Customer Reviews

Island of Bows

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

R. Carlos Nakai, master of the Native American flute (among a variety of other instruments), joins forces with Japanese musicians--the Wind Travelin' Band, Shonosuke Ohkura (kotsuzumi/drum), and Oki Kano (of Ainu, or Native Japanese, heritage, who plays the stringed kontori). Led, on most of the tracks on "Island of Bows", by Nakai's haunting flute, they produce a sinuous blend of sound with the various wind and stringed instruments twining around each other, Nakai acting almost like some sort of pied piper, pushing and pulling the music in subtly different directions. And all of this underlain and supported by the subtle rhythms of the percussionists. The sonic landscape that these musicians create is redolent of the Far East and the American Southwest, with a gauzy overlay of western classicism evident mainly in the structure of some of the pieces. On an excellent CD, one track, "Cloud Temple" stands out as compelling blend of all of these disparate influences. Althogther, this is "world music" at its best.

One other editorial comment is in order. While I am sure that "Island of Bows" has found its way into numerous spas, New Age crystal shops, and the like, this is not simply musical wallpaper. This is a cd that deserves careful listening.

This is a very good CD. It's recorded in Kyoto, Japan at the Hounji Temple with Nakai on American flute and Japanese musicians playing traditional Japanese instruments. We took it with us camping at Yosemite and it felt amazing to hear such beautiful, soothing music with nature's amazing backdrop. It's slow rythmic music for relaxing times.

I am always looking for soothing music to fall asleep to. This is one of the cd's that past the test.

Long before Carlos Nakai collaborated with Hawaiian guitarist Keola Beamer,he collaborated-way back in 1993-with Japanese musicians,joining them in making music within a temple in Kyoto.

"Island of Bows" powerfully uses natural sounds,Japanese acoustic instruments,and of course,the Navajo flute.One of Nakai's collaborators is Oki Kano,an Ainu (native Japanese),who also appears on Putumayo's "Music from the Tea Lands." "Island of Bows" is contemplative,beautiful,bringing together the traditions of the Navajo and the Japanese.

Nakai is a master and this is one of his best works for those of you in a quiet mode. I put this on and relax even if I'm busy doing things. I practice Tai Chi and this music is what we use during stretching exercises and nothing could be more perfect. The music is ethereal and transports you to another world.