The Whole Music Experience

World   Vasco Hernández Luz De Otro Manera   Arc Music   From a healing and psycho-acoustic perspective I know that flamenco isn’t the most uplifting music in the world.   However, the music has cathartic potential in the way that blues, or even rock music has and I recommend flamenco music for working through stronger emotions (play this music for your angst-ridden teen).   Besides, the intricate guitar with its thick strums, husky vocals, and complex rhythms entrances us.   Some people find flamenco music romantic as it exudes the passionate life of people who live on the fringes of society.   As we get trapped in our everyday 9 to 5 worlds, wild abandonment possesses an appeal. Self-taught flamenco guitarist Vasco Hernández brings that romantic and primal world to us on his recording, Luz De Otro Manera (Another Kind of Light).   Hearty music burst forth from this CD. And we hear an atmosphere of palmas (hand claps), glob...

Americana   American Playground Compilation   Putumayo Kids   Since I’m a childless adult, I usually avoid children’s CDs, but in the case of Putumayo Kids’ American Playground , I find myself reflecting on my childhood.   In fact, you don’t have to be either American or a child to enjoy American Playground , but it helps if you are familiar with American folk of the classic variety.   This compilation features such rainy day favorites as Blue Skies , You Are My Sunshine , the gospel tune, This Little Light and Bob Dylan’s 1974 tribute to his son, Forever Young .   With the songs (country, folk, bluegrass, blues, gospel) on this CD, we feel forever youthful and we find ourselves singing along as if we’re sitting around the proverbial campfire. While any of these songs (even though some of the text carries adult themes about broken hearts) would appeal to children, Alan Lomax and other song catchers would have a field day with this com...

Chamber/ Folk   Jason Seed Stringtet In the Gallery   Jason Seed Music Is it classical chamber or bluegrass? Certainly, guitarist-composer Jason Seed’s repertoire that appears on In the Gallery sounds like classical chamber with twang--a bit bluegrass swing played by a string quartet plus fusion guitar.   Well, that’s the best way I can describe the music on this CD.   Glenn Asch (violin and viola), Helen Reich (viola), Dan Armstrong (string bass) and Scott Tisdel (cello) join Seed’s guitar exploring new frontiers (much like the Kronos Quartet).   And if that’s not exotic enough for you Chinese Pipa master, Yang Wei appears on Where the Corners Meet , which resembles Chinese folkloric meets an Appalachian string band meets chamber music (though it sounds a bit busy for my tastes). Seed’s Tangoesque takes its inspiration from Bill Frisell (another eclectic guitarist), Strange Meeting, according to the liner notes.   Seed’s guitar gr...

photo by Patricia Herlevi Ever so often I wake up with an idea for a new blog post for working with sound and music.  Today while meditating, I started paying attention to how my body responded to the songbirds outside my window.  Then I pondered the question, what constitutes music? Since I have listened to music from around the world in a variety of modes, scales, and structures, I understand that when even 3-notes are repeated in a pattern, this constitutes music.  Since all of this music came from humans there was no question as to its status as music.  But when we deal with nature do we consider the frog and bird songs actual music? And what about the frequencies contained in these nature songs, how do they affect our health and well-being? Do you ever wonder? To indigenous musicians and people this is a no-brainer.  To them of course nature provides music and healing frequencies.  Indigenous people the ancients believe that the world is made...

Jazz/Big Band   The Michael Treni Big Band   Pop-Culture Blues   The Bell Production Company   When I think of big band, my mind wanders back to the swing era and the likes of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.   I’m ready to join a chorus of Stevie Wonder’s Sir Duke commemorating the big band era.   Today, big band is less about swing and more about encompassing the history of jazz played on brassy horns, sultry winds and a big drum sound.   On Pop-Culture Blues , the title says it all, and trombonist and bandleader Michael Treni play jazz with blue notes with finger-snapping rhythms.   Expect high-octane solos on this instrumental album and a variety of blues, including Summer Blues, Smokin’ Blues , Mr. Funky Blues and of course, Pop-Culture Blues which reflects on weariness to pop culture and blues reflecting popular music styles.   I’m enjoying BQE Blues at the moment with sassy horns.   On Minor Blues ,...