Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

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

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #531 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Celtic harp, Native flute, acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, harmonica and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in May of 2023, today’s show begins with the lush, hallucinogenic “Every Time”, a jazzy, hypnotic piece that starts with lyric Native flute fanfares from Mariam before settling into swirling minimalism built around Mariam’s sweeping Celtic harp.  Mariam’s open-tuned Martin acoustic 12-string brings in the lush, shaded raga “Let’s Step Aside For The Light To Flow Through The Portal”, a gorgeous, deeply spiritual exploration that culminates with evocative Eastern modes from Mariam’s flute trading off with her beautiful, surreal poetry.  “Into The Realm Of The Night” is a hushed lullaby featuring chiming acoustic guitar from Mariam and “Let’s All Ponder Life” is a pretty folk song driven by Mariam’s dancing ukulele and Craig’s fundamental Native drum.  “Blessed To Be Reborn” is a blues/ragtime piece featuring fine vocals and harmonica from Mariam and Bob’s stride piano and “Jophy The Monkey” is a playful story that reprises this song from several years ago powerfully and dynamically.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Today on Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #530 the Gaea Star Band presents an hour of acoustic visionary improv music featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in late May of 2023, today’s show begins with the mystical and energized “Rivers Running Pure”, a sprawling, ambitious and constantly evolving piece featuring three main movements.  Part Two is as Native flute fanfare from Mariam above swirling piano and Part Three, or “What A Lovely Way” features a gorgeous vocal from Mariam above beautiful, evocative piano themes from Bob.  “It’s Just The Time” is a brooding minor ballad led by Mariam’s ukulele that develops into a powerful prayer and “Every Day” is a lilting folk tune featuring a fine, simple melody from Mariam over imaginative backing from Craig and Bob with Mariam’s chiming 8-string ukulele dancing tirelessly.  Mariam plays her hushed, intense acoustic guitar on “Treasures”, a mysterious, relentless song that rises to an intense crescendo with Bob’s assertive, hypnotic piano figures.  We finish today’s show with the beautiful and classically formal “We Are The Ancient Ones” featuring beautiful, soaring Native flute passages from Mariam over a dusty, timeworn piano backing from Bob.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #529 is an hour of acoustic visionary improvisational music played live by The Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 4- and 8-string ukulele, harmonica, kalimba, sitar, acoustic guitar and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and tabla and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the bucolic, spiritual “Express Yourself”, a gospel-flavored piece with a fine vocal from Mariam.  “Oh Life, You Enrich Me” is a driving, funky blues with the band overdubbing tabla, low drum and more vocals and harmonica from Mariam to create a powerful, thick wall of sound.  “Feel Mother Earth” is a beautiful, melancholy prayer to our home with powerful vocals from Mariam and “Let’s Share Wispy Words Of Wisdom” is a slowly developing, powerful minor groove with congas, piano and acoustic guitar weaving an evocative tapestry under Mariam’s affecting, plaintive vocal.  “Let’s Keep On Dreaming” begins as a delicate whisper of piano and Mariam’s chiming kalimba that grows into an inspiring, open-hearted piece of minimalism.  “This Is The Way” is a fine rock song from Mariam’s “Release” album, here given a psychedelic, driving reading with major-minor ambiguities and a fine vocal from Mariam.  Mariam tunes up her sitar for the raga song cycle “The Easy Way”, a rich drone with tense, expectant piano, soaring Native flute, powerful vocals, lushly astringent sitar and Craig’s ever-present heartbeat.  
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #528 is an hour of visionary acoustic improv music performed by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, dulcimer, acoustic guitar, ukulele, Native flute, shruti box and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in April of 2023, today’s show begins with the uplifting spring ballad “Joly Joly”, a beautifully pagan-sounding air with a lovely vocal and steady dulcimer drone from Mariam.  “Open Wide” is a Native prayer that opens with lovely flute from Mariam and slowly eases into a rich ballad with the addition of Bob’s piano cadences and “Keep Trying To Hold On” is a light, airy piece driven by Mariam’s ukulele and steady congas from Craig.  The minor folk ballad “Blue Green Star” is a song of praise and devotion for the Earth built around Mariam’s languid vocal and acoustic guitar and “Life Unfolds So Sweetly” is a hypnotic, visually rich descriptive piece built on a Native drum pulse from Craig and rich piano cadences and ostinatos from Bob.  “Listen To The Wisdom Of The Ancient Ones” is a rich, reverent raga in a Hindustani mode built around Mariam’s shruti box drone and closes today’s show with gentle beauty.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #527 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, Native flute, ukulele, dulcimer and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Today’s show is recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in mid-April of 2023 and begins with the energized spring anthem “Oh Jaly, Jaly”, a sprightly, bright jam underpinned by Mariam’s chiming dulcimer and Craig’s steady conga work.  “Oh May We All Shine Brightly One Of These Days” is a hypnotic, stately circular song brought into being by an extended Native flute fanfare from Mariam and “Where Life Is Simply Unfolding Sweetly” is a pretty, soulful, bittersweet ballad underpinned by Mariam’s velvety ukulele chords and beautiful melody.  “Full Of Grace” is a beautiful, veiled, minor folk ballad featuring chiming acoustic guitar from Mariam supporting her mystical poetry and “Life Unfolds So Sweetly” is a deeply felt, deeply spiritual ballad with a deep heartbeat pulse from Craig’s Native drum and hypnotic piano from Bob.   “Listen To The Wisdom Of The Ancient Ones” is a lush, mystical raga underpinned by Mariam’s shruti box and featuring imaginative images from Mariam and Hindustani blues piano from Bob to close today’s show on a meditative note.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com