The Library CD Shelf
The Flood and the Mercy
Ed Kowalczyk
Harbour Records
c/o Missing Piece Group (publicity)
45 Academy Street, Suite 307, Newark, NJ 07102
missingpiecegroup.com
$11.74 www.amazon.com
The Flood and the Mercy is the second (mostly) solo album by singer/songwri
ter/guitarist Ed Kowalczyk, formerly of the popular band Live. (Peter Buck
and Rachel Yamagata are featured in some tracks). Lyrically and musically,
The Flood and the Mercy is emblematic of humanity's eternal quest to compre
hend the Divine. The search for answers is itself an experience of revelati
on and wonder, in this extraordinary, niche-defying embodiment of the pure
emotional power of music. Highly recommended. The tracks are "The One", "Se
ven", "Angels on a Razor", "Parasite", "All That I Wanted", "Take Me Back",
"Holy Water Tears", "Supernatural Fire", "Bottle of Anything", "The Watchm
an's Lament", and "Cornerstone".
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85017
$14.98 each www.canyonrecords.com
Canyon Records continues their tradition of sharing music by skilled and ta
lented Native American performers, with four new CDs for the winter season.
Randall Paskemin's "Christmas Cheer" is a collection of Plains Cree Round
Dance and original Christmas songs, brimming with the joy and celebration.
Grammy nominee Cheevers Toppah's "A Good Day, A Better Tomorrow" is an anth
ology of original Native American Church songs, performed in loving memory
of those who taught Toppah about the beauty and exuberation of singing. Nit
anis "Kit" Largo's "Serenity", featuring collaborations with Alex E. Smith,
Algin Scabby Robe, Randall Paskemin and Wayne Silas Jr., is a debut solo r
ecording; Largo's cadance and grace shines through her songs about Native w
omanhood and the magical dreams of winter. Grammy-nominated Ojibwe drum gro
up Bear Creek's "Kaagige - 'Forever'" collects pow-wow songs recorded live
in Rocky Bay. Upbeat and energetic, Kaagige is an excellent addition to pow
-wow and round dance music collections. All four CDs make excellent gifts f
or connoisseurs of Native American music.
Train to Basra ...and Other Stories
Salaam
Music and stories by Dena El Saffar
www.SalaamBand.com
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
www.rockpaperscissors.biz
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Drawn from stories that Dena El Saffar's father used to tell her about his
train journey from Baghdad to Basra, Train to Basra ...and Other Stories is
the 20th anniversary celebration of the eclectic Salaam Band. A wondrous s
howcase of Middle Eastern music and culture, Train to Basra is an extraordi
nary musical odyssey that resonates in the imagination long after the last
note plays. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Queen of Sheba" (4:40), "Ka
shaniya" (5:14), "Train to Basra" (5:31), "Iraqi-American Blues" (3:58), "L
ima Sahar" (3:19), "Joza Tears" (4:22), "The Mariachi Stole My Heart" (8:12
), "Beledi, Baby" (4:42), "Drum Intro" (1:40), "Awakening" (6:06), "Rast Sa
ffari" (6:32), and "Mesopotamia" (5:05).
Tales From The Grand Bazaar
Bombay Dub Orchestra
Six Degrees Records
PO Box 411347, San Francisco, CA 94141-1347
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221, Austin, TX 78748
www.sixdegreesrecords.com www.bombaydub.com
$11.94 CD / $6.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Tales From The Grand Bazaar is the product of five years of creativity acro
ss five different nations. The Bombay Dub Orchestra, originally founded in
India by two men from London, has grown to encompass the rhythmic tradition
s of Turkey, Jamaica, and more. Rich and eclectic, the multicultural flavor
of Tales From The Grand Bazaar is distinct and memorable, showcasing stell
ar performances on exotic instruments such as the qanun (a stringed dulcime
r). Highly recommended, especially for international music collections. The
tracks are "The Orange Terrace" (6:13), "Blue Mosaic" (7:16), "City of Amb
er" (5:39), "Sea of Marinara" (6:01), "Songs From the Seven Towers" (7:56 )
, "A Time of Beauty" (5:01), "Bohemia Junction" (6:38), "Four Thousand New
Colours" (8:23), and "Air Like Velvet" (5:46).
Gypsy Bells
Brianna Lea Pruett
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85017
www.canyonrecords.com
$14.98 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Folk singer-songwriter Brianna Lea Pruett presents Gypsy Bells, an album th
at balances traditional folk and blues with influence from her Native Ameri
can Cherokee and Choctaw heritage and musical culture. Her dulcet vocals an
d skill withe the acoustic guitar create an resonating, unforgettable sound
scape. Gypsy Bells is a treasure for folk enthusiasts, not to be missed. Th
e tracks are "No Diamond Ring" (3:29), "New Life" (3:07), "Seeds of Love" (
3:48), "Gypsy Bells" (3:02), "Sun on the Mountain" (4:10), "Shine for You"
(2:40), "Love My Free" (3:44), "It's All Right" (2:53), "Red Jacket" (3:26)
, "Under Your Wing" (3:39), and "Live Wire" (3:16).
Azucar Canela
Rebeca Vallejo
WMB
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
www.rockpaperscissors.biz
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Madrid's native singer Rebeca Vallejo presents Azucar Canela, a Spanish-lan
guage album that also draws upon the multifaceted legacy of jazz, Brazilian
music, and joyous flamenco. The result is work that celebrates Spanish his
tory and culture, heady with nostalgia yet brightly optimistic about the fu
ture. A joy to listen to, Azucar Canela ("Sugar Cinnamon") is enthusiastica
lly recommended for international music collections. The tracks are "El Cie
go Sol", "No Sabes", "Despertar", "Cravo e Canela", "Canicas", "Azucar, Can
ela", "Los Pilares de la Tierra", "Sin Piedad", "Verde Sobre Azul", and "Lu
llaby".
Flight 14
Uwe Gronau
Time Rider Music
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.thecreativeservicecompany.com
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com
Evoking the free spirit of flying about of the clouds, whether by airplane
or hang-glider, Flight 14 is a new-age album with instrumental songs rangin
g in composition from solo piano to piano-synthesizer, electric-piano, synt
h, and more. Relaxing and inspirational, the soaring music takes the listen
er on a journey to stimulate the imagination. An audio treasury for new age
connoisseurs, not to be missed! The tracks are "At the Beginning" (3:27),
"Magic Tree - Part I" (2:05), "Night Train" (3:09), "Lend Me Your Heart" (3
:30), "Looking For" (3:42), "Prince (of the Darkness)" (4:01), "Magic Tree
- Part 2" (3:30), "Father, I Miss You" (2:52), "Market" (3:43), "Lazy Morni
ng" (3:19), "Flight 14" (4:18), "The Cleaning" (2:13), "Celebration" (3:32)
, "Can't Explain" (3:38), "Elegy" (1:45), "Heaven" (4:06), "The Other Way"
(4:36), "Holiday" (3:30), "The Ghost Behind You" (5:14), and "What I Forgot
To Say" (1:32).
Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio
Kenny Barron, Gerry Gibbs, & Ron Carter
Whaling City Sound
1310 Tucker Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
c/o Mixed Media (publicity)
20 Lockmere Road, Cranston, RI 02910
www.mixedmediapromo.com
$14.98 www.whalingcitysound.com
Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio is the album of a three-man band of experie
nced jazz players. Some songs are debut originals; others remix member's fa
vorite compositions from decades past. All showcase the dexterity, passion,
and soul of three talented musicians dedicated to sharing their dreams. A
must-have for jazz connoisseurs! The tracks are "Epistrophy" (4:39), "Promi
ses, Promises" (4:26), "When I Dream" (8:52), "The Shadow of Your Smile" (4
:33), "The Woman on the TV Screen" (6:00), "The Eye of the Hurricane" (3:29
), "Tell Me a Bedtime Story" (5:06), "A Feeling" (4:07)', "Don't Worry 'Bou
t a Thing" (5:57), "Sunshower" (5:50), "Hear Comes Ron" (3:48), "Impression
s" (4:57), "The Thrasher" (5:56), "Mr. Clean" (6:24), and "The Theme" (0:35
).
California Dreaming
Afrolicious
Privately Published
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 www.amazon.com
California Dreaming is the debut album of tropical dance music from the ene
rgetic collective of Afrolicious. Drawing upon the rich legacies of jazz an
d funk, California Dreaming is brimming with love for feel-good nightlife,
and the joy of losing oneself to the dance! The tracks are "California Drea
ming" (4:08), "Revolution" (4:06), "Never Let No One" (4:09), "Crazy" (5:33
), "Pleasuretime" (4:11), "Pleasure Power" (4:26), "Thursday Swing" (5:25),
"Do What You Got To" (5:23), "Foolin'" (4:21), and "Horizons" (5:17).
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