The Library CD Shelf
Flying Solo Silhouette
Ann Sweeten
Annsweeten.com
Orange Band Records
$16.00 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com
Flying Solo Silhouette is the first original solo piano album by composer A
nn Sweeten, drawn from her music at created over ten years and five previou
s albums. Each of the tracks has been re-created as solo piano pieces for t
he first time, arranged in a playlist that naturally flows and is pleasing
to the ear. Every composition has been remixed and remastered, transforming
Flying Solo Silhouette into its own unique expression. Elegant, transforma
tive, and inspirational, Flying Solo Silhouette is highly recommended for b
oth personal and public library solo piano music collections. The tracks ar
e "A Light Rain" (4:56), "Dawn on Red Mountain" (4:48), "Veil of Tears" (4:
48), "Elysian Fields" (5:00), "Afterglow" (4:11), "Nikki's Song" (3:57), "D
ecember Snow" (4:40), "Broken Wing at North Light" (4:38), "Eclipse" (5:28)
, "The Hourglass" (5:38), "Falling Leaves" (5:03), and "On Wings of Light".
Morning Sun: Adventures with Oboe
Paul McCandless with Paul Winter Consort
www.paulwinter.com
Living Music
$15.00 CD / $8.99 download
Morning Sun: Adventures with Oboe is an anthology of recordings made by dou
ble-reed master Paul McCandless and seven-time Grammy winning group the Pau
l Winter Consort over the course of 45 years. Intended as both a historical
retrospective and as a tribute, Morning Sun: Adventures with Oboe is a tre
asure, enhanced with a 32-page album booklet chronicling the Paul Winter Co
nsort's history through the eyes of Paul Winter himself. Morning Sun: Adven
tures with Oboe is a mellifluous "must", highly recommended for both person
al and public library music collections. The tracks are "All the Mornings B
ring", "Elves' Chasm", "Bright Angel", "Whooper Dance", "On the Steppes of
Central Asia", "Witchi Tai To", "Sunset on the Great Sand Dunces", "Um Abra
co (A Big Hug)", "Anabela", "Sunderland", "Eagle", "Common Ground", "Twilig
ht", "The Last Train", "Fantasia in G", and "Morning Sun". 66 min.
Miyo Kekisepa, Make A Stand
Northern Cree
Canyon Records Productions
1761 West University Drive, Suite 145, Tempe, AZ 85281-3220
$14.98 CD / $9.49 MP3 www.canyonrecords.com
Miyo Kekisepa, Make A Stand: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Red Mountain is
from 7-time Grammy nominee Northern Cree, a group known for their Pow-Wow
and Round Dance singing, and their commitment to their Cree culture, langua
ge, and traditions. The songs embody strength, love, and a way of life expr
essed with unfettered fervor. Miyo Kekisepa, Make A Stand is a choice pick
for traditional Native American music collections, enthusiastically recomme
nded. The tracks are "Dancers Only" (4:47), "Old Yeller" (5:23), "Angel Sta
r" (3:20), "Old-Time Straight Song" (3:41), "TreyJam" (4:27), "Hop to the D
rop (Crow Hop)" (3:11), "Str8-2 Vegas" (3:02), "#TicTac Adventures" (4:10),
"Cheezy Legs (Crow Hop)" (3:15), "Don't Forget It" (3:55), "nimihito awasi
s ('Dancing Child')" (5:31), and "Red Mountain Royalty" (5:37).
Canyon Records Productions
1761 West University Drive, Suite 145, Tempe, AZ 85281-3220
$14.98 each www.canyonrecords.com
Two albums published by Canyon Records, each by a talented master of the Na
tive American flute, provide a serene and wondrous audio experience. "Purif
y" by Tony Duncan melds cedar and cane flutes into a balance that promotes
inner peace and harmony, ideal for accompanying yoga, massage, or meditatio
n. "Gratitude", the debut recording of Jonah Littlesunday, accents Native A
merican flute playing with an occasional light touch from Native percussion
, and draws the listener in to its musical theme of unity, peace, and respe
ct for the land itself. Both are a treasure for connoisseurs of flute music
, and highly recommended for both personal and public library collections.
Before Breakfast
The Grascals
grascals.com
Mountain Home Music Company
mountainhomemusiccompany.com
$9.79 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
The latest album by three-time Grammy-nominated band The Grascals, Before B
reakfast is a celebration of guitar, clawhammer banjo, and cherished popula
r bluegrass and country songs. A treasury of top-notch talent, Before Break
fast is highly recommended for both personal and public library music colle
ctions. The tracks are "Sleepin' with the Reaper", "Demons", "Delia", "I've
Been Redeemed", "Lonesome", "Beer Tree", "Pathway of Teardrops", "Lynchbur
g Chicken Run", "He Took Your Place", "Lost and Lonesome", "There Is You",
and "Clear Corn Liquor".
Juntos
ESSO Afrojam Funkbeat
Privately Published
$TBA www.essoafrojamfunkbeat.com
Juntos is an album by ESSO Afrojam Funkbeat, an eclectic group of musicians
with a unique spin on afrobeat funk. The original songs have a profound me
ssage about transcending divisions of race, class, or ethnicity, reflecting
the need for connection and tolerance. Juntos is lively, soul- stirring, a
nd highly recommended. The tracks are "Baila", "La Calle", "Mariposa Negra"
, "Noche Tras Dia", "Cumbia del Encanto", "Homenaje", "Somos Hermanos", "Mi
Gente", "Meet Me Out", "Cumbia Triste", "Stone Eagle", "Sangre", and "Pira
mides".
Another Part of Me
Marcus Monteiro
Whaling City Sound
www.whalingcitysound.com
c/o Naxos (dist.)
www.naxosusa.com
$18.61 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com
Alto saxophonist Marcus Monteiro, along with John Harrison III on piano, Fe
rnando Huergo on bass, and Steve Langone on drums present Another Part of M
e, a jazz album that draws upon both classic and contemporary musical styli
ngs. Original, windswept, and masterful, Another Part of Me is a treasure f
or jazz connoisseurs. The tracks are "Sister Sadie" (6:03), "Adagio" (7:28)
, "For Once in My Life" (5:25), "The Monteiro Backhand Var. 1" (4:14), "Eas
ier Said Than Done" (6:25), "Wait Till You See Her" (5:58), "Another Part o
f Me" (4:13), "Slammin' Around" (5:12), "Receipt Please" (3:25), "Fell On B
lack Days" (4:35), "Mill Street" (7:51), "Sagg Shootin' His Arrow" (5:11).
Traveler
Sherry Finzer and Peter Sheridan
www.sherryfinzer.com
www.lowflutes.com
Heart Dance Records
www.heartdancerecords.com
$12.99 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Traveler is a beautiful, collaborative album created by American New Age co
mposer and flutist Sherry Finzer and Australian classical low flute special
ist Peter Sheridan. The original, instrumental songs encourage relaxation,
celebration, and quiet thought. Traveler embodies the lilting joy of the fl
ute, and is highly recommended for personal and public library instrumental
collections. The tracks are "Leaving Earth" (5:39), "Spiritual Crossing" (
7:35), "Nocturnal Dance" (13:03), "Reverence" (8:44), "Hunt on the Plains"
(8:07), and "Joy" (5:26).
Surface
The Ellameno Beat
www.theellamenobeat.com
$TBA CD / $7.99 download cdbaby.com
Surface is the debut full-length music album of The Ellameno Beat, which co
nsists of Reggie Froom, James Rosenblit on drums, Dylon Hixon on bass, Matt
Diamond on trumpet and vocals, and Walker Brantingham on keyboards. Surfac
e is a deeply introspective album, fostering contemplation and expansion of
the mind. Original and superbly beautiful, Surface is an extraordinary sou
ndscape, highly recommended. The tracks are "Bumpy Road", "One of Us", "Hal
f Empty", "Muse", "Distance", "Momentary Light", "Take Me Away", "Used to B
e", "Grow On", and "Last Call (feat. Signal Fire)".
The Light
Ammoye
http://ammoyemusic.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $12.49 MP3 amazon.com
Nominated three times for a Juno award (Canada's answer to the Grammys), Th
e Light is Jamaican-Canadian singer-songwriter Ammoye's latest album. Ammoy
e is particularly noteworthy as a reggae star, since she is one of very few
female performers in a male-dominated genre. The Light carries a profound
message of love, conveyed in roots reggae with a dash of electro-pop and sp
rinkle of R&B, and also reflects Ammoye's deep spiritual belief in God's un
iversal presence. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Bloody Fire" (4:06),
"Outta Town" (3:54), "Are You Ready" (3:00), "Soul Rebel" (3:10), "Jah Jah"
(5:24), "Good Vibez" (4:26), "Honeymoon" (4:02), "Cool Gypsy Island" (3:59
), "The Light" (3:26), "Reggae Rockit Boy" (3:28), "Oneness" (5:02), "Salva
tion/Redemption" (4:51), "Where Do We Go" (4:07), "Guns Off the Street (Wed
da Man)" (3:29), "Don't Count Me Out" (4:31), "Don't Count Me Out (Dub Vers
ion)" (4:33), "Inna Di Ghetto" (3:52), "Sorry" (3:55), and "Shooting" (3:34
).
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