Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #526 is an hour of visionary acoustic improv music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars, ukulele and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Today we feature special guests Nina Rossi on percussion, vocals and djembe and Cevher Demirel on handpan, flute and bongos.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in April 2023, today’s show begins with the stately, mystical “Sail Into The Light Of A New Day Dawning”, a gorgeous, spacious ballad featuring a rich, mesmerizing vocal from Mariam and Cevher’s otherworldly handpan.  Mariam provides the rich, mystical drone of “May We Serve Our Souls’ Deepest Dreams” with her Martin 12-string acoustic as Cevher’s handpan and Bob’s piano weave a rich harmonic tapestry above Craig and Nina’s hypnotic drum work.  The tempo and intensity rise for “Beautiful Portal Of Light”, an evocative, driving piece again featuring Mariam’s chiming 12-string and Cevher’s striking handpan that morphs from mystical into driving, raw Afro-Cuban rock with powerful, funky left hand work from Bob on piano.  “Won’t You?” is a strikingly innocent, open love song built around Mariam’s gorgeous vocal and chiming 8-string ukulele, punctuated beautifully with Cevher’s flute and Mariam’s “Circle Of Light” is dressed in an Eastern gown with Mariam’s acoustic guitar and Cevher’s handpan forming a powerful modal center for a powerfully musical, reverent prayer.   A delicate, beautiful, extended Native flute exploration from Mariam atop a percolating, compelling rhythm section and obsessive, aching, minimalist piano bring in today’s closing number, the drifting, bittersweet “The Glory”, a richly evocative piece featuring tight ensemble, top notch in situ composition and a lush and easeful 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 #525 is an inspired hour of original, visionary acoustic music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukulele, dulcimer and acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and bass guitar, Craig Harris on congas and Native drums and special guest drummer and singer Nina Rossi on djembe and background vocals,  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in April 2023, today’s show begins with the mystical, sparse, spacious “Let’s Illuminate The Glory Of Life”, a lilting tone poem with Mariam’s vocal and Native flute duetting seamlessly.  “”Shamiyaya” is an island song from Mariam’s “Release” album given a powerful reggae workout by the ensemble and “You’re The One” from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album is starkly powerful with a fine vocal from Mariam.  “What A Great Day” is a gorgeous, stately song distinguished by fine stream of April consciousness from Mariam over a circular, anthemic piano figure from Bob.  “Calling Us Home” and “Flowers Of Delight” are both drawn from the “Release” album, the former mystical and powerfully driving, the latter relaxed and shrouded in a summer haze.  “Vision Quest” from the “Vision Quest” album closes today’s show with echoes of Africa and of the forest over an ensemble of marimba, djembe, Mariam’s vocal and native flute and Bob’s restless, percolating piano.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #524 is an hour of improvised visionary, acoustic music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, dulcimer, acoustic guitar, 4- and 8-string ukulele and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano, Craig Harris on Native drum and congas, and today’s special guest percussionist Nina Rossi on djembe.  Today’s show was recorded live at the beginning of April 2023 and begins with the uplifting, punchy “Hello Spring”, an upbeat folk song carried by Mariam’s 8-string ukulele and a strong, tight bed of percussion from Craig and Nina.  “One Step At A Time” is a powerful rock song featuring a powerful vocal from Mariam above her chiming dulcimer and “You Rise Me Up” is a gorgeous folk epic that visits the blues through folk and driving rock sections.  “Thank You For It All” steers the band straight into a melancholy, beautiful, stately piece with powerful percussion and virtuoso flute pirouettes from Mariam.  “Beautiful Rays” is a gorgeous, meditative raga with Mariam’s shruti box as drone as Bob explores a veiled, mysterious Hindustani mode in a varied dance with Mariam’s lush melody.  “Oh The Sound Of The River” is a deep, jazz fusion piece with funky left-hand basslines from Bob over the powerful beat of Craig and Nina and “It’s a Gentle Way” closes today’s show with a gorgeous piece that visits understated baroque and rock modalities.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #523 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music brought to you by Mariam Massaro and Bob Sherwood of the Gaea Star Band.  Recorded in March of 2023 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show begins with the compelling “It’s All Inside Of You”, a rockish piece featuring overdubbed vocals and harmonica from Mariam and piano from Bob over a live track of Mariam on vocals and acoustic guitar and Bob on congas.  “The Moon Is Rising” is a hypnotic, psychedelic, impressionistic piece featuring a lovely, wintery vocals and plaintive Native flute from Mariam and “Beginning And Ending” is a beautiful, deep folk song driven by Mariam’s bouncing ukulele and Bob’s playful, bright piano figures.  “Spring Returns To The Forest” is a drifting, impressionistic tale of the woodlands featuring beautiful, hypnotic Native flute and Celtic harp from Mariam that grows and blooms into a rich, gorgeous, evocative tone poem and Mariam’s droning shruti box becomes the basis for the beautiful, peaceful, surreal “Sailing”, a romantic, evocative piece with stately piano from Bob and a fine vocal from Mariam.  “The Medicine Path” is a gentle, lilting folk song driven by Mariam’s chiming acoustic guitar and “She” is a playful blues featuring barrelhouse piano from Bob and sprightly 8-string ukulele from Mariam.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #522 is an hour of visionary, deeply creative acoustic improvised music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, 6- and 8-string ukulele, harmonica and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and bass guitar and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio and mixed at Dragonfly Sound, today’s episode begins with the wistful “Shamaya”, a beautiful ballad that explores and honors both the wild and gentle aspects of our domestic animals that features a lovely live and overdubbed vocal and lyrical Native flute from Mariam.  “Let’s Raise The Bar” is a sprightly, dancing piece driven by Mariam’s bouncing ukulele and “Finding Our Way” is a smooth blues supported by Bob’s stride piano and Craig’s tight drumming as Mariam alternates between her hopeful, inspiring lyric and bluesy harmonica.  The song moves into a stately, inspired gospel vibe and returns to tight blues for the coda with fine New Orleans piano from Bob as Mariam decorates with harmonica.  “Singing For Everyone” is a peaceful folk ballad carried along by Mariam’s sparkling acoustic guitar and “Calling In Spring” is an Island blues with Mariam’s chiming 8-string uke and Bob’s Eastern-leaning piano bookending a wide, generous set of ethnic influences to present a hopeful, childlike prayer for spring.  “Star Ray” is a wistful, pretty minor exploration set in motion by Mariam’s light ukulele and beautiful melody and “Hold On To Your Passions” is a sprawling, deeply creative exploration that slowly climbs to a driving, intense, impassioned zenith in a powerful dance of Native drum, Native flute and piano before slowly drifting away in an evocative mixture of jazz, classical and minimalist moves.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #521 is an hour of unique visionary acoustic improvisational music played live by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, Celtic harp, ukulele, shruti box, acoustic guitar and kalimba, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in late February of 2023 today’s show begins with the fundamental, hypnotic “Just Step on Through”, a poem by Mariam delivered to a sparse Native groove with expressive Native flute interpolations.  “Thank You For The Melody” is a sweet, meditative ballad underpinned by Mariam’s chiming, celestial harp and lovely vocals and “Alive, Awake And Aware” is a stately, majestic ballad driven by powerful rock gospel piano from Bob as Mariam provides color with her kalimba to accompany her inspiring lyrics.  “Peace Walkers” is a lush, expressive, minimalist drone driven by Mariam’s shruti box that expresses a breathless, sweeping quality and electronic touches to underpin Mariam’s powerful prayer.  “As We Grow Up Now” is a pretty folk song driven by Mariam’s taut, rhythmic ukulele, Craig’s steady conga work and Bob’s minimalist, trancelike piano and “Manifesting Goals” is a crisp, tight, skipping meditation driven by Mariam’s acoustic guitar and inspiring lyric.  We close today with a powerful, casually virtuosic take of Mariam’s “Queen Of Heaven” from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” album, a mystical waltz that honors Earth’s first Goddess.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #520 is an hour of inspired, visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, Native flute, shruti box and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in mid-February of 2023, today’s show begins with the peaceful, flowing “In Your Sacred Life”, a beautiful with a powerful, inspired vocal from Mariam over a hushed, gently flowing rhythm section and “Magnificence Of Nature” follows with minor key Eastern European folk overtones as Mariam lays the foundation with her acoustic guitar for this blossoming, mystical song.  “Transformation Has Arrived” begins as a playful, skipping folk song led by Mariam’s chiming 8-string ukulele and gradually assumes its final shape as an epic, widescreen gospel piece, inspiring and elegiac.  “Misty Clouds Sailing” is a bittersweet, droning tone poem led by Mariam’s shruti box and evocative lyric and “Mountain Of Love Rising So High” concludes today’s show with a hypnotic, whispering character that seduces with its soft, poetic melody and imaginative harmonic touches.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #519 is an hour of improvised visionary acoustic music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 12- and 6-strong acoustic guitars and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and tabla and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early February of 2023, today’s show starts with Mariam leading the meditative raga “Let’s Unravel As We Serve Our Soul’s Deepest Longing And Light” on her chiming acoustic 12-string guitar  “Gonna Take My Time” begins as a conversations between Mariam’s Native flute and her inspired vocals, deployed over a backdrop of Native drum and tabla until Bob’s piano soars in in a series of evocative arpeggios and “Always Listen” is a sprawling, elegiac gospel folk song featuring more fine Native flute from Mariam over Bob’s circular, expanding piano figures.  Special guest vocalist Eve Cristoph joins us for the evocative minor folk of “Bring It Forth” and “Winter’s Glory” is a mesmerizing, trancelike blues piece driven by Mariam’s chiming ukulele over a rhythm section of pulsing Native drum and imaginative, energized piano.  Today’s show concludes with the mystical, understated “Calling In The Beauty”, a drifting, lushly repeating song that steadily grows in energy until it floats gently away on clouds of celestial piano.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #518 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played live by the Gaea Star Band in early January of 2023.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today’s show features Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukulele, shruti box, harmonica and percussion, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  We begin today’s show with the driving, energized, inspiring “At Last”, a dramatic, bright song featuring fine work from the whole ensemble built on Craig’s powerful heartbeat.  Mariam ushers in the beautiful, mystical “Cradle Me” with Native flute and shruti box and Bob takes up a circular gospel figure as the song settles into a hushed yet powerful prayer.  “Earth Dwellers In The Rain” is a hushed, intense song built on an unsettled, stormy piano cadence from Bob that recalls rain, mist and shifting winds.  “All Float Away On A Moonlight Night” is a rocking, evocative take on that most iconic subjects of Mariam’s lyrical interest, namely the Moon.  This beautiful, hypnotic song features a gorgeous vocal, driving rhythm from the band and imaginative, mesmerizing piano figures from Bob that pull the song ever deeper into the vortex of funk.  “Eternally Trusting” is a delicate, wintery, drifting piece with a frosty piano ostinato from Bob woven through Mariam’s precise, chiming ukulele and Craig’s heartbeat congas and “Open Wide To Receive” is an aching, beautiful nursery rhyme of a song distinguished by a lovely, drifting vocal from Mariam  We finish today’s show with a powerful, tight reading of Mariam’s classic island song “Pele”, delivered with fire and assurance from the whole group, built around Mariam’s tight, punchy soprano ukulele.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #517 is an hour of visionary improvised acoustic music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, harmonica, Native flute, ukulele, acoustic guitar, shruti box and piano, Bob Sherwood on piano, bass guitar and vocals and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early January of 2023, today’s show begins with the uplifting “Happy To Live With Grace”, a bluesy celebration of a simple life that leads into the sweet, minor exploration “Oh To Be Alive” which features Mariam on piano and vocals and Bob on bass guitar.  Bob takes over on lead vocals and piano for his new song “It’s Just The Rain” and “Ever Higher Bridging The Realms” comes in two parts, the first a beautiful, somber folk song led by Mariam on acoustic guitar and vocals and the second a swirling, evocative piece with an inspired, beautifully surreal lyric from Mariam.  Mariam’s sprightly island song “Shamiyaya” receives an upbeat, tight reading featuring harmonies from Bob and “Spirit Of The Forest” from the Release CD is presented in a stately, elegant and deeply spiritual context.  We conclude today’s show with the rich, detailed “Gathering Our New Stories”, a lush raga that is treated to overdubs of Mariam on vocals and Native flute, Craig on Native drums and Bob on bass guitar.
Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com