Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #445 is an hour of improvised visionary acoustic music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, shruti box and Native flute, Robin Rooney on vocals and djimbe, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Today’s show begins with the lovely minor key folk of “Golden Rays” a soft reverie of early summer.  “They’re Coming Off” is a reverent, gospel-inflected piece that celebrates the end of the pandemic and the coming of summer and “Good To Be Home” is a whisper of a piece, evocative and mysterious, praising nature.  Mariam plays her droning shruti box and soaring native flute for the raga-like “Lilac Moon”, a gorgeous eastern piece with imaginative piano from Bob.  “Lilac Moon” moves through several configurations from Afro-Cuban to jazz and returning to raga.  “Inspire Me” find Mariam moving to her gorgeous, silvery-sounding 8-string ukulele to spin a cloudlike, floating piece full of wonder and innocence.  The country rock “I Was Wondering” is given an energized showing with fine harmonies from Mariam and Robin and we close today with an uptempo rendition of “Flowers Of Delight” from Mariam’s new “Release” album.  
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #444 is an hour of visionary acoustic improv music played live by the Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, shruti box, acoustic guitar, harmonica and ukulele, Robin Rooney on djembe and vocals, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the serene, positive vibe of Mariam’s lovely “There’s Only One Way” before we move into the driving rock of “Trust” from Mariam’s 2009 album “Gaea Star Crystal: Awakening The Tribes Of Light”.  “Every Moment” is pure ancient expression brought in by Mariam’s fundamental Native flute that slowly grows into a funky groove with driving bass from Bob’s left hand on the piano.  “Calling In The Rain” is a sacred meditation of evocation underpinned by Mariam’s droning shruti box and an ancient rhythm from Craig and Robin.  “No Place Like Home” is a fun, jaunty little ragtime blues with fine harmonica soloing from Mariam and detailed piano from Bob.  “Listen To The Elders” continues the sparse, Native vibe of “Every Moment” with a tale of Lakul from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Crystal” book that opens up with beautiful flute and classical piano.  We finish today with another rain evocation, the rocking Bayou number “Oya Thunderqueen” from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Goddesses” album.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #443 is an hour of visionary improvisational acoustic music recorded live by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, native flute, ukulele and acoustic guitar, Robin Rooney on djimbe, celtic harp and vocals and Bob Sherwood on piano.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in mid-May of 2021, today’s show begins with the gentle folk ballad “There’s Only One Way”, featuring lovely harmonies from Mariam and Robin.  “Trust” from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album is given a driving rock treatment hear with a powerful rhythm backing from Robin and Craig.  “Every Moment” is another subtle, soft ballad featuring a deeply sensitive vocal from Mariam and “Calling In The Rain” is a driving, powerful piece with blues and rock flavors and propulsive djimbe from Robin.  Next up we present “No Place Like Home” follows with a skipping, light feel.  “Into The Dark” is a breathless invocation of nature and night set to a deep and beautiful musical backing with a bravura piano performance from Bob.  “Listen To The Elders” is a swirling, dizzying piece with exceptional vocals from Mariam and Robin and we close today with the classic “Oya Thunderqueen” from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” CD.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #442 is an hour of visionary acoustic improv music played live by The Gaea Star Band at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts.  Featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic 6- and 12-string guitars and celtic harp, Robin Rooney on djimbe and vocals, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums, today’s show begins with the relaxed minor key folk ballad “Sailing On The Wings Of Love”, driven by Mariam’s acoustic guitar and featuring lovely call-and-response vocals from Mariam and Robin.  “Blue Jay On A Windy Day” is a May song and a prayer to nature and birds featuring an animated vocal from Mariam over a rhythm-heavy backing from the band and a once-in-a-lifetime crow impression from Bob.  “Just Walk Away” is a fine country-rock song from Mariam’s new “Release” album and “In The Skies, In The Grass” is a dramatic piece featuring top-notch Native flute from Mariam and interconnected vocals from Mariam and Robin.  “Red Orange Yellow Light” is a mystical, psychedelic raga underpinned by Mariam’s open-tuned Martin 12-string acoustic and featuring hypnotic rhythm from the drummers and Bob’s subcontinental configurations.  “Arise”, from the “Vision Quest” album, is given an upbeat, detailed treatment with a fine vocal from Mariam and we finish today’s show with an intense, driving, deeply felt rendition of Mariam’s “Reborn” from 2009’s “Gaea Star Crystal” album.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #441 is an hour of intrepid visionary acoustic improv music played live by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, Celtic harp, acoustic guitar, sitar and ukulele, Craig Harris on congas and Native drums, Bob Sherwood on piano and Robin Rooney on djembe, percussion and vocals.  Recorder at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts on an afternoon in May 2021, today’s show begins with the delightful folk ballad “May Day”, a bouncing, energized song driven along by Mariam’s ukulele and buoyant melody.  “Mighty River” continues the folk feel as it moves into a minor key and Mariam establishes a flowing melody over a powerful, gradually developing theme from Bob on piano.  “Breath In The Sweetness” is a harp-led fantasy featuring beautiful call-and-response vocals from Mariam and Robin and a smooth, narrative feel with imaginative piano.  “Harmonize” is today’s centerpiece, distinguished by powerful vocals from Mariam and Robin and a simple and unusually powerful gospel piano motif from Bob.  “Believe You Can Change” is a bluesy, afro-cuban-derived jam featuring evocative vocals and Native flute from Mariam over a rocked out backbeat.  “Purify” echoes the powerful “Harmonize” with granitic piano from Bob and Mariam’s excellent flute, and “Set Your Wings In Flight” is a serene minor trance piece with fine vocals from Mariam and Robin.  Mariam plays her sitar for today’s final song, the mystical raga “All We Have Is Our Hearts”, an evocative piece that features shining performances from the whole band and a beautiful vocal from Mariam.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Today on Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #440 Part Two the Gaea Star Band presents an hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music with Mariam Massaro on vocals, ukulele, acoustic guitar, Celtic harp and Native flute, Robin Rooney on djembe and vocals, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded live in late April 2021 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the uplifting “Heralding The Spring”, a bright, joyful song of praise to the coming of warm weather driven along by Mariam’s buoyant ukulele and driving drums from Craig and Robin.  “The Wisdom Way” is a development of the first theme that adopts Indian modes in a raga feel that maintains and accelerates the drive of this piece.  “I’m Dancing In The Wind” is a solemn, fundamental prayer built on a minimalist figure on piano from Bob, with Mariam’s harp representing the racing wind as Mariam and Robin present a fine call-and-response vocal.  “Awyn Spectrolite” is a beautiful, mystical and imaginative tale from Mariam that takes place in Goddess Grove among the Crystal Seekers, the Rainbow Keepers, the Light Workers.  Beautiful and haunting, the piece is driven by Mariam’s acoustic guitar with a driving rhythm section from Craig and Robin.  “Chicayeyo, By The River” is a rich, gorgeous ballad ushered in with plaintive fanfares from Mariam’s lyrical Native flute and “Saliniel Sanctuary” is a powerful, otherworldly raga in which Mariam provides the fundamental drone on her shruti box and Bob weaves a gorgeous, arresting piano figure under Mariam’s mystical vocal.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #440 is an hour of live visionary acoustic improv music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, celtic harp, Native flute, acoustic guitar, ukulele and dulcimer, Robin Rooney on vocals, djembe and percussion, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in April 2021, today’s show begins with the lovely, buoyant “Warm Sun Springtime” a song by Mariam with a gorgeous, evocative vibe.  The track sprawls through various movements for 18 minutes, most notably the “I Hear The Rain” section and the funky, flute-decorated afro Cuban section “Through The Golden Temple”, always maintaining interest and evolving with an upbeat, organic confidence.  We take a breath with the hushed, minor ballad “Nanaynano” which again gradually changes its clothes into the driving “Shikaya Latoya” featuring a fine series of vocal duets from Mariam and Robin.  “Spirit Of The Forest” and “We Call In The Elements” are elemental, foundational songs of reverence for nature and her elements that originally appear on Mariam’s “Vision Quest” LP.  “Your Eyes Shine” is a striking, impassioned love song from Mariam’s “Smooth Sailin’ Love Songs” album and for today’s closer, the driving, bright “Smile” from Mariam’s “For The Children” album.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #439 is an hour of acoustic visionary improv music played live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic 6- and 12-string guitars, Native flute and ukulele, Robin Rooney on djembe and vocals, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in April 2021, todays show begins with the epic, dramatic “Listen To The Call Of Spirit”, a song with a series of movements that take the piece from nursery rhyme to strikingly progressive and dynamic, to funked-out jazz and bossa nova.  Highlights are Mariam’s Native flute passages and Mariam and Robin’s inspired vocals.  “Return” is a song in prayer of the spring and the return of the light led by Mariam’s chiming, silvery 8-string ukulele and “In The Stillness Of My Heart” is a dramatic, beautiful, powerful piece built around a dancing piano motif from Bob.  “Children Of The Stars” and “I’m So Happy I’m Alive are songs from Mariam’s “For The Children” album and are rendered beautifully here with fine vocals from Mariam and Robin.  Mariam strums her chiming 12-string in DADGAD tuning for today’s closer, the deeply meditative raga “Lift Your Spirit Higher”.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #438 is an hour of live acoustic visionary improv recorded by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukulele and acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded on a spring afternoon in April 2021 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the mystical, peaceful “Dream On” which highlights Mariam’s beautiful native flute passages and vocals.  “Oh, You Are Light Crystalline Blue” is a jazzy minor folk waltz with imaginative vocals and piano and the beautifully-named “Sailing In The Clear Blue Oceans Of Love” is a lush, whispering track led by Mariam’s acoustic guitar full of wonder and the magic of repetition.  “Hello April Flowers” is a dancing spring anthem driven along by Mariam’s chiming ukulele and skipping, rapid-fire piano filigrees from Bob and “I’m Happy I’m a Dog” is a love song to dogs and their amazing spirits and resilience from a band that loves dogs.  The song has a calm, centered steadiness that recalls the nature of a dog.  We finish today with a smoldering rendition of Mariam’s song “Open Every Day” that is given a propulsive rock groove to support Mariam’s powerful vocal.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #437 is an hour of visionary acoustic improv music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, shruti box, acoustic guitar, ukulele and celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live in late March of 2021 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with a drifting, lilting promise of Spring led by Mariam’s ethereal celtic harp, the meditative “Spring Has Sprung”.  Mariam leads the band into “Place Of Peace” with her strumming ukulele and we built a faintly Eastern sounding folk raga with imaginative vocals from Mariam and a steady, syncopated rhythm from Bob and Craig.  “Stand So Strong” digs deeper into the Indian tradition with a drifting, mysterious soundscape and a meditative lyric from Mariam over her droning shruti box.  Bob gradually introduces a dramatic, compelling piano figure that adorns throughout in the minimalist style.  We shift without pause into an even deeper, more dramatic mode with the driving, mystical “Going Home To The Beauty”.  “There Are Many Ways” is a beautiful, prayerful hymn with an affecting lyric from Mariam and excellent, imaginative accompaniment from all the players as Mariam creates the heartbeat with her acoustic guitar.   The piece gathers slowly in intensity and variety and drives to a dramatic climax.  We finish today with a lovely, gentle, waltz-time rendition of Mariam’s environmental anthem “Restore”.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com