Customer Reviews

The Colorful World - Songs from the Diné Heartland

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Jay Begaye, a highly regarded singer from the Dine people (Navajo lands) has often been nominated for music awards and he is again nominated for the 2007 Native American Music Awards. His music is fundamentally traditional in format, with his own lyrics, but he, simply put, has soul. Other more-or-less traditional recordings of Southwest Native peoples have plenty of gusto or reach toward New Age mellowness. Beyaye takes the middle path. With the occasional assistance of flute player Anthony Wakeman for color and tone or Darren Yazzie, for a guitar resonance, his songs convey profound spirit, respect for the land, and both the sorrow and joy of the human condition. He is an artist of sound and sight, being a painter and sculptor as well. The CD sound and engineering are excellent. Begaye's voice is clear, pleasant, and expressive. This recording would be a superb addition to your collection.

The Colorful World: Songs From The Dine Heartland is a compilation of pieces showcasing the award winning musical talents of Jay Begaye and is a welcome and valued addition to Native American music collections. The Dine Nation musical contributions comprising this outstanding recording include: Interstate 40 (4:36); Sending Letters (4:07); Yellowstone Dawn (4:16); "Dine" Flag Song (4:30); Short-N-Snappy (3:57); In Beauty We Walk (4:04); Precious Love (4:53); Cotton Candy/ Lollipop (4:18); Saving Dookoosliid (3:50); and Chicken Dance (2:59), With a total running time of 46:26, The Colorful World presents listeners with a profound beauty of sound and spirit. Also very highly recommended from Canyon Records is Confederacy Style: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Post Falls (CR-6405, $15.99), by the Blackfoot Confederacy.