Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #611

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #611 is an hour of inspired, dynamic visionary acoustic improvised music and songs by Mariam Massaro played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam on vocals, Native flute, 4- and 8-string ukulele, acoustic guitar and 12-string acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early March of 2025, today’s show begins with the whimsical, upbeat “Aloha Hey”, a fantastic island song by Mariam with the ensemble of ukulele, piano and Native drum firing on all cylinders. “Honor The Place Within” is a beautiful, stately raga performed with Mariam on DADGAD-tuned acoustic 12 string lending a rich, powerful drone and “Welcome To Spring” is a pensive folk song with a beautiful, questing melody from Mariam over chiming ukulele and anthemic piano. “Stay Strong (Even When You’re All Alone)” is another rousing folk song with an inspiring lyric, featuring driving congas and tight acoustic guitar work from Mariam. “Twin Flame” and “Ryalia” are tracks from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Crystal” and “Release” albums; the former is powerfully presented with a beautiful melody, the latter a mysterious, labyrinthine forest song with a compelling, rangey vocal from Mariam. “We Need A Brand-New Deck To Play This Game Of Life” is a rich, varied ballad featuring a lyrical conversation between Mariam’s inspiring lyrics and soaring Native flute and we complete today’s show with “Just Keep Showing Up For Peace”, another dynamic vocal-and-flute showcase with throbbing Native drum and rich, detailed piano.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #610

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #610 is an hour of improvised, visionary acoustic music recorded live by the Gaea Star Band at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in March of 2025.  Featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, ukulele, kalimba and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas, today’s show begins with the drifting, mystical “Love-Filled Days”, a prayer for peace and understanding featuring lyrical native flute and celtic harp from Mariam.  “Dancing Fingers Of Light” is a gentle, bluesy ballad led by Mariam’s smooth vocal and acoustic guitar and “Growing Into Wonder” features imaginative piano from Bob over Mariam’s contemplative acoustic guitar.  “Alive, Awake, Alive You Are” is lush, somber contemplation led by Mariam’s soaring Native flute and deep Native drumming from Craig.  “Oh Earth” features Mariam’s ukulele in a sparse, minor setting, evoking gently waving branches and “May We Always Know The Way Of Love” is a gorgeous, drifting song from the “Release” album, featuring lush vocals and expressive flute from Mariam. "Distant Star" is a mystical, slowly unfolding song from Mariam's "Release" album and  “This Is The Way” closes today’s show and is a rolling, surreal piece that rises to a fever pitch before reaching its swirling climax.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #609

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #609 is another hour of creative, dynamic improvised acoustic music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, Andean flute, 4- and 8-string ukuleles, acoustic guitar and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in late February of 2025, today’s show begins with the jazzy “Every Moment”, a driving song with imaginative piano statements and a powerful vocal from Mariam. “Open To Your Spirit” is a beautifully dualistic piece that combines a jazz rock motif with a slyly entering classical motif, another beautiful vocal from Mariam and interpolations of her evocative Andean flute along with driving congas from Craig and modern, minimalist piano work from Bob. The piece winds out with a series of playful classical motifs before leading into “Gather Together”, a beautifully austere song from the “Release” album that evokes giant spaces and human unity. “Joyful Union With All Beings” is a powerful, powerfully stated song calling for human connectedness and empowerment in troubling times and “One More Day”, also from Mariam’s “Release” LP is presented as a peaceful, pretty folk ballad driven by Mariam’s lyrical vocal and chiming 8-string ukulele with hints of reggae above Craig’s powerful Native drum heartbeat pulse. We complete today’s show with two more of Mariam’s classic numbers, the island folk rocker “Pele” from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP and the bucolic, beautifully pagan forest prayer “Spirit Of The Forest”.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #608

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #608 is an hour of inspired visionary acoustic improvisational music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, native flute, ukulele, acoustic guitar, shrudi box and sitar, Craig Harris on congas and Native drums and Bob Sherwood on piano. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in February, 2025, today’s show begins with the mystical, mysterious “May We Walk In Balance”, a lush and evocative visionary song that gives way to the lovely, expansive ballad “Windy, Windy” featuring lyrical native flute and vocals from Mariam. “Let’s Give It All We Can” is an understated ballad with inspired piano from Bob and more gorgeous native flute from Mariam, and “Thank You” is a song of praise and reverence to nature driven by Mariam’s acoustic guitar and Craig’s ever-steady conga work. “Train Of Love” praises love and the human heart with a delicate, unhurried ballad feel decorated by lovely piano runs. “Spirit Of Fire” is a triumphant, gospel flavored prayer that drives steadily upwards and today’s show ends with the celebratory folk song “Happy Valentine’s Day” for which Mariam simultaneously wields her acoustic guitar and Native flute with a lovely winding vocal above.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #607

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #607 is an hour of fresh, inventive visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, harmonica, ukulele and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts at the beginning of February 2025, today’s show begins with the upbeat, vintage folk of “Around The Bend”, a pretty, whimsical song with a fine vocal and chiming ukulele from Mariam. “In The Grand Splendor Of Creation” is a pretty piece build on a pretty, bittersweet chord scheme and featuring a touching, rich and emotional vocal from Mariam over a pretty instrumental bed of ukulele, piano and congas and “May We All Hear Our Spirit Singing Out” is a rich, classically-leaning musical piece framing a gorgeous vocal and Native flute conversation from Mariam above Craig’s thrumming Native drum heartbeat. The Gaea Star Band goes hard blues on the swaggering “Feel The Wind” with a fine vocal and visceral harmonica from Mariam and fat-fingered Chicago-flavored piano from Bob. “Step On The Button” is a lush, circular slice of minimalism with a ‘60s feel and a joyful, playful vocal from Mariam and “Change The World” weaves funk, Native American music, fusion, blues and visionary poetry into a rich, propulsive epic polished with another fine vocal from Mariam. “If You Know What Was In Your Heart” is an achingly pretty ballad with a haunting ‘50s feel and we complete today’s show with the airy, prayerful “Do You Remember You’re From The Starts Above?”, a gorgeous, love-filled island folk song driven along by Mariam’s relaxed ukulele.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #606

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #606 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, harmonica, ukulele, acoustic guitar, shruti box and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and vocals and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in late January of 2025, today’s show begins with the upbeat, folky “Family Of Light”, a gospel-tinged folk song with skipping congas from Craig and fine vocal from Mariam. “Channel Brightly As We All Manifest” is an intense, sparse raga with beautiful Native flute and expressive vocals from Mariam over Bob’s classic motif and “Spirit Sisters Of The Ancient Grove” is a gorgeous, light song set in motion by Mariam’s chiming mandolin and rootsy harmonica. “Sing Down The Walls” is a powerful gospel song originally recorded for Mariam’s “Gaea Star Crystal” LP and “Yemanja” from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP is presented powerfully with fine interlocking vocals from Mariam and Bob. “Rooms Of Doubt”, also from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album is a powerful song of resistance in the face of powerful forcesa and is expressed today with particular passion. We conclude today’s show with the powerful minor blues of “Standing Ones Of Peace”, a powerful, fundamental minor blues with fine contributions from the ensemble supporting Mariam’s impassioned, bluesy vocal.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #605

On a bitterly cold January the Gaea Star Band gathers around the stove in the studio at Singing Brook to record Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #605, an hour of emotional, compelling, powerful improvised music and songs by Mariam Massaro with Mariam on vocals, acoustic 6- and 12-string guitars, ukulele, dulcimer, Celtic harp, Native flute and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and backing vocals towards the end and Craig Harris on Native low drum and congas. Recorded live, today’s show begins with the rich, gentle-yet-powerful “So Many Veils”, a gorgeous folk song with a deeply powerful and affecting vocal from Mariam above tight acoustic guitar, imaginative piano and Ringo-esque conga work from Craig. “Here We Are Again” is a flowing raga based around Mariam’s DADGAD tuned 12-string acoustic guitar, a meditation on circles and cycles and “The Snow Queen” is a beautifully classical-sounding winter song with lush, pillowy chording from Bob on piano and Mariam on ukulele and imaginative, range-y vocals and “I Am Bountiful” derives a powerful, rocking primitivism from Mariam’s percussive mandolin, skipping congas and suspended, rhythmic piano. Mariam plugs in her crisp, rich-sounding dulcimer for the driving, throbbing “To The Glory”, a beautiful song with excellent ensemble work and a precise, virtuosic vocal that wraps evocatively and intuitively around the pretty, imaginative cadences. “Solare” continues the Gaea Star Band winter tradition of including a sunny, summery song during particularly cold spells and this version is driving, powerful and decorated in another fine vocal from Mariam. We conclude today’s show with inspired takes on Mariam’s “We Call In The Elements” and “Fire In Our Bellies” from her “Vision Quest” LP.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #604

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #604 is an hour of improvised visionary music played on a frozen, still January day in 2025 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts. The Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, kalimba, dulcimer, 4- and 8-string ukulele, mandolin, Celtic harp, harmonica and acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native low drum begin this dynamic, inspired hour with the gentle, acoustic guitar-led minor ballad “I Am Spirit Manifest” before bringing in the varied, evocative “In The Full Moon”, a pulsing, jazzy composition featuring chiming Celtic harp, throbbing low drum and flights of majestic Native flute. “Let’s Slow Right Down” is a bittersweet, drifting coda to “In The Full Moon” with graceful, distant, echoing Native flute and gorgeous in-the-moment composition on the piano. “Grateful For The Memories” is a whimsical folk song with a fine vocal and tight, ringing 8-string ukulele from Mariam and hard blues piano from Bob. Mariam creates a wonderful elasticity on her ringing dulcimer that provides a framework for Bob’s chordal support on the gorgeous, mystical “Happy I Am” and mournful, unhurried kalimba ushers in the unusual, circular “There’s Only One Way”, a wonderfully melancholic, majestic moment of achingly pretty minimalism is held in frame by Bob’s Prokofiev-derived piano movements and Mariam’s powerful melody. “Oh Mother Earth” is the major-keyed analog to Mariam’s powerful song “I Am The Mother Earth” and in this expansive, joyful framework, driven along by Mariam’s crisp mandolin, becomes a piece of front-porch Americana. We finish today’s varied, inspired show with an upbeat version of Mariam’s island song “Lead Me Down”.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

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