Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #568 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, shruti box, ukulele, Celtic harp, mandolin and Native flute, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in March of 2024, today’s show begins with the lyrical, mystical “Whatever It Takes”, a sweetly steady song led by Mariam’s chiming acoustic guitar behind an impassioned prayer for Spring.  “Every Day In Every Way” begins as a rich series of Native flute and vocal fanfares and evolves into a deep, unhurried conversation between flute, Native drum, soaring vocals and flute.  “We Are The Ancient Ones” is a beautiful, staid journey of Native flute and evocative vocal, compellingly composed piano and fundamental congas and “Flowers Of Delight” is a track from the “Release” album given a richly emotional reading here by the band.  “Let’s All Imagine (We’ll Live To Be 100)” continues today’s creative pattern of growing from a fundamental Native flute and drum vibe into a beautiful, mystical creation, a compelling rhythm section supporting an ever-unwinding series of conversations between Mariam’s rich, burnished storytelling and evocative Native flute journeys.  This powerful suite drifts into a jazzy Eastern European tonality until it introduces “She’s Alive”, a seductive, grooving, foundational jam with more hallucinogenic storytelling from Mariam and “Royal Blue” is a gorgeous, spacious drone piece built around the polychord drone of Mariam’s shruti box and mandolin.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #567 is a compelling, dynamic hour of live, improvised visionary acoustic music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic and 12-string acoustic guitar, ukulele, mandolin and Native flute, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in March of 2024, today’s show begins with the tense, mystical “Stay Strong, Revitalize”, a dense piece with imaginative, tension-filled piano from Bob and a fine vocal from Mariam.  “In The Silence Of The Stillness” is a sprightly folk song propelled by chiming mandolin from Mariam and “Tuck Me Inside” is a gorgeous, tender ballad with stilled piano and lyrical acoustic guitar laid over a steady conga groove from Craig.  “A Blessed Day” is a pretty minor ballad with a swinging, samba-like vibe and “What About Everyone Else” coalesces slowly around Mariam’s flute fanfares into a stately, gospel-inflected meditation.  We close today’s show with the rich, mystical raga “The Ides Of March”, a patient, lush piece with modern, tense piano from Bob over Mariam’s chiming, carpet-like 12-string acoustic chords.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #566 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukulele and harmonica, Bob Sherwood on piano and bass guitar and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in early March of 2024, today’s show begins with the powerfully driving and celebratory “The Waters Of Gaea Star” an impassioned song of praise to our planet as spring arrives on the horizon.  “Let The Spiral Swirl Within” maintains the high, playful, positive energy of today’s opening number adding a jazzy, slightly Gershwinesque element supporting more stream-of-consciousness spring observations from Mariam above a driving rhythm section of congas, piano and ukulele.  “The Love Star” is a beautiful, melancholy love song built on a rich, evocative minor harmonic signature with a gorgeous, deeply-felt vocal from Mariam and “Let’s Fly Away Free” is an unhurried, meditative piece that supports a lush, rich conversation between Mariam’s languid vocal and Native flute fanfares.  “Hallelujah Today” is a jazz blues with a fine, ragged edge ushered in with Mariam’s harmonica in conversation with Bob’s vintage blues piano and “I Am Guided By Love” is a pretty, skipping folk song built on Mariam’s chiming mandolin and Craig’s loping, steady conga work.  We conclude today’s show with powerful renditions of two songs from Mariam’s albums, firstly the driving, virtuosic take of “Sail To The Realms” from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album and concluding today’s show an energized take of “Pele” from the “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 #565 is an hour of improvised, visionary acoustic music from the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, dulcimer, Celtic harp, shruti box and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Taped live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in late February of 2023, today’s show begins with the alluring, gently unfolding “Full Moon”, a silvery, delicate piece framed by Mariam’s chiming acoustic guitar and Bob’s embracing piano figures.  “Oh, Heavenly Mother” continues a lush, romantic mood with Mariam’s gentle vocal over a whispery, steady rhythm track and “On The Way Home” is a gorgeous, ambitious, unsettled epic with another exceptional vocal from Mariam and energized, imaginative, jazzy support from the ensemble.   “The Key Is To Only Do What Makes You Sparkle” is a slow, stately song with a deeply affecting conversation between Mariam’s somber, soaring vocal and lyrical, spacious Native flute, heartbeat Native drum and expansive gospel piano.  “Yemanja” from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” album is re-animated as a beautiful, dulcimer-drone based raga, powerful and driving and adorned with Mariam’s vivid ocean-and-sky word pictures.  “There’s Only One Way” is a pure, simple, powerful folk song with a deep, throbbing heartbeat and “Seeds In The Ground”, Mariam’s country blues rocker from the “For The Children” album is taken out for a kinetic, energized spin.  We close today’s show with the somber, patient, spacious “Hope”, another gentle vehicle for a rich vocal-and-flute conversation from Mariam set to modern jazz piano.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #564 is an hour of live visionary improvisational acoustic music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, mandolin, dulcimer, Celtic harp and Native flute, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded in February 2024 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the dramatic, stirring “The Castle Of Our Dreams”, a surreal piece with a lyrical, mystical lyric from Mariam and swirling, unsettled piano from Bob.  “Who Am I?” is a beautiful, serene, spacious piece with lovely Native flute passages and a powerful, circular gospel motif on piano and “We’re The Ones” is a driving folk rock song driven by Mariam’s chiming acoustic guitar and soaring vocal.  “The Presence Of The Almighty” is an alternately funky and stately song with gorgeous Native flute passages that land out ahead of the ensemble like a brave, solitary bird.  “Rays Of Light” is a waltz by Mariam with an iconic, folky feel and a fine, inspired vocal and “Still Searching” is a majestic, spacious song full of conversation and response between Mariam’s soaring vocal and lyrical Native flute.  “Children Of The Stars” is an interesting drone-based take on the original from Mariam’s “For The Children” album featuring alluring, rhythmic dulcimer from Mariam above a thick bed of percussion and syncopated piano.  “Your Eyes Shine” is arguably Mariam’s most inspired love song and never fails to ignite.  Today’s version does not disappoint with its heartbeat Native drum, active piano, tight acoustic guitar and a sensual, behind-the-beat vocal from Mariam.  We conclude today’s show with “Spirit Of Fire”, a track from the “Vision Quest” album rendered here with a powerful tenderness and vulnerability.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #563 is an hour of improvised, visionary acoustic music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, harmonica, Celtic harp, ukulele and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts on a cold February afternoon in 2024, today’s show begins with the serene and powerful ballad “Nurture Your Divinity”, a lush, mystical piece featuring a supple, emotive vocal from Mariam above Craig’s heartbeat congas.  “Falling Away” is a hushed, bittersweet ballad with another fine vocal from Mariam and “Come On Home” is a pretty 50’s-styled waltz with delicate piano and chiming ukulele underpinning Mariam’s soaring vocal.  “I Am One” is a showcase for Mariam’s soaring Native flute passages and hushed, intense vocal and “Fire, Fire, Burning Bright” is a dancing folk reel featuring a beautiful melody from Mariam above her chiming mandolin and lush gospel piano from Bob.  “Mighty Are The Wings Of Love” eases in with Craig’s swinging congas and bluesy harmonica from Mariam and grows sweetly into a hypnotic, pedaling gospel rock song and “In The Night” is a gorgeous, mysterious meditation on the night sky with a sparse, mystical piano and vocals and Craig’s thrumming Native drum.  “In The Night” has a bossa nova jazz coda with fine Native flute soloing from Mariam over the tight, syncopated rhythm section.   “We’re Sailing Down” is a heartbreakingly pretty song that projects easeful peace and soft wind and “The Angels Are Coming” closes today’s show on an upbeat gospel note with reverent piano from Bob and driving, energized acoustic guitar from Mariam.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #562 is an hour of visionary, acoustic improv music played by The Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, dulcimer, Native flute, kalimba and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in February of 2024, today’s show begins with the steady, regal folk rock of “The Portal Is Opening”, a deep and evocative song featuring a fine vocal from Mariam and dramatic piano from Bob.  “Bring It All Back” is a hushed, shaded piece with a jazzy undertone and “River Of Light” is a mystical piece with gorgeous Native flute explorations from Mariam.  “You Are At Peace” is a minimal, earthy groove with an inspiring lyric and delicate Native flute from Mariam that grows into a unique, modern jazz-vibed piece with fine vocals and exploratory, modern classical/jazz piano.  “Find The Way” reasserts a folk vibe with a dancing, Americana groove driven along by Mariam’s chiming mandolin and “Perhaps” is a powerful, spiritual ballad with fine, dynamic work from the whole ensemble and a powerful vocal from Mariam.  “Take This Day” returns to the modern Afro Cuban vibe with a funky rhythm track and bluesy, Ray Charles piano morphing slowly into reggae under Mariam’s soaring melody.  We conclude today’s show with two of older songs from Mariam, the light, folky “Sing Down The Walls” and the equally darkly shaded “Amaru Machay” which is given a pounding, primitive rhythm to support Mariam’s Incan chant.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #561 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, kalimba, acoustic guitar, mandolin and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Today’s show was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in late January of 2024 and begins with the stately, solemn “Simply Be”.  Mariam’s powerful vocal and lyrical Native flute, Craig’s heartbeat drum and Bob’s imaginative, restless piano make this track compelling and varied.  “Oh Holy Ones” is a jazzy, dynamic song with a fine rock vocal from Mariam and “The Candle Of Our Dreams” is a beautiful, mysterious ballad led by Mariam’s bittersweet Gypsy acoustic guitar work.  Mariam strums her shimmering 8-string ukulele for the pretty, delicate “Radiant Love”, a gorgeous, 50’s-inflected song with a gorgeous vocal and luxurious floating clouds of piano.  “On Wings Of Blue Gossamer” is a spacious, unhurried ballad built on Bob’s Eastern European harmonic scheme and featuring a fine vocal-and-flute conversation from Mariam.  “We’re In The Light And The Darkness” is a finely composed, clever piece made evocative with Mariam’s defining, ringing mandolin and fine vocal and “Welcome Home” is an energized blues with racing congas and fiery piano from Bob that gradually coalesces into a stately, inspired gospel ballad.  “Just Breathe” is a pretty, light ballad with beautiful vocals from Mariam.  We close today with the mysterious, deeply romantic “Twin Flame” from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Goddesses” album and “Lead Me Down”, a plucky island reggae from the “Release” album
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #560 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, Native flute, mandolin and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Today’s show was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, in January of 2024 and begins with the brisk, bracing “Maka Hey”, an acoustic guitar-driven rocker that gives way to “Illusions”, a conga-driven tone poem with a fine vocal from Mariam.  “I’m Onto Something New” is a pretty folk song with a fine melody and clever, minimal piano work and “Mighty Wisdom Channel” is a brisk, dancing folk reel given its bounce by Mariam’s sprightly mandolin.  “Over And Over Again” is a fine folk waltz given structure by Mariam’s tight ukulele and Bob’s formalist, 19th century piano figurations.  “On This Holy Day” is a rich, beautiful, minimalist piece featuring a deep earth pulse from Craig’s Native drum, gorgeous Native flute work from Mariam and a jazzy, circular theme from Bob.  “Sea Of Love” is an intense rock song with a fine vocal from Mariam and compelling, evolving piano and “Memories” is a pretty, simple ballad that grows into an intense whirlwind of sound.  “Shamiyaya”, one of Mariam’s sunniest island songs, closes out the show today with a burst of sunshine and energy.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #559 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, ukulele, harmonica, Celtic harp and 12-string acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Recording Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in January of 2024, today’s show begins with the hushed, melancholy “May We Shine Brightly” before easing into the equally meditative ballad “Keep Coming Around (The Path Of Love)”.  “Into Your Heart” is a powerful, sprawling exploration punctuated by evocative Native flute from Mariam and “I’m Rising” is a sweet folk blues featuring dancing ukulele and a fine, upbeat vocal from Mariam.  “It’s Never Too Late” is an ode to late bloomers that uses a driving blues format to make its point and “Oh The Bliss Of Life” is a gorgeous, gospel-inflected ballad featuring Craig’s throbbing, fundamental Native drum and a beautiful, spacious vocal from Mariam.  “Reach Out” is another blues punctuated by Mariam’s front porch harmonica work and we complete today’s episode with a twin set of powerful drone pieces driven by Mariam’s lush, jangling 12-string acoustic guitar, “Rhiannon” and “Lakshmi” and Craig’s powerful drumming.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com