Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #541 is an hour of improvised visionary music played live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, dulcimer, mandolin, shruti box, Celtic harp, piano and 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars, Bob Sherwood on piano and acoustic guitar, Craig Harris on Native drums and congas and today’s special guest Cevher Demirel on hand pan, flute and djembe.  Today’s show was taped at Singing Brook Studio on Worthington, Massachusetts at the end of August 2023 and begins with the meditative, hallucinatory “May We All Heal”, a sweeping, drifting piece underpinned by Cevher’s mystical hand pan work.  “Blessed By Our Lives” is a gorgeous, open song sung beautifully by Mariam in conversation with Cevher’s jazzy flute above a rhythm section of Mariam’s dulcimer and Bob and Craig on piano and congas.  “Dancing With The Goddess” is an exuberant race of mandolin, flute, congas and tense, suspended piano and “Feel It In The Wind (Hallelujah)” is a gorgeous, timeless raga embraced by Mariam’s alternate-tuned Martin 12-string a Cevher’s shaded, evocative hand pan rhythms that evolves and spirals through ever more energized iterations until it settles, at length, into a bittersweet rock groove build around Bob’s aching, obsessive piano figure.  “Purple Fairy Mermaid Princess” is an enigmatic, minimalist groove scattered with shimmering Celtic harp runs from Mariam and “Fire In Our Bellies” is a “Vision Quest” track rendered as a gorgeous minor blues filled with longing, featuring Mariam’s powerful vocal and racing, virtuosic flute from Cevher.  Today’s show wraps with the bracing rock workout “In The Darkness” with Bob on acoustic guitar and Mariam on piano.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #540 is an hour of improvised, visionary acoustic music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, Native flute and kalimba, Bob Sherwood on piano, Craig Harris on congas and Native drums and special guest Nina Rossi on djembe and percussion.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in August of 2023, today’s show begins with the upbeat “Pele”, Mariam’s song to the Fire Goddess of Hawaii, sung in solidarity with those affected by the fires in Maui.  Given a bright, driving reading with strong percussion from Craig and Nina, “Pele” is followed by another Island song, Mariam’s beautiful “Lead Me Down”, tightly rendered with fine contributions from the whole band.  “The Wisdom Way” is a sparse, spacious prayer brought in with a Native flute fanfare from Mariam that resolves into a mysterious, evocative slow rock song with powerful piano from Bob and vocals and flute from Mariam.  “It’s The Transformation” is a rich, swirling, upbeat piece of rock minimalism built on driving, tight percussion from Craig and Nina and “Restore” and “Shamiyaya” follow, both classic songs by Mariam, rendered powerfully and elegantly, the latter receiving overdubs including harmonies and more percussion from the ensemble.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #539 is an hour of improvised, acoustic visionary music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, shruti box, Celtic harp, ukulele and acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano, Craig Harris on Native drums and congas and special guest percussionist Nina Rossi on djembe.  Today’s show was recorded live in August of 2023 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts and begins with the stately minor folk song “You May Touch Someone’s Soul”, featuring a powerful vocal from Mariam, before flowing into “Somaiyana, Rains Filling Up The Rivers”, a mesmerizing, mystical song of praise to the rain, powerful with Nina and Craig’s fundamental rhythm and Mariam’s soaring Native flute.  “Between The Earth And The Sky” is a beautiful, gospel-tinged minor ballad filled with wonder and reverence and featuring a smooth, sedate vocal from Mariam.  “Weave A Sweet Life” arrives as a coda of the prior piece as the band drops in to a sparse, swinging groove to support a powerful conversation between Mariam’s vocal and her Native flute.  “If Only” is a lush, meditative raga built on Mariam’s shruti box drone and a driving rhythm section of djembe, Native drum and bass-heavy piano and the beautiful, floating “Life Is Just Right” closes today’s show with imaginative, open piano fanfares from Bob and chiming mandolin from Mariam.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #538 is an hour of compelling, visionary acoustic improvised music featuring Mariam Massaro and Bob Sherwood from The Gaea Star Band with Mariam on vocals, shruti box, acoustic guitar, mandolin, Celtic harp, Native flute and ukulele and Bob on piano, with special guest percussionist Nina Rossi featured on djembe.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts at the end of July, 2023, today’s show begins with the hypnotic raga “Orange Rays” featuring an evocative vocal from Mariam over Nina’s powerful djembe groove and Bob’s impassioned piano.  “Like A Sweet One” is a beautiful, acoustic guitar-led pop-folk journey and “A Brand New Day” is a beautiful, aching, 50s-style ballad with a gorgeous vocal from Mariam.  “There’s Only One Way” is an expansive, pretty tune with fine vocals from Mariam who leads on her chiming mandolin and “Oh Mana Kiya Hey” is a breathless, spiritual ballad with fine contributions from all the players and a gorgeous Native flute coda from Mariam.  “Ryalia” is a driving, mystical song from the “Release” album given an energized performance here suspended over Nina’s syncopated, imaginative djembe groove.  “Rail Train To Heaven” is a beautiful echo of “Ryalia”’s driving minor sensibility with an aching, emotional vocal from Mariam and we wind up today’s show with Mariam’s charming, swaying waltz “Rays Of Light”.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #537 is an hour-long visionary acoustic improvisation session with The Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, Celtic harp, acoustic guitar, ukulele and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano and tablas and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Today’s show is recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts at the end of July, 2023 and begins with the meditative, serene “Calling In The Rain” as a summer monsoon opens up right as we begin recording.  Featuring mystical Celtic harp runs from Mariam and a pretty, minimalist piano concept from Bob, “Calling In The Rain” features a series of motifs and sections, each more serene and searching over which Mariam weaves a rich lyrical tapestry in conversation with her yearning Native flute passages.   Mariam strums her austere, percussive dulcimer and sings evocative modal melodies for the surreal, floating “Through The Shadows” accompanied by jazzy, bittersweet piano and insistent congas.  For the quiet, contemplative love song “Can You Hear Me Now?” Mariam sets the stage with her acoustic guitar in a beautiful minor setting that evokes this lush, monsoon-like summer day.  “Double-Winged Dragonfly” is an appropriately dancing, manic groove as Mariam’s vocals soar over the fields and forests of the music.    Mariam plays her chiming 8-string ukulele for the skipping “Let’s Illuminate The Glory Of Our Lives”, a light and upbeat folk song with rich, suspended waves of piano from Bob and we finish today’s show with the beautifully dark “Look Upon Me Now” a driving, mystical workout with fine contributions from the whole band and an energized, inspiring message from Mariam.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #536 is an hour of visionary, acoustic improv music performed by Mariam Massaro and Bob Sherwood of The Gaea Star Crystal Band with Mariam on vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, harmonica, native flute and Celtic harp and Bob on piano.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early July of 2023, today’s show begins with the lovely, atmospheric “Brilliantly Shining”, a lush and spacious piece with a gorgeous vocal from Mariam before moving into “Are We Ready?” a powerful gospel folk song driven by Mariam’s chiming acoustic guitar and Bob’s bluesy piano.  “I’m Going Down Deep” is a propulsive folk rock song with a fine vocal from Mariam and anthemic piano from Bob and “Let’s Just Open” is a whispering, spacious prayer defined by the lovely, languid conversation between Mariam’s vocal and Native flute.  “Carry On” begins with bittersweet, whispering ukulele and piano commentary as Mariam’s vocal enters with a beautiful prayer to moving past conscious thought into pure gratitude and “Coming Home” is a yearning, driving modern gospel song from Bob featuring Bob and Mariam on vocals as well as fine, incisive flute from Mariam.  Mariam’s classic “Reborn” song from the “Vision Quest” album is completely repurposed for today’s show, presented in the key of C minor and focused on Mariam’s bluesy, evocative harmonica.  A beautiful, mysterious take of Mariam’s  “Into The Mystery” from the “For The Children” album closes today’s show with a dancing, operatic flair supporting Mariam’s pretty vocal.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #535 is an hour of improvisational, visionary acoustic music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, native flute, ukulele, shruti box, acoustic guitar and banjo, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in mid-June 2023, today’s show begins with the sedate, peaceful “The Calling Of The Forest”, a beautiful ballad in praise of nature featuring a beautiful vocal and soaring Native flute from Mariam.  “You Hear Me In The Morning” is a joyful, spacious folk song led by Mariam’s banjo and “The Crescent Moon” is a veiled, midnight ballad with chiming acoustic guitar from Mariam above a steady, percolating rhythm section of congas and piano from Craig and Bob.  “After Rain” is a pretty, delicate ballad again led by Mariam’s tight acoustic guitar work and “Transforming, Reflecting” is a powerful piece characterized by Mariam’s vocal and flute conversation and striking, contrasting major and minor sections.  Next up is a tight, incisive version of Mariam’s “Twin Flames” from the “Smooth Sailin’ Love Songs” CD and “Spirit Of The Forest” from the “Vision Quest” album is built around Mariam’s chiming ukulele and plaintive vocal.  Today’s show finishes with the beautiful raga “As The Pages Turn”, a somber, Russian-influenced drone held down by Mariam’s shruti box as Bob develops a Prokofiev-styled piano motif to support Mariam’s delicate vocal.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #534 is an hour of compelling, energized acoustic improvisational music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, Celtic harp, dulcimer, mandolin, acoustic guitar and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Taped live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early June of 2023, we begin today’s session with “Running Clear” an evocation of watery images of rain and rivers with a mystical, jazzy, gypsy feel led by Mariam’s fiery acoustic guitar and continue with the stately “Imagination”, a simple, elegant, regal piece with a beautiful vocal and Native flute dialog from Mariam above swirling Celtic harp and jazz-gospel piano work from Bob over Craig’s deep earthy heartbeat.  “In The Early Morning” begins hushed and mysterious over a circular, echoed piano figure and Mariam’s gorgeous morning melody and develops into a beautiful, minimal song built around Mariam’s pretty, chiming mandolin and yearning Native flute passages.  This epic piece builds to a chaotic, driving crescendo full of compelling instrumental features, production effects and supercharged rhythm from Craig on congas.  “Just Walk Away”, a bittersweet number from the “Release” album is given a wistful reading and “Just Hang On” features Mariam’s dulcimer creating an ancient, evocative drone for this upbeat yet mysterious folk song.  Today’s highlight is the deep, earthy, dulcimer-and-Native flute workout “May We All Be Ministers”, a gorgeous raga built on incredibly simple yet affecting elements; the droning chime of the dulcimer, an unusually evocative repeating 8-note figure from the piano, and soaring Native flute from Mariam.  We conclude today’s show with the gentle, floating raga “Feeling Deep Inside”, a compelling hybrid of light language, fundamental Native American rhythms, Eastern European folk and Indian and British Isles modes.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #533 is an hour of visionary acoustic improv music played live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, mandolin, ukulele, acoustic 6- and 12- string guitars, Celtic harp and Native flute, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in mid-June of 2023, today’s show begins with shimmering, underwater textures of “Alive In The Beauty”, an exploration of the sea depths built around Mariam’s caressing Celtic harp.  “If You Knew”, led by Mariam on mandolin, is a dancing gypsy ballad with beautiful piano figurations from Bob duetting with Mariam’s compelling vocal and “Oh May We Meet, Oh May We Greet”, another number featuring Mariam’s chiming mandolin, is a driving, compelling folk song with another fine vocal from Mariam.  “Pacha Mama”, a classic track from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Goddesses” album in dusted off today for an energized run through and “Thistle In The Wind” from the “For The Children” album is a bluesy jam with a fine conga track from Craig supporting Mariam’s whimsical ukulele.  We finish today’s show with the mysterious, evocative raga “Nurture Every Moment” an exploration of the Hindustani mode built on the rich, fiery drone of Mariam’s Martin 12-string acoustic tuned in DADGAD.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #532 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music recorded live with the Gaea Star Band at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in June of 2023.  Featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, native flute, kalimba, shrudi box, acoustic guitar and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and native drums, today’s show begins with the jazzy, meditative “Every Time”, a celebration of the coming of spring featuring beautiful vocals and native flute passages from Mariam.  We follow with the sprightly “Morning Star Is Rising”, driven by Mariam’s ukulele and steady conga work from Craig.  Mariam moves to her acoustic guitar for “Happy Day”, a lush and mystical minor ballad decorated with a lovely vocal from Mariam and imaginative piano figurations from Bob.  “Reborn” is a driving classic from Mariam’s “Vision Quest” album, a powerful song about transformation, death and rebirth presented in a driving, intense minor key rock groove.  “Yidiyayhehho” is a pretty piece of music built around a Native American song, preceded by Mariam’s Indian raga song “Lotus Queens” and an imaginative turn from minor to major modes with a sweet, insistent piano figure from Bob.  We conclude with another classic from Mariam, the mystical “Distant Star”, presented here with a relaxed, Latin feel.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com