Many Blessings: A Native American Celebration

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Silver Wave
• ASIN: B0002VGRPY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #438,386 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Silver Wave label has long been dedicated to presenting and promoting Native American music in an un-marginalized yet non-mainstream manner. Their catalogue ranges from faithful renderings of ancient traditions to modern interpretations of same, realized via state-of-the-art production values and packaging. The present compilation constitutes an ideal introduction to some of the biggest stars of the genre, many of whom are Grammy award winners or nominees. Mary Youngblood is of Aleut/Seminole descent and her folk-alto is sheer magic; she is easily the peer of Jean Redpath or Mary Black. Tito la Rosa¹s Quecha pan-flutes are full of sunlit joy while Joanne Shenandoah's achingly pure soprano is haunted by the northern woods that were once home to her Iroquois forebears. Laurence Laughing's Mohawk chants are incantation incarnate and Carlos Nakai's wooden flutes mirror the sounds of wind and water. First-time listeners will be utterly enchanted and eager to hear more. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Healing, clarity & wisdom are some of the enlightenment, January 6, 2005

By 

J. Ross "a-music_fan" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Many Blessings: A Native American Celebration (Audio CD)

Playing Time - 61:21 -- Silver Wave Records' 2004 sampler includes over an hour's worth of music from 15 recent releases on that label which offers some of the best Native American music today. Featured artists include Mary Youngblood, Peter Kater, Joanne Shenandoah, Tito La Rosa, Robert Mirabal Lawrence Laughing, Alice Gomez, and R. Carlos Nakai. "Many Blessings" is an excellent way to quickly experience tastes of various contemporary Native American sounds, some which incorporate new age, smooth jazz and synthesized stylings. This Native American music celebration will allow you to expand your horizons as you encounter new adventurous musical moods and spiritual quests.

I must admit that my preferences tend toward the more lean arrangements offered such as the traditional chant, "Ska Ka Luk Sa" sung by Lawrence Laughing with only ocarina, wall harp, hand drum and light percussion for accompaniment. I also was immediately entranced by Tito La Rosa's "Wind Spirit" which incorporates some pan flutes, instruments more commonly found in Andean music. Joanne Shenandoah's vocals are always appreciated too. One or two more up-tempo compositions would have enhanced this sampler. All in all, the collection is a nice representation of the Silver Wave sound. The musical journeys help us find balance, connecting with the earth like a tree's roots do to the soil. Healing, clarity and wisdom are some of the enlightenment that these soundscapes provide while we travel on our voyage of musical discovery. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, Oregon)