Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #546 is an hour of visionary, acoustic improvisational music played live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, kalimba, harmonica, mandolin, ukulele and acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Taped live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early October of 2023, today’s show begins with the whispering, evocative “The Emerald Dragon” featuring Mariam’s breathless vocal and rhythmically driving kalimba wrapping around Bob’s minimalist, hypnotic piano from Bob.  “The Pearl Full Moon” is a charming, ukulele-led folk song in praise of the autumn night sky that spirals upwards with ever more drama and energy and “Did You Forget You Dreamed Yourself Alive?” is a pretty, gospel-inspired piece, a steady rhythm section of congas and piano providing a frame for Mariam’s reverent vocal and bluesy harmonica as it gradually expresses more and more energy.  “Let’s All Become Easy” is a gorgeous, mysterious minor ballad led by Mariam’s tight, chiming acoustic guitar that evokes a deep peace and “I Am The Mother Earth” from the “Visionquest” CD is given a powerful, spiritual outing with energized performances from the whole band and a fine, powerful vocal from Mariam.  Today’s final number, the rambling, ambitious “Celebrating Our Rhythm” is an epic, affecting piece of modern blues music that the band stretches through various feels and configurations, building on Mariam’s driving mandolin and solid, imaginative congas from Craig.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #545 is an hour of live, visionary acoustic improvisational music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Celtic harp, Native flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in September of 2023, today’s show begins as a series of striking flute fanfares from Mariam bring in the mystical “Through The Window Of Life”, a drifting, impressionistic piece built on Mariam’s sweeping Celtic harp and affecting lyric.  “Oh The Rain On Equinox” is a rich, beautiful minor waltz led by Mariam’s chiming mandolin and Bob’s bittersweet piano ostinato and “To The Places Of Power” is a fine folk ballad with Mariam’s steady acoustic guitar braiding with Craig’s swinging conga work.  “Living In The Glory” brings in a shaded, minor, rainy day mood and is a beautiful ballad led by Mariam’s affecting vocal and gently strummed acoustic guitar.  The evocative, gently growing “Beckoning Fire” is ushered in with Mariam’s rhythmic ukulele and Bob’s spiraling, weaving piano and explores several paths, alternately gentle and driving.  “I’m So Happy I’m Alive” from the “For The Children” album closes today’s show in a flowing, impressionistic version sweetened by Mariam’s rich 8-string ukulele “Oscar”.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #544 is an hour of visionary, improvised acoustic music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, Celtic harp, 8- and 4-string ukulele, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitar, harmonica and mandolin, 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 languid, peaceful “The Feeling Of Rain”, a meditative piece featuring evocative melodies and Native flute explorations from Mariam.  “In Peaceful Ways” is a powerful rock ballad featuring overdubs of bass guitar, vocals and percussion to create a rich, percolating backdrop for Mariam’s vocals and “Oh The Crickets” is a pretty paean to summer built around Mariam’s charming 8-string ukulele and powerful, open gospel piano from Bob.  “Hurricane” is a tense, unsettled prayer to severe weather, a powerful groove built on Craig’s foundational congas featuring racing piano motifs that peek like sunshine through the low, grey sky.  “Trust” is a track from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album that the band takes in an open, almost African direction with Craig’s steady Native drum and Bob’s Serengeti-evoking piano runs.  “Simple Beauty Calling” is a rich, mystical raga supporting a powerful vocal from Mariam above the rhythm of congas, 12-string Martin acoustic guitar and piano.  Today’s show wraps with another reinterpretation of a song from Mariam’s “Gaea Star Crystal” album, this time the powerful gospel song “Sing Down The Walls” is given a beautiful, bright, open reading with a fine 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 #543 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, kalimba, mandolin, Native flute, acoustic guitar, shruti box and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts at the beginning of September 2023,  today’s show begins with the languid, unhurried “Reflect Your Light”, a gentle prayer featuring a lovely vocal from Mariam in conversation with her Native flute and detailed baroque piano from Bob.  “Somebody Before You” is a skipping folk song led by Mariam’s chiming mandolin and “Let’s Believe We’ll Rise” is a gorgeous, mystical song energized by Mariam’s driving, tight acoustic guitar work.  “Comtemplation” is an easeful country gospel song featuring a fine, reverent vocal from Mariam above Craig’s heartbeat Native drumming and “Calling Us Home” is a gorgeous song from Mariam’s “Release” album, rendered with power and imagination, with fine playing from the whole band supporting an impassioned vocal from Mariam.  “Rivers Of Peace” is an evocative spacious raga underpinned by Mariam’s shruti box and tense, modal piano from Bob and “To Begin Again With Hope” is a powerful, gorgeous prayer with a soaring, inspired vocal from Mariam and virtuosic, dancing piano from Bob.  Today’s show finishes with the “Gaea Star Goddesses” track “Yemanja”, a mystical ode to the Yoruban ocean goddess rendered with a rhythm and blues twist.  
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #542 is an hour of compelling, visionary acoustic improv music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, ukulele, Native flute, harmonica, mandolin, acoustic guitar and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded live in September 2023 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massacusetts, today’s show begins with the languid, spacious “Begin With Love” a gorgeous, affecting ballad with Mariam interspersing a gracious, solemn vocal with Native flute fanfares.  “Come On Now” is a beautiful ballad led by Mariam’s chiming ukulele and harmonica colorings and “Dissolving Into Light” is a mysterious, percolating minor exploration led by Bob’s racing, minimalist piano composition.  “Omajina”, driven by Mariam’s acoustic guitar, is a peaceful, unhurried ballad underpinned by Craig’s throbbing Native drum work and “Super Blue Moon” is a gently driving rock song with Eastern flavors and a fine lyric from Mariam.  “Just Walk Away”, from the “Release” album is presented with a ‘50s rock and roll vibe and “Open Every Day” from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album closes today’s show with a veiled, mysterious, evocative take from the band and a fine 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 #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