Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #580

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #580 is a lush, relaxed midsummer reverie of improvised, visionary acoustic music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic steel- and nylon-string guitars, ukulele and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded live on an early July day in 2024 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today's show begins with the languid "Layers Upon Layers", a sparse, staid piece with a lovely vocal from Mariam above a relaxed rhythm section and "Celebrate Our Differences" is another languid, easeful piece led by Mariam',s ukulele and a fine, inspiring lyric from Mariam.  "Singing In The Wind" is a mysterious forest song with gorgeous Native flute and evocative, repeating piano themes from Bob and "Standing Ones Of Peace" is a prayer to the forest from Mariam's "Vision Quest" album led by Mariam's chiming mandolin, driving congas from Craig and Bob's blues piano figurations.  Eastern modes and scales define the mystical tone poem "Beneath The Arbor Of Flowers", a gorgeous, unhurried abstract with a fine vocal from Mariam that rises in tempo and energy into a beautiful pagan dance and "Goddess, Goddess" from the "Release" album is presented as a simple, pretty piece that floats elegantly in a two-chord framework with a gorgeous vocal from Mariam.  "Queen Of Love" from the "Gaea Star Goddesses" album and "Thunderbeings" from the "Vision Quest" album are both presented authoritatively, the former a deeply romantic flamenco, the latter a Native anthem to the old growth trees of the forest.  "Shamiyaya" is an upbeat island song, the lead single from Mariam's "Release" album and we close today's show with the beautiful lullabye "Night Is Near" from the "Vision Quest" album.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #579 Part Two

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #579 Part Two is an hour of improvised, visionary acoustic music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukulele, marimba, mandolin, Celtic harp, harmonica and acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in June of 2024, today’s show begins with a track from Mariam’s “Vision Quest” LP, the inspiring, evocative “Vision Quest” featuring fine percussive marimba from Mariam decorated with Bob’s piano, together suggesting a wide savannah.  “Pot Of Gold” is a fine, dancing folk piece built around Mariam’s chiming mandolin and “Are You My Angel?” is a gorgeous minor ballad with soaring Native flute from Mariam in conversation with her fine vocal.  “Simply Being Rays Of Light” is a powerful ballad with more compelling Native flute passages, a throbbing heartbeat from Craig and granitic, fundamental piano from Bob and “Summertime” is a rollicking blues with top notch work from the whole ensemble supporting Mariam as she rocks on harmonica.  “Solare” is a gorgeous, mysterious prayer to the sun from Mariam’s “Release” LP and the ensemble caresses its graceful contours before rolling into a powerful take of the rocking “Smooth Sailin’ Love Songs” track “Happy With You”.  “Chimes Chinking” is a deeply emotional, evocative ballad with a gorgeous vocal from Mariam.  “Ladies Of The Lake”, a deeply unusual, innovative song from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP is attempted by the band here for the first time and the results are rich, mysterious and funky with particular praise for Mariam’s Native flute performance.  We finish today with the barrelhouse blues of “A Memory Of Life Divine” featuring fine fat-fingered boogie woogie piano from Bob, rolling, rocking congas from Craig and Mariam’s bluesy vocal and harmonica work.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #579 Part One

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #579 is another hour of improvised visionary acoustic music brought to you by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, nylon string guitar and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in June of 2024, today’s show begins with the energized blues of “Oya Thunderqueen” which transitions into the equally bluesy “Woody”, a light-hearted ode to woodpeckers and the onset of summer.  The Path Of Light” is a beautiful, rich folk song led by Mariam’s whispery, expressive nylon-string guitar and “Make The Best” is a reggae-folk song with a fine lyric from Mariam over a tight rhythm section of nylon string guitar, congas and piano.  “Open The Way” is a lush, expansive exploration with fine, soaring vocals and psychedelic Native flute from Mariam and a clever piano framework from Bob and “Calling In The Sweetness” serves as a lovely, hushed coda with beautiful, echoing vocals from Mariam and powerful, expansive Native flute passages.  “Life Is Like A River” is a fine, upbeat folk song led by Mariam’s chiming mandolin and fine rhythm work from Craig and Bob and “Moon Queen” is a gorgeous, prayerful ode to the moon that flows and ebbs with fine Native flute, imaginative piano development, and psychedelic electronic treatments.  “Sweet Mother Earth” is a pretty, lilting minor folk song with fine vocals and caressing congas, and we wrap today’s show with a pair of Mariam’s songs from her “Vision Quest” album, the airy, bittersweet waltz “Rainbows” and a hushed, appealingly understated take of “ Spirit Of Air”.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro: #578

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #578 is an hour of expansive, evocative, visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, shruti box, mandolin, nylon string guitar and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in June 2024, today’s show begins with the staid, whispering, lovely “Roses” before sliding smoothly into the hushed raga “Deep Down”, a pretty piece with imaginative piano over Mariam’s shruti box drone that slowly expands into a powerful, melodic coda.  “Come Along” is a pretty, open, harmonically innovative piece featuring powerful vocals and Native flute from Mariam and clever chord clusters from Bob and “Peace Prevailing” is a mysterious, minor folk song built upon Mariam’s clear, open ukulele and Craig’s tightly defined congas.  “Life Holds Us In An Embrace” has the imprimatur of ancient British Isles folk music harmonically and sonically with Mariam’s chiming mandolin and Bob’s obsessive ostinato.  “Gathering In The Forces Of Love” is a beautiful, mysterious drone piece given variety and contrast with Mariam’s sweeping melody and Bob’s imaginative piano directions and “River Flowing By” is a widescreen, spacious piece that begins with a trademark Native flute fanfare over Native drum until electronically treated piano enters and supports a powerful duet between Mariam’s lilting melody and Native flute work.  Today’s show concludes with the Verdian gospel song “Sing Down The Walls” from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Crystal” album from 2009.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #577 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music recorded live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, classical guitar, dulcimer and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and bass guitar and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in June of 2024, today’s show begins with the beautiful, mystical “Sail On”, a beautiful waltz originally recorded for Mariam’s “Vision Quest” album in 2014.  “Leonardo” is a sprightly, bouncing folk gospel song celebrating Mariam’s nylon string guitar of the same name and “You’re The One” is an inspiring pop song from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Crystal” album.  “I Was Wondering” is a clever, crafty country rock song from the “Smooth Sailin’ Love Songs” album, given an energized, inspired airing on today’s show.  “This Is The Way” is a lush, evocative minor key rock song enhanced with overdubs featuring Native flute, Native drum and bass guitar.  Mariam wields her chiming mandolin for the summery, psychedelic “Double Winged Dragonfly”, a pretty song with a fine vocal from Mariam, austere, modern chording from Bob and steady congas from Craig.  “Happy I Am”, “Smile” and “Gypsy” close today’s show with energized, expanded and inspired renditions of these numbers 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 #576, we feature the Gaea Star Band playing visionary, acoustic improvised music with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 4- and 8-string ukulele, acoustic guitar shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in May of 2024, today’s show begins with the beautifully focused and kinetic “Running Pure”, an exhilarating, driving folk song with a fine vocal from Mariam.  “Oh The Rain” is piloted by “Oscar”, Mariam’s chiming 8-string baritone ukulele and features gorgeous, celestial piano work from Bob and a solid, driving conga groove from Craig supporting Mariam’s evocative vocal-and-Native-flute conversation.  “Open My Heart” is a fine, uplifting folk song from Mariam with sprightly ukulele and bouncing reggae piano and “Your Eyes Shine” is as sultry rocker from the “Smooth Sailin’ Love Songs” LP played with a beautiful vocal from Mariam and controlled passion with fine, incisive playing from the whole band.  “Celebrating Feeling Good” is a spacious, pretty, classically-inflected piece again driven by chiming chords from Mariam’s 8-string uke and “Amaru Machay” from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Goddesses” album is presented as smoldering, slowly intensifying rock with a compelling vocal from Mariam and imaginative piano touches from Bob.  Continuing with the Peruvian theme, “Pacha Mama”, also from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP is given an energized, tight airing featuring percussion, vocal, flute and bass guitar overdubs.  The smoldering “When You Touch Me” from Mariam’s 2012 “Smooth Sailin’ Love Songs” album is rendered spaciously and prayerfully with a beguiling vocal from Mariam and we close today’s hour with the scintillating, gently insistent raga of “Happy To Be Alive” a pretty, spacious piece built upon Mariam’s droning shruti box.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #575 is an hour of inspired, visionary acoustic improvised music featuring Mariam Massaro and Bob Sherwood of the Gaea Star Band with Mariam on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, 4- and 8-string ukulele, shruti box and dulcimer and Bob on piano.  Today’s show, taped live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in May of 2024, begins with the hushed, mysterious, reverent raga “ We Are The Ancient Ones” featuring Mariam’s mournful shruti box before moving into “We’re Flying As We Shine”, a pretty, open folk song featuring Mariam’s chiming ukulele and fine vocal.  “Keep On” is a gorgeous, echo-laden tapestry featuring a compelling flute-and-vocal conversation from Mariam and “Water” is a striking classical piano and vocal duet from the “Vision Quest” album.  “As We Gather Together” is a pretty, light folk ballad with chiming 8-string ukulele and cascading piano and “Spirit Of The Forest” is a spirited, sprightly forest song from the “Vision Quest” album.  “Many Seeds Have Fallen” is another “Vision Quest” track, here given a hushed, poetic vibe with a fine vocal from Mariam.  “Only One Way On This Holy Ground” closes today’s show with a deep, varied exploration that winds several themes together in major and minor variations.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #574 is an hour-long exploration of visionary acoustic improvised music played live by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, dulcimer, acoustic guitar, ukulele and kalimba, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded in May of 2024 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the gorgeous raga “Touch The Seeds Of Joy”, an energized celebration of long-awaited spring propelled by Mariam’s chiming dulcimer.  “We Know How To Live In Peace” begins with an evocative Native flute and piano exploration before easing into a meditative, musically rich piece, full of passion and variety.  “Open To Your Divinity” is a full, rich folk song with a fine lyric from Mariam and “Remember The Ancient Teachings” is a mysterious, mystical minor ballad with an inspired vocal and skipping, percussive ukulele from Mariam.  “Oh, Lovely Luna’s Light” is one of Mariam’s lovelier moon songs, full of gorgeous melody and soaring, ambitious piano movements draped on Mariam’s rhythmic kalimba playing and Craig’s fundamental heartbeat drum.  “Spontaneously Express Your Special Gifts” is an impassioned, psychedelic, electronically-enhanced ballad with another beautiful extended Native flute and vocal conversation from Mariam and we complete today’s show with the aching summer ballad “One More Day” with fine work from the band and a soaring, inspired vocal from Mariam.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #573 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music created by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukulele, mandolin, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars, harmonica and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano, Craig Harris on Native drum and congas and special guest Esencia on acoustic guitar.  Today’s show was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in April of 2024 and begins with “Shanaynayoh”, a mystical meditative piece played over a loop on a singing crystal bowl.  “Fire In My Belly” is a powerful, sparse minor blues with an impassioned vocal from Mariam and “Room Of Doubt” is a folk rocker with a powerful message driven by Mariam’s driving, chiming acoustic guitar.  “Gentle In The Wind” is a hushed, evocative piece full of cascading piano and underpinned with fanfares from Mariam’s Celtic harp and “Every Day Is A New Day” is a beautiful, spacious piece featuring chiming, sparkling 8-string ukulele from Mariam and a circular, groovy conga figure from Craig.  “Ministar Moonbeams” is a straight jazz blues with an evocative vocal from Mariam in conversation with her jazzy harmonica.  Mariam strums her sweetly singing mandolin for “It’s A Lovely Day”, a pretty, swirling piece with another fine vocal over Bob’s ever-shifting, imaginative piano and we welcome guest acoustic guitarist Esencia for today’s last number, the sprawling, meditative, raga-like “Standing Ones Of Piece” also featuring Mariam’s custom-tuned Martin 12-string guitar.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #572 is an hour of dynamic visionary acoustic improvised music played live by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukulele, acoustic guitar, kalimba, mandolin and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Today’s show was recorded in early April of 2024 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts and begins with the majestic waltz of “Oh My Soul”, a beautifully open and expressive piece with a fine vocal from Mariam over gospel piano and a steady, pulsing conga groove.  “Misty Clouds” is a mystical, spacious ballad replete with electronics, vast piano chords and lyrical Native flute passages from Mariam in conversation with her powerful vocal.  The spry folk of “Deva Magic Fire” is imbued with Eastern touches and a drum-tight conga-ukulele-piano rhythm section and “Ryalia”, from the “Release” album, is a beautiful, driving minor folk song with a notable Romani influence in Mariam’s impassioned vocal and fast, tight ukulele strumming.  “Just Walk Away” is a swinging ‘50s rocker also from Mariam’s “Release” album with an appealing, bluesy retro approach and another fine vocal and “Treasures” is a deep, earthen chant built on a pulse of Native drum and a carpet of minor acoustic guitar and piano.  Mariam strums her lustrous, shimmering 8-string ukulele for the pretty, uplifting “Somebody Before You”, a lovely, lilting piece with Mariam’s evocative vocal and busy but spacious gospel piano from Bob and “It’s Just That Way” concludes today’s hour with a hushed, reverent minor ballad built on the imaginative interplay of kalimba, Native drum, piano, Native flute and always Mariam’s clear, expressive voice soaring across the top of the lush, unusual soundstage.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com