica Salmaso, Muiza Adnet, Paula Santoro, Yamandu Costa and members of the Adnet family. The result is upbeat performances such as Mazurka Choro and the opening track, A Menina Das Nuvens as well as, dreamy pieces, Tristorosa (sung by Mario Adnet ...

Storybook with CD/Children’s Music   Songs from A Journey with a Parrot Lullabies & Nursery Rhymes from Brazil   &Portugal Collected by Magdeleine Lerasle   The Secret Mountain My journey with music consciousness has led me to explore children’s music on occasion.   Perhaps this is because when I was a child I listened to music written for children and this helped greatly with my development.   In the US especially, music programs have been cut out of many public schools which leaves it to parents to bring quality music into the home and expose children to music of varying genres.   The storybook and CD, Songs from A Journey with a Parrot offers parents that opportunity while also giving the parents sophisticated world music for their own listening pleasure.   I don’t have children and I’m enjoying this delightful project. First off the book portion features colorful ethnic illustrations by Aurelia Fronty that pop of...

World / Native American   Cheevers Toppah A Good Day, A Better Tomorrow   Songs of the Native American Church Canyon Records Sacred music poses a challenge for review purposes because reviewing music requires the analytical brain and sacred music works the other side of the brain, leading to enhanced spiritual experiences.   Sacred music also requires undivided attention as well as, a focus on the heart and body to gage reactions.   Songs of the Native American Church have the ability to knock me right out of my mental space and land me in my heart center and I don’t want to be anywhere near my computer when this takes place. Kiowa/Navajo Vocalist Cheevers Toppah honors his ancestors by carrying on the Native American Church song tradition, also known as “peyote songs” on his latest CD, A Good Day, A Better Tomorrow .   The songs appear in 8 sets (the structure of a Native American Church song) and Toppah closes the recording with a ha...

A new member of my Linked In group, Musical Healers, Lynda Kuckenbrod, a Therapy Musician (sometimes known as bedside musician) reminds us that music heals us at every point in our lives.   Therapy musicians have brought healing sound vibrations to hospice and hospital patients, to nursing home residents, and in a variety of clinical settings. Kuckenbrod, a lover of music, started her journey as a Therapy Musician after a vist to her mother in the hospital in which Kuckenbrod played her harp. You will find the full story on the Moon Shadow Harp website (link at the bottom of the page).   She also trains harpists. WME: Since the terms music therapy and therapeutic musicians might confuse people, meaning they might think it is the same, please give a short description of the work you do as a therapeutic musician as opposed to the work of a music therapist (which is hands-on with a client). Lynda Kuckenbrod: Music Therapists have at least a 4 year degree.  ...

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 ...