This Month's CD's
Soliloquy
Soliloquy is the telling work of a man who has devoted himself to assisting others in their healing process. Soothing and inspirational, his solo guitar provides a gentle experience that frees the mind and invites the soul to do its healing work.
This collection of guitar instrumentals combines meditative themes, varying time signatures to produce a spacious feel and an embracing sound. Since its release it has gained an audience with massage therapists, healers, dancers and many others. It also works well as gentle background music.
“For Seattle musician John Nelson, life really does inspire art,” reports the Seattle Times (Oct. 2003). “Every week, with guitar in hand, Nelson performs at the bedside of infants and children at Seattle's Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center.”
“It's really gratifying for me,” says Nelson, a self-taught musician and composer. “It gives me the opportunity to give something back.”
This is Cooper's twelfth CD. He has also recorded a five-CD set for Dr. Lucia Capachionne, author of The Power of Your Other Hand and several smooth jazz CDs, of which the newest is Sound Travel, released in April, an eclectic album featuring world and smooth jazz.
Heaven Guide Me
Hungry for a musical gift to help you stay connected to Spirit? Heaven Guide Me does just that. Ahria's sweet, clear voice conveys a tenderly personal quality via that touches places deep within.
The title, Heaven Guide Me, comes from a lively, upbeat chant Ahria created when she fell in love with the style of Deva Premal and Snatam Kaur
Layered harmonies and descants make it easy to learn and sing along with. “Deeper Surrender,” the CD's longest chant-like cut, is more relaxing and meditative. And “Sacredness,” composed of free-flowing layered meditative sounds, also has a simple chant-like quality.
Other cuts are more story-like in character, with lyrics straight from Ahria's heart. “I Will Make A Difference,” her 2003 New Years prayer, reflects a moment of deep soul searching. The message and musical beauty of “I Send You Love,” written as we were preparing to go to war in the middle east, uplifts the soul as it brings us into oneness with the women, children and men who did not want war. “Spirit Look Upon Me” is a song of prayer. “I was looking at myself and seeing things I didn't particularly like,” she comments., “and asking to embrace all the love that we are.”
All of the songs but one are Ahria's original musical compositions, the exception being There is Only Love by Michael Gott. And the lyrics to As God were co-written by Rev. Tammy Miller at Seaside Church in Encinitas.
Ahria always thought of herself as a pianist who liked to sing, but auditioning in 2002 to play the opening song for a Seaside Church service paved the way to a new career. Now the church's music and choir director, she sings every Sunday and creates a program of nine songs for each Wednesday evening Amazing Grace service.
“So many of the devotional chants I loved were in Sanskrit,” she says, “so I started writing English chants, and people started asking for recordings to play at home. Realizing I had a deep calling, I quit my job and sold my home to devote myself entirely to this music.”
Ahria also has a second CD, Faraway Places Within (co-created with Christopher Stone), a unique, ethereal blend of instrumental and free-flow vocal expressions that creates a consistent relaxing atmosphere. Four 15-minute pieces, perfect for meditation, massage, yoga, and gentle healing work. — Chiwah
BACK TO TOP
HOME - FEATURES - NEWS - FROM THE PUBLISHER
LETTERS - COLUMNS - MUSIC REVIEWS - BOOK REVIEWS
PLANETARY CYCLES - CALENDAR - ABOUT TLC - CONTACT US
CLASSIFIEDS - RESOURCE DIRECTORY
ARCHIVES - SUBSCRIBE - ADVERTISE - SEARCH
