Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #603

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #603 is our first show of 2025 and was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts on January 6th featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, shruti box, dulcimer and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. The band begins appropriately with the blues rock of “Happy New Year”, a driving, dynamic song with a fine vocal from Mariam before easing into the colorful Celtic drone of “Blessing Our Lives With Light”, a lovely, epic moon song in several movements with rich harmonic detail in the vocals and piano. “Rai Train To Heaven” is a rich, mystical ballad filled with sweeping vocals and Native flute explorations from Mariam and “Oh, The Ice Has Returned To The River”” is a whispered winter ballad swept along by Mariam’s chiming acoustic guitar and bluesy piano interjections from Bob. “Reflect The Light” is a rocking minor workout with an inspired lyric from Mariam and driving congas from Craig and “Wind Over The Water” is a rich drone underpinned by Mariam’s shruti box and given forward motion with fine vocals, piano and congas. “Holy Ones Of Light” is a beautiful, buoyant high energy folk song with propulsive mandolin work from Mariam and “Arise” from Mariam’s “Vision Quest” album is presented with an effortless, skipping energy and a lovely vocal from Mariam. “Sail To The Realms”, the opening track of Mariam’s album “Gaea Star Crystal” is given an uptempo, high energy reading full of energy and emotion. We close the show today with an evocative, pitch-perfect version of Mariam’s “Restore” from the “Vision Quest” album.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #602

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #602 is an hour of visionary improvised acoustic music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, singing bowl, acoustic guitar, mandolin and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in late December of 2024, today’s show begins with concise, pretty minor ballad “I Am Enough” featuring a fine vocal from Mariam above Bob’s kinetic, searching piano and Craig’s steady congas groove. “Oh The River” begins as a sweet, major key folk song until it slowly morphs into a jazzy workout that evokes the return of a beautifully chaotic Spring. “Let’s Turn The Page” is an ambitious, spacious ballad sprinkled with Native flute and gorgeous vocals and “Open Every Day” is a fine, imaginative, focused version of the track from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Crystal” album. “That Golden Glow Within” takes shape around the stately, undulating drone of Mariam’s crystal singing bowl, her hushed, whispered vocal and expressive flute passages and is slowly, intentionally raised into a beautiful, touching piece that evokes classical art song with a particular nod to Schubert in the way Mariam’s lovely, understated vocals and flute make the most of Bob’s formal, consonant cadences. “Open Every Day” is dancing, exotic Eastern European-flavored whimsy from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album and “In The Middle Of The Night” is a deep and beautiful midnight reflection built around Mariam’s chiming mandolin and dynamic, slowly coalescing piano movements from Bob. Mariam strums her warm, intimate baritone ukulele for the affecting “When You Touch Me”, a standout of the “Smooth Sailin’ Love Songs” album that receives a sinuous, deeply emotional reading with powerful congas from Craig over the tight mandolin and symphonic piano. “Receiving Misty, Misty Rain” slides slowly and effortlessly from floating, open gospel ballad to focused, driving minimalist jazz fusion and “Shine Brightly” floats in on cascades of Native flute, a beautiful, impressionistic tone poem with imaginative ensemble playing from the band and a powerful, dynamic vocal from Mariam. Beautifully impressionistic and featuring a deep heartbeat from Craig’s Native drum, “Shine Brightly” cedes the stage for today’s inspired closer, the pretty island song “Shamiyaya”, originally appearing on Maraim’s “Release” album, evoking the islands on this deep winter day.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #601

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #601 is an hour of improvised visionary acoustic music performed by The Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, crystal bowl, mandolin and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in mid-December of 2024, today’s show begins with the relaxed, slowly unwinding winter anthem “The Snow Queen”, a lovely folk song that paints winter with rich descriptive stanzas from Mariam. “Somebody Before You” is a rich and beautiful ballad featuring a gorgeous vocal and sweeping Native flute passages from Mariam and expressive piano from Bob and “Blessed Are The Peacemakers” is a dancing, energized minor ballad led by Mariam’s chiming mandolin and Craig’s propulsive conga work. “Star Ray” is a gorgeous and deeply emotional peace, simultaneously sweet and driving, with affecting, sweeping vocals from Mariam and “Trail Of Light” is a pretty, open folk gospel song propelled by Mariam’s tight ukulele strumming and “Sail On” from the “Vision Quest” album appears in a gorgeous, soulful rendition that sustains the magical ukulele-piano interplay of the original supporting Mariam’s powerful vocal. “May I Be The Reflection” is a spacious, minimalist arrangement that creates a vast space to feature a fine, evocative conversation between Mariam’s powerful lyrics and Native flute passages that seem to fill the horizon and we close today with “Full Moon #2”, a beautifully unusual ode to the night sky that evokes moonlit vistas with clever chording and unusual melody.  
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #600

Gaea Star Crystal #600 is an hour of visionary improvised music and songs by Mariam Massaro played by Mariam on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, kalimba, Celtic harp, marimba, ukulele and mandolin and Bob Sherwood on piano. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early December of 2024, today’s show begins with a eulogy for Puffy the cat who left us after 17 years today, “Ode To Puffy”. A powerful take of Mariam’s “Reborn” continues the eulogy for a truly excellent cat and “Game Of Life” is a bouncing, playful folk song with a fine vocal from Mariam and dancing piano ostinatos from Bob. “May We All Find Our Peace Of Balance” grows like a flower from the ending of the prior piece with a soaring, expressive Native flute solo from Mariam and builds into a beautiful, stately ballad featuring rich piano from Bob and a compelling, extended conversation between Mariam’s solemn, soaring vocal and her Native flute. “Release, Revive, Relax” is a minimalist, ambient piece built on a tight framework of marimba and piano and “La Luna” is a fantastical ballad with a gorgeous vocal from Mariam accompanied by kalimba and piano. Mariam’s chiming mandolin holds the fort for the whispering, evocative “Walk In Truth With The Maiden Of Peace”, a gorgeous, prayerful, extended ballad with a sweeping, expressive vocal from Mariam and Mariam’s “White Buffalo Calf Woman” receives a solemn, reverent treatment with beautiful, unwinding vocals and Native flute interpolations from Mariam and Bob’s formalist, Prokofiev-influenced piano from Bob. We conclude today’s reverent, deep tribute to a very beloved cat with the sparkling, playful and beautifully rendered “Shamiyaya”.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #599

Today on Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #599 we present an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, mandolin, acoustic 6- and 12-string guitar, ukulele and sitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in late November of 2024, today’s show begins with the stately, romantic “Open Wide Our Hearts”, a brisk folk song with tight acoustic guitar from Mariam, followed by “Listen To The Calling Of Your Spirit” is a mystical, reverent piece built around Mariam’s alternately-tuned 12-string Martin acoustic guitar. “Mother Earth We Love You” is a beautifully mysterious minor-keyed folk song featuring a fine vocal and imaginative, gainfully-arranged classical piano from Bob. “I Want To Be A Witness” spins and stretches the theme of the previous song in a harmonically unusual frame and features a gorgeous melody over Craig’s steady, supportive conga groove. Lovely, deep folk mode is achieved with the lilting “Into The Mighty Waves”, a deeply affecting, endlessly unwinding poem over a gently supporting carpet of sound from the ensemble. We close with a suite of two mystical ragas as Mariam strums her exotic sitar; the floating, evanescent “Sri Padma Lakshmi” and its frenetic, energized sister “Lotus Queens”, closing today’s show with a flourish.  
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #598

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #598 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music recorded live by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on acoustic guitar, vocals, native flute, ukulele and harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and percussion, Robin Rooney on djimbe and vocals and Craig Harris on congas and native drums.  Taped at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, in November of 2024, today’s show begins with the lush, hazy summer ode “Locust Flowers”, a gorgeous and hallucinogenic song featuring an evocative vocal from Mariam and deeply emotional piano from Bob.  “To The River” is an upbeat folk song led by Mariam’s driving acoustic guitar that morphs through mystical variations and “Luminous Light” brings a veiled and lovely minor key into play with alternately drifting and jazzy piano statements from Bob over Craig’s relentless heartbeat.  “We All Live Under The Blue Sky” is a powerful song of unity driven forward by Mariam’s ukulele and a groovy wall of rhythm from Craig, Robin and Bob.  “To The Way It Was” is a powerful, gospel-influenced rocker with a fine vocal from Mariam and “Sweet Nia Sails Away” is a solemn, evocative tone poem that wafts along on waves of celtic harp from Mariam, a song of praise for the passing of her beloved cat.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #597

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #597 is an hour of visionary, improvised acoustic music played dynamically by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, harmonica, Native flute, mandolin, ukulele, acoustic guitar, mandolin and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early November of 2024, today’s show begins with the mystical, slow rocker “When Unicorns Roamed Freely”, a mesmerizing piece led by Craig’s fundamental low drum pulse and Mariam’s chiming dulcimer before easing into the languid, aching “Come To The Table Of Love”, a pretty love ballad with a fine, leaping melody from Mariam and fine accompaniment from the whole ensemble.  “Ways Of Life” is a Ray Charles-like blues with hypnotic piano motifs and rocking solo harmonica from Mariam and “Guided By Love” is a beautiful folk song led by Mariam’s rhythmic ukulele strumming and dancing, wide-intervaled melody.  “Enter In” is another powerfully mesmerizing, mystical piece, this time framed by Mariam’s chiming mandolin and a deep, booming piano motif from Bob that subcommunicates a deeply buried, obscured power in contrast with Mariam’s gossamer, dancing melody.  Today’s hour finishes with an energized, rhythmic medley of two songs from Mariam, “Distant Star” and “This Is The Way”, closing the show with a powerful, driving groove supported by steady conga work from Craig.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #596

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #596 was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in late October of 2024 and is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukuleles, steel and nylon string acoustic guitars and electric guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and bass guitar and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas. Today’s show begins with the beautiful, pastoral “Like A Brand New Day”, a pretty, light song with a classical Neopolitan feel before we move to the “Gaea Star Goddesses” album’s “Isis”, a reverent, celestial prayer with a fine vocal from Mariam. “Pacha Mama” and “Amaru Machay” follow, both tracks from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” album, the first a bright celebration with a classic folk feel, the second beginning as a solemn, reverent psalm before lifting off to Dionysian abandon with powerful work from the band. “Oya Thunderqueen” from the same album is a rocking, New Orleans-flavored rocker with tight electric rhythm guitar work from Mariam over Bob’s barrel role piano and “Heights Of Love” comes from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album with the band taking it up yet another notch with this powerful rocker. “Queen Of Heaven”, also from today’s featured LP “Gaea Star Goddesses”, is a rich, complex anthem performed flawlessly by the band and featuring overdubs of bass guitar, Native drum and vocals and flute from Mariam. “We Call In The Wind” is a powerful, fundamental medicine song with a beautiful, jazzy refrain and a driving performance from the band propelled by Craig’s powerful conga groove. “Pele” is a sunny Hawaiian reggae workout played drum-tight by the ensemble led by Mariam’s tiny soprano ukulele and wide, leaping melody and “I Am The Mother Earth” closes today’s show with a powerful, mystical musical journey accompanying a fundamental, powerful prayer from Mariam in conversation with her Native flute.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #595

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #595 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukulele and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and vocals and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in October 2024, today’s show begins with the beautiful, meditative “Continue On”, a raga-like piece with delicate congas from Craig and gossamer, sweeping piano from Bob framing Mariam’s powerful, soaring vocal. Reaching a tempestuous crescendo, the song is followed by Mariam’s ocean prayer “Yemanja”, written for the “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP. Growing like an incoming tide, “Yemanja” features a show, powerful build, inspired, interweaving vocals from Mariam and Bob and a powerful, fundamental groove. “Celebrate Life” is a beautiful, spacious folk song led by Mariam’s steady, chiming mandolin and revealing a powerful, universal message and “Let’s Slip Away” is a kinetic, sunny piece of modern gospel/classical music with a stately, shifting piano theme supporting an inspired vocal from Mariam. “Bless Our Lives” is a lovely, deeply affecting minimalist groove with shifting meters from congas and piano and a lush, sweeping melody that mutates and evolves through jazz and Afro Cuban grooves and “Mighty Is The Force Of Nature” is a powerful slow anthem led by a powerful duet between Mariam’s prayerful vocals and widescreen Native flute passages. We complete today’s hour with the powerful, shifting journey of “Let’s Dream A New Story”, an imaginative trip through styles bound together by Mariam’s powerful lyric.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #594

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #594 is an hour of improvised acoustic visionary music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, Celtic harp, mandolin and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live in mid-October of 2024 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with a spirited, uplifting take of Mariam’s classic “Reborn” from her “Vision Quest” LP which yields to the blustery, unsettled weather of “Have Faith”, a dramatic piece with fine classical piano from Bob and a powerful vocal from Mariam. “Oh The Full Moon” is a uniquely gorgeous, simple ballad brought in by Mariam’s sweeping, swirling Celtic harp and lush vocal and carried by Bob’s granitic, deeply emotional piano motif. “Birch Grove” is a fantastical, magical forest song led by Mariam’s mysterious vocal and chiming mandolin and “May We All Be In The Right Place” is another beautiful melody dressed in lush classical flourishes and swaths of sweeping, soaring Native flute and “Hello It’s Been A While” is a somber, powerful raga based on Mariam’s DADGAD-tuned 12-string acoustic guitar. In honor of World Indigenous Peoples Day we close today’s show with “Honoring The Elders”, another stately raga propelled by Craig’s fundamental pulse and Mariam’s sitar-like 12-string guitar.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com