Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #517 is an hour of visionary improvised acoustic music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, harmonica, Native flute, ukulele, acoustic guitar, shruti box and piano, Bob Sherwood on piano, bass guitar and vocals and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early January of 2023, today’s show begins with the uplifting “Happy To Live With Grace”, a bluesy celebration of a simple life that leads into the sweet, minor exploration “Oh To Be Alive” which features Mariam on piano and vocals and Bob on bass guitar.  Bob takes over on lead vocals and piano for his new song “It’s Just The Rain” and “Ever Higher Bridging The Realms” comes in two parts, the first a beautiful, somber folk song led by Mariam on acoustic guitar and vocals and the second a swirling, evocative piece with an inspired, beautifully surreal lyric from Mariam.  Mariam’s sprightly island song “Shamiyaya” receives an upbeat, tight reading featuring harmonies from Bob and “Spirit Of The Forest” from the Release CD is presented in a stately, elegant and deeply spiritual context.  We conclude today’s show with the rich, detailed “Gathering Our New Stories”, a lush raga that is treated to overdubs of Mariam on vocals and Native flute, Craig on Native drums and Bob on bass guitar.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #516 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, ukulele and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the driving yet meditative “We All Want The Same”, a prayer from Mariam and a fine conversation between voice and Native flute.  “As We Gather Around” grows from the same roots as the first piece before easing into an elegiac, gospel ballad and “Melody Of The Night” is an evocative, minor folk ballad led by Mariam’s plaintive vocal and crisp acoustic guitar.  “Hear Me Now” is a beautiful waltz ballad with a gorgeous melody from Mariam and fine shuffling congas from Craig and “Blessed By Life” is a sweet, poignant reading of one of Mariam’s most affecting songs, a piece built around Mariam’s propulsive dulcimer.  “Alohahey” takes us far from the New England winter to the islands and is a most welcome reminder of sunshine led by Mariam’s Hawaiian ukulele and vocal vibe.  “Celebrate Diversity” is a celebratory acoustic rock song with an inspired lyric from Mariam.  Mariam’s classic ritual song “We Call In The Elements” is given a rich, stately reading today and we close the show with the beautiful, skipping “La Luna”, an ode to the new moon featuring fine playing from the whole band.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #515 is an hour of sublime visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, Native flute, Celtic harp and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Recorded live in December 2022 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the lush, drifting “Reconnect”, a rich song cycle distinguished by a fine vocal from Mariam over imaginative, unusual chordal constructions.  “Great Healing” is a driving rock devotion song built on a metronomically tight low drum from Craig that builds in intensity through racing blues piano solos into a percolating, celestial trance.  “The Snow Queen” welcomes winter with an icy, crystalline groove defined initially by an interweave of Celtic harp, piano and low drum, followed by drifting flute fanfares from Mariam, followed by a slowly, slowly developing, beautiful, melancholic air adorned with Mariam’s inspiring prose.  “Grateful” is another pensive, aching, wintry melody set to Mariam’s capoed acoustic guitar, warm, affecting piano and tart congas from Craig.  “I Feel The Glory” is a deeply spiritual lyric that connects the cosmos and the soul, all in a playground of modal acoustic guitar and piano interplay, and “Oh, The Way” is an elegiac gospel song with lyrical flute passages atop piano figures that evoke vast spaces.  “Oh Sun” is a standout track from November’s Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour 510, a fine, driving folk song featuring Mariam’s silvery 8-string ukulele, again with Mariam’s gorgeous vocal in conversation with Cevher Demirel’s percussive flute.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #514 is an hour of improvised acoustic music played live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, shruti box, acoustic guitar, kalimba, ukulele and Native flute, Craig Harris on congas, Native drum and balaphone and Bob Sherwood on piano.  Recorded in early December of 2022, today’s hour begins with the epic sound journey of “Snow Queen” which begins as a pretty, soulful ballad with a fine vocal from Mariam and shifting, rhythmic piano from Bob. The second section, “Rise Up To Meet It” finds Mariam moving to kalimba and Native flute to accompany a powerful vocal lifted higher by Craig’s Native drum heartbeat.  Rising subtly like a sunrise from the final strands of the piece before is the celebratory, chiming “Sweet Home”, a compelling folk song with a gospel pull from Bob’s circular, rich piano and a gorgeous, swirling melody from Mariam.  “Room Of Doubt” comes from the 2009 CD “Gaea Star Crystal:  Awakening The Tribes Of Light” and the band gives it a powerful, confident reading with Mariam setting the tone on chiming acoustic guitar.  “As Far As We Can See” is a beautiful, hypnotic, rhythmic ballad built on Craig’s fundamental Native drum work, low, angular piano figurations from Bob and an Eastern melody from Mariam as she plays her shruti box.  “She Is The River” begins with an extended call-and-response between Native flute and piano to set up a deeply moving, elegiac melodic poem from Mariam as the song settles into a beautifully fragile, light, shifting mix of shade and brightness.  We conclude today’s show with the bluesy “Reflecting The Setting Moon”, a clever blues rock song with a bending, sinuous melody from Mariam.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #513 is an hour of visionary acoustic musical improvisation featuring the versatile, multi-talented Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, Native flute, ukulele and percussion, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Today’s show was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early December of 2022 and begins with a tight, jazzy version of Mariam’s classic “Reflect The Light” built around Mariam’s ukulele and sinuous vocal and a Gershwinesque piano accompaniment from Bob.  “Passages Of Time” begins as a bittersweet folk ballad, spacious and mournful, a prayer to nature in each of Mariam’s elegant couplets and culminates with a gorgeous, languid conversation between Mariam’s vocal and her Native flute.  Stepping into a languid blues mode with the shuffling “Oh The Silvery Rays” the band drifts into a Beatlesque groove as Mariam weaves 21st century melodies into the psychedelic brew.  “Ancient Formations” is an unusual, haunting air with an airy, gossamer vocal from Mariam and “Welcome In Peace” spins an unusual, retro jazz R&B groove from a sparse Native flute and drum intro that culminates in a powerful series of gospel choruses.  The band gives Mariam’s “Circle Of Light” a brisk, airy runthrough with a fine vocal and solid rhythm from all as we finish this week’s installment.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #512 is an hour of dynamic, visionary acoustic improvisational music played live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, 4- and 8-string ukuleles, dulcimer and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts at the end of November 2022, today’s show begins with the mystical, trance rock of “Inside”, a spacious song driven by Mariam’s dulcimer, inspired vocal and Native flute passages.  “In The Court Of Light” is an eccentric folk song featuring Mariam’s skipping ukulele and fundamental Native drum from Craig and “Calling All Of Me Home” is a gentle, wistful ballad with a fine vocal from Mariam and evocative piano from Bob.  “Brilliant Rays Of Light” is a tightly rhythmic folk song built around Mariam’s compelling minor chord cadences and a lovely melody, and “Original” carries some rhythm and blues and gospel influences as it unwinds in an infectious, leisurely series of tempos and feels.  “Cultivating Happiness” is a light, eccentric, innovative piece with Mariam’s 8-string ukulele and Bob’s piano ostinatos forming the basis of this rich, detailed song. 
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #511 is an hour of visionary improvised acoustic music played and recorded live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 4- and 8-string ukulele, shruti box, acoustic guitar and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano, Craig Harris on Native drums and congas and Cevher Demirel on flute and bongos.  Today we feature very special guests Nina Rossi on drums and percussion and Robin Rooney on vocals and percussion.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in November of 2022, today’s show begins with the lush, Mediterranean vibe of “Begin A New Day”, a gorgeous, sunny song driven by Mariam’s chiming ukulele, fine flute work from Cevher and a driving rhythm from Craig and Nina.  “Middle Of The Night” comes in as a hushed midnight ballad with minor chords from Mariam’s acoustic guitar and racing runs from Bob on piano and builds slowly into a driving but sparse Native groove beneath Mariam’s inspired vocal.  “Calling In Their Beloveds” recalls an ancient forest with Mariam’s fundamental dulcimer and fine echoing vocals from Robin and “Water Tiger Year” is a gorgeous, skipping song defined by Mariam’s silvery 8-string ukulele and imaginative, upbeat accompaniment from the whole ensemble.  “Embrace The Silence” tells the story of a walk in the emerald forest as a slow, mystical raga built around the drone of Mariam’s shruti box. The song grows and expands in intensity as Mariam spins her mysterious sacred faery tale.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #510 was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in November of 2022 and is an hour of visionary acoustic improv music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 8- and 4-string ukuleles, acoustic guitar, Nashville-tuned guitar and sitar, Bob Sherwood on piano, Craig Harris on Native drums and congas and Cevher Demirel on flute and bongos.  Today’s show begins with the lush, jangling folk song “Healing Ways Are Rising”, driven by Mariam’s delicate Nashville guitar and inspired vocal, decorated by evocative flute passages from Cevher.  “Oh Sun” is another fine, driving folk song featuring Mariam’s silvery 8-string ukulele, again with Mariam’s gorgeous vocal in conversation with Cevher’s percussive flute.  “Life Is Love, Love Is Life” begins as a sedate meditation built around Mariam’s acoustic guitar and grows in intensity until taking wing as a driving, powerfully percussive medicine song, a lush melody surrounded by powerful drumming from Craig and Cevher.  “It Will Always Make You Smile” is a whispering, minor folk ballad that again picks up in intensity and drive with a powerful rhythm section and “May The Waters Bubble Up From The Depths” is an ever-changing, gorgeous improvisation driven by percussion and Bob’s deft, improvising piano supporting a powerful vocal from Mariam and “To Keep In The Oneness” completes today’s powerful journey as a beautiful raga featuring Mariam’s lush, mystical sitar and fundamental shruti box drones from Cevher.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #509 was taped live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, in November of 2022 and features songs by Mariam Massaro and visionary improvisation from the Gaea Star Band with Mariam on vocals, native flute, dulcimer and ukulele, Craig Harris on congas and marimba and Bob Sherwood on piano and 12-string guitar. We begin today with the stormy, unsettled “Exploration” featuring lush native flute from Mariam and a tense, taut rhythm section. “The Garden Of Love” is a bouncy avant-folk piece driven along by Mariam’s eight-string ukulele until the jazzy afro-cuban coda featuring scorching piano work from Bob. “Follow Heyaiho” is a gorgeous, atmospheric jam with visionary lyrics and floating native flute from Mariam buttressed by Craig’s steady conga work. “Calling Everyone To Give It All” is a prayer of hope and “Learn Something New Today” features acoustic 12-string from Bob in the DADGAD tuning over Craig’s heartbeat native drums. We finish today with the hypnotic, progressive psychedelia of “Holding To The Vision” featuring more evocative vocals and native flute from Mariam.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #508 is an hour of powerful visionary acoustic improvisational music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, Celtic harp, kalimba, dulcimer, ukulele, acoustic guitar, shruti box and percussion, Bob Sherwood on piano, Craig Harris on congas and Native drums and our newest member, flautist and percussionist Cevher Demirel.  Today’s show was recorded completely live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in the Berkshires in November 2022.  The band begins the hour with “Beneath The Brilliant Blue”, a driving, psychedelic piece that begins as a sweet, legato exploration and slowly, slowly builds to a driving, powerful anthem driven by Mariam’s inspirational words and melodies.  “Let’s Try Harder To Keep Awakening” is a lush, swirling cloud of a song built around Mariam’s chiming thumb piano.  Bob extrapolates the E minor key of the kalimba through a series of dizzying modal shifts as Cevher’s rhythmic flute and Craig’s bouncing congas hold the piece in context.  Shifting into modern electronic textures and ultimately into a crisp blues complete with dashing flute solos from Cevher, the piece distinguishes itself with a casual, playful virtuosity.  “Hail To Everything” is deep forest music, dancing Native flute from Mariam, druidic, obsessive piano from Bob and a powerful, compelling percussion underpinning from Craig and Cevher.  “Calling You Home Now” is a gorgeous Eastern folk song that unwinds mysteriously from Mariam’s chiming ukulele in minor.  Shaded, midnight chord changes ride a maddening edge between Indian and Western Classical music and Cevher weaves evocative flute lines through this unsettled, compelling piece that slowly builds to a strange and driving groove.  Equally shaded and nocturnal is the darkly charismatic “Spice In Your Life”, another song draped in Cevher’s flute and Mariam’s winding melodies, the piece ramps up in energy to a sparse, rocking afro-cuban workout with tight, ambitious piano figures from Bob and driving congas from Craig.   “Great Transformation” is today’s closing piece, a powerful raga with a masterful lyric and melody from Mariam.  The weaving of Cevher’s flute and Mariam’s vocal reaches its zenith on this powerful piece underpinned by the twin drones of Mariam’s shruti box and dulcimer. 
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com