The Whole Music Experience

Gentle Thunder Opening the Gate Gentle Thunder Productions, 2007 Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist and composer Gentle Thunder’s Opening the Gate provides an excellent outlet to celebrate the Spring Equinox. GT’s masterful and enchanting performances on Native American flute and hammered-dulcimer not only open a gate to the heart, but the contrast between the two instruments creates some interesting dynamics, though all of them gentle and peaceful. GT, like Aleut-Seminole multi-instrumentalist and composer Mary Youngblood, also channels spirits, mainly of Grandmother Earth, though I’m picking up on Wolf Spirit too, not to mention bird spirits. Both musicians also provide a mother-like nurturing environment for their listeners. Acute sensitivity for their instruments and listeners comes through and it’s a real pleasure listening to recordings of this spiritual caliber. And it is always an honor to review music with healing power. I need to get out of the way,...

Interview with Julie Fowlis The Whole Music Experience has two missions. One of those missions is promote the healing of mind-body-spirit through music. The other mission is to preserve language, culture and heritage through music.  Both missions provide much needed healing. Scottish Gaelic songwriter, song catcher and language preserver Julie Fowlis has captured the hearts and minds of listeners in Great Britain, Europe, North America and beyond with her collection of Scottish Gaelic songs. You will find reviews of her recordings also on this blog.  I caught up with Julie via e-mail and I hope you enjoy the following conversation. WME: How do the traditional songs from the Hebrides and the Scottish mainland differ besides the Scottish Gaelic dialect? Julie Fowlis: Traditional Gaelic songs from the Hebrides in many ways would be similar in style to those sung on the mainland. However, there are differences. For example - the tradition of ‘waulking the tweed’ w...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart joined the Freemasons in Vienna.  He dabbled in metaphysics and knew about the healing power of music.  So is it any wonder that we would be exploring the Mozart Effect in this century? Check out this website: http://www.mfiles.co.uk/composers/Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart.htm

Chris Burton Jàcome Levanto CBJ Music Guitarist Chris Burton Jàcome proves that we don’t have to travel to Spain to hear authentic flamenco, at least not authentic American flamenco. CBJ was on the road to becoming a rock musician but a fateful song on the radio performed by flamenco guitarist Gerardo Nuñez changed the American musician’s fate. His latest recording Levanto (I Rise) though is a culmination of years of academic study and hands-on education with Spanish gypsy musicians. The studio recording chronicles a flamenco stage production of Calo Flamenco (an American flamenco dance troupe from Arizona).  And these musicians and dancers are caliente! I haven’t seen the live performance, but according to the press notes, the production sold out in New York with people lining up around the block, hoping to get a taste of this hot music. The recording features the dancers, singers and CBJ’s guitar with bass guitar, percussion, violin and palmas (clapping) filling...