Amazon.com
Wind of the East is the third in pianist Peter Kater's projected four volume series, Sacred Earth. On each disc, he collaborates with a different group of Native American musicians, this one featuring Cheyenne flute player Joseph Fire Crow and Paiute violinist Arvel Bird. Kater has been working with Native musicians since his first collaboration with flute player R. Carlos Nakai in the 1980s and he echoes those intimate duets here with Fire Crow on songs like "Seeds and Ceremony." But for the most part, this is an ensemble recording. Kater partners his electronic keyboard arrangements with percussion and some tasty guitar playing by Mike Hamilton. Arvel Bird’s violin isn't a Native instrument, but his classically tinged refrains contrast against Fire Crow's soulful melodies and birdlike calls. On "The Eagle's Story," Bird's short, arcing violin sounds like a cry to Fire Crow, whose flute emerges out of the strings’ echo. A melodious composer at heart, Kater moves from spacious, contemplative themes like "The Greeting" to more rhythmically driven, instrumentally ornate works like "Sunrise." This is a lush take on Native American chamber music and while Kater has a tendency towards overly sweet arrangements, he lets the songs breathe on
Wind of the East. --
John Diliberto
Product Description
Sacred Earth is a unique group of musicians committed to the preservation, integrity & vitality of this Sacred Earth through the creative expression of not only the primal energy of this vibrant planet, but also of its people's cultural diversity, traditions, folklore, rituals & legacy. Sacred Earth aspires to create a listening experience that reaches beyond "music" into a realm that is deeper, richer & more profoundly rewarding than what is commonly offered by "modern civilization." Artists include; Arvel Bird, Joseph Firecrow, Peter Kater & Mike Hamilton
