December 2006 CDs
Reconnections
Nakai is synonomous with masterful native flute music.
Reconnections is his follow-up to Tribal (his first collaboration with Cliff Sarde). This CD presents a thoroughly original and delightfully surprise—his own traditional and contemporary Native American flute, a bit of eagle whistle, and seductive chants by Cree powwow singer Randy Wood, against a background of William Eaton's unique electronic guitar and Sarde's hypnotic electronica keyboard arrangements.
Native American? Jazz? World? Yes, it's all that. And the mix is remarkably listenable. A “must” for that person who holds out for the best.
—Chiwah
Tango Legends
Tango Legends is rooted in the intimate experience of classic tango. Unlike his predecessors who made tango a household word around the world, Vayo is not Argentine. Hailing from Monte-video, Uruguay, he escaped Piazzollo's tendency to jazz up tango music. What he brings us can instead be seen as a more traditional version, one more connected with the sad longing for intimacy from which the tango was birthed.
On this CD, Vayo celebrates his connection with tango legends Toto Damario, Mario Nuñez, and Miguel Pose. In fact, he writes a long introduction attributing his inspiration and much of what he learned about tango to Toto, a musical friend and colleague of Troilo and Piazzolla at the time when they were emerging as the great artists of the bandoneon (the accordion-like instrument made popular by piazzollo). As he says, “Toto gave me the inspiration to fashion new music by reaching for the simple elements of natural expression.”
Yet the arrangements are definitely his own.
The vocals are in Vayo's rich baritone, accented with operatic inflections and dramatic flourishes. The entire work is set against the backdrop of the bandoneon.
Glowing with the intense passion of South American nightlife. The poet sings… and the tango comes alive. I would consider this a marvelous gift for tango aficionados, but also for all lovers of Latin music. It is a collector's piece.
— Chiwah
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Bare Naked Guitar
Bare naked—stripped to the skin, with no adornment whatsover. Because it doesn't need any. Bill Bulinski's fingers fly with deft control through these 20 original compositions, bringing classical Celtic melodies into the 21st century with style and no-nonsense precision.
This is easy listening at its best, pleasing to both the aesthetic sense and the intellect.
Bare Naked Guitar is a bit of a departure from Bulinski's previous works, which have presented more a fusion of blues, surf, and rock. But it's certainly no less delightful.
— Chiwah
Possible Dreams
Possible Dreams is delicious piano, a delight to the ear. Lebec's command of the instrument is matched by her superb compositions.
The mood is light, airy, natural, often full of surprises.
The artist is a California native but developed her talents after moving to New Zealand.
—Chiwah
Chillicious
Chillicious comes out of the ‘90s trend among enlightened UK and European DJs to provide an alternative off the raucous dance floors where people could stagger in and drop onto soft couches and pillows and listen to downtempo, mind-bending “chill” music accompanied by trippy light shows.
We're talking psychedelic sounds, braided together to produce something sensual, stimulating, and infinitely interesting. I don't know that I would call it music —'sonic landscape' might be more apt. The industry calls it ‘exotic electronica.' It's a genre that's just now finding an audience here, and I think that's exciting.
—Chiwah
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