Review: Rest & Relax with Piano: Music for Rejuvenation of Body & Mind

Finding music to relax to is such an individual choice, which is why we love to share a variety of relaxing new music here on BEING.

This week, the premiere media company, Times Music, released "Rest & Relax with Piano" by Fiona Joy, subtitled Music for Rejuvenation of Body & Mind. While this is the Australian piano phenom's first release with the company, it is a point of interest that Fiona Joy is also featured on the 2015 Grammy-winning album Winds of Samsara, also distributed by Times in India.

Renowned music writer, Vivek Kumar, reviewed the album on 2Indya.com last week, which can be seen here.
 
While the new album is only available in India, one can enjoy sampling all the music & merchandise of Fiona Joy on her official website. Her music is perfect for both "active listening" audiophiles, as well as entertaining, yoga, driving and, of course, relaxing.

GOOD WORKS / NonProfit Events Spotlight

HavServe Gala Honors VOLUNTEERS,

Fundraises for Haiti on Saturday 1/14, 6-11 p.m.

The public is invited to join Volunteers, Partners, and Dignitaries for an evening of food, dancing, entertainment and prizes at Veteran’s Plaza soiree in Silver Spring, MD 

WHAT:                HavServe’s 6^th Annual Volunteer Recognition Gala & Fundraiser forRebuilding After Hurricane Matthew will celebrate Volunteerism with Haitian food, culture, great raffles and entertainment by Jean Appolon Expressions (JAE) a Haitian folkloric dance troupe, and PanLara, a youth steel drum orchestra. The event is open to the public, with ticket purchase online (price range $45 children - $75 adults, $80 at the door): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6th-annual-volunteer-recognition-gala-tickets-28942603105

WHO:                     HavServe, a 400+ volunteer strong non-profit organization, promotes youth social and economic development in the Washington DC Metropolitan area and in Haiti through education, leadership development, and community volunteer service. Founded after the 2010 earthquake, HavServe is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization with international offices in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Haiti; it is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity.  Links:  www.havserve.org, https://www.facebook.com/HavServe, https://www.instagram.com/havserve/

WHY:                     To fundraise for HavServe programs, to thank our volunteers, while enjoying Haitian/Caribbean entertainment, dancing and dinner by Chef Marie Miriame Michel of Chez Yiamme Catering.  HavServe partners with individuals, volunteers, institutions, businesses, and communities to help change lives through volunteering and service. We are especially proud to uplift our volunteers, partners and sponsors, including the Montgomery County Maryland Office of Community Partnerships.

ATTENDEES:        Int’l & Local Dignitaries, NonProfit Professionals, Volunteers & Individuals interested in HavServe’s efforts to rebuild partnering communities in southwest Haiti and to uplift youth, including those from new American families in the DC Area.  Members of the general public are welcome to this festive event.

WHEN:                   January 14, 2017, from 6:00 pm – 11 pm.

WHERE:                 The SILVER SPRING CIVIC CENTER at 1 VETERANS PLAZA, Silver Spring, MD

PHOTO OPP:          Guest Arrivals* and Entertainers (Jean Appolon Expressions, PanLara) from 6 – 7 pm.

CONTACT:             Media Contact for event access, photo opps., or more information, please contact Beth Ann Hilton, Director of   Communications and Marketing, at 310-560-8390 or bethannhilton@havserve.org

PRIZES:                 Silent Auction includes a RoyalCaribbean Cruise - Ocean View Stateroom 4-Night or 5-Night Caribbean Cruise for 2: Enjoy Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination Labadee, Haiti, with the world’s longest zip line over the water! And many more items...

ENTERTAINERS: Dancing by Jean Appolon Expressions

                               Music by PanLara Youth Steel Orchestra

Visit our ticketing website for all details at https://havservegala2017.eventbrite.com/

Artistic Works in Progress...

Protection and Giving in 2017: Rigzin Tromge

The one who conquers oneself is greater than one who conquers an army of 10,000.   

    ~ the Buddha

One of the most extraordinary artists and projects that crossed our desk in 2016 is Rigzin Tromge and her gift of sharing ancient prayers in music.  Rigzin, a deeply-dedicated Buddhist whose path included extended studies in Tibet, has only recently allowed her voice and prayers to be recorded to share with the world. An indie artist, she launched a Kickstarter effort for the radically-loving project, PROTECTION, and with over 100 sponsors and less than $6k to go in the coming days, it has a fair chance of making its goals. For us, it falls into the realm of "what the world needs now."

The artist, who embraces stunningly dramatic visual presentations of her work, released two albums to date -- UNION and TRANSITION -- and is in the process of crowdfunding to master & manufacture what may be her final album in a trilogy. Her lastest (perhaps most important album) is PROTECTION: Ancient Prayers for Radical Compassion, and it is a ceremony of protector prayers from the Tibetan Buddhist Lineages. 

Despite her fierce appearance in the PROTECTION promo materials, Rigzin's voice is gentle, ethereal, unforgettable. There is great comfort in knowing that she is constantly praying for all of us from her remote home in Northern California, surrounded by nature, her organic gardens, and her beloved dogs. Previews of the recorded vocals promise it to be as uniquely beautiful as her previous works, complemented with graphic design by celebrated artist Android Jones.

In the artist's own words, "PROTECTION is the wrathful aspect of enlightenment. These are more advanced, swifter and powerful than the peaceful practices. In these 'degenerating times,' the great highly-realized ones practice these wrathful practices.  What makes these practitioners great, more advanced, is that the practitioner must be unequivocally steeped to the deepest core of their being in selflessness and loving kindness."

If one is looking for authentic, artistic projects to support, look no further than this heart-based artist's KickStarter page. Among Rigzin's creative donor gifts are brilliant red prayer flags, Tibetan counseling, 3-album trilogy sets, and even a retreat to a remote cabin on her land in NoCal. See more, and hear a sample of the new music here.

As we enter a new era, we can all become patrons of the arts for just the price of a coffee or lunch; a good habit to adopt for the future of the authentic, positive, hi-quality art & music that we want in our world.

Visit the artist's official website: http://rigzinmusic.com/ 

Music Review

THE NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE AS THERAPY by Micki Free

Micki Free's new album on Mysterium Music

Micki Free is no stranger to the music world.  At the ripe age of 17, the one and only Gene Simmons discovered him while playing a show. Simmons instantly recognized his budding talents. Although his heart was instantly drawn to rock and roll, Free has always had a deep-rooted sense of pride for his Native American roots. In 2003, he decided to follow the path of his heritage and incorporate the flute into his music.

Photo By Kim Maney

In his latest release, The Native American Flute as Therapy, Free takes the soul-soothing power of his Native American flute and turns it into his own brand of guided meditation.  The opening track, “White Candle Light” sets the stage for the spiritually enlightening experience to follow.  “The Healing Bath” makes the listener become aware of their existence by bringing attention to the corporeal aspects of being human.  The swooning vocals and low-key instrumentals (Brother Paul Brown on Hammond B3 and Fender) emit a sense of languid dreaminess. My personal favorite, “Lavender Kiss” explains the significance of lavender and the effects it can have on the human psyche. The wind chime-infused track is capable of walking anyone out of a heightened state of anxiety or worry. 

Performing in the Grand Canyon
Photo By Kim Maney

Further down the line, the title track “The Native American Flute as Therapy” hits some heavy topics.  He retells an encounter in which a woman asking if the Native American flute could cure cancer confronted him. He explains the ways in which the soothing sounds are beneficial to healing. The sonic bath which ensues is far more intense than the other tracks on this record. In this track, the sound of rain, chanting, and flute combine to create the perfect meditative state. “Heart Release” is when the listener gets to let it all go. Guided breathing is the theme of this particular track along with a bit more of a down-tempo vibe.  After the journey is complete, Micki's plaintive version of Neil Young's classic “Down By the River” feels like a warm hug that congratulates the listener on their healing process. 

A radical change is apparent in Micki Free’s musical stylings here, and it is clear that he means to channel his energy into something beneficial to the greater good. In a world full of anger and animosity, Free’s meditative flute album provides a guiding light through the darkness. 

More info at Mysterium Music.

  - Samantha Garcia, BEING

Micki Free in Cottonwood, AZ 2016.
 Photo by Debra Donovan

Giveaways!

New Age Mama has the best product giveaways! Pop over and see what's on deck for today, maybe a Sound Sleep Machine or some relaxing music CDs!
Click to visit New Age Mama...

Music Review: MYSTIC by Al Conti

  

Even before inviting us into the grand sweeping musical experience of his latest masterwork Mystic, Grammy nominated new age and world fusion composer arranger and multi-instrumentalist Al Conti intrigues us with the darkness and light of the CD’s compelling artwork. In a monastic setting, a lone seeker dressed in a red robe stands before a mysterious black door, as sunlight pours through stately columns on the left, but not the right. We wonder, is he contemplating a trip towards the light, or towards exploring the mystery of the other side? Or is he the generator of the light that’s flowing out? As we contemplate these questions, Conti sets the musical stage for this mystical opening of a door on the opening title track by laying down a haunting ambiance behind the ethereal wordless vocals of Charlee Brooks and The Oxford Court Monk Choir.

Al Conti's new album is MYSTIC

These vocals bookend the piece and helps it build to a dramatic conclusion – which of course, is just the beginning of the journey. As a sensual groove and exotic keyboard melody take hold, Conti is pulling (or, rather, sweeping) us toward the heart of his exploratory journey – given extra emotional heft by Butto’s whimsical flute solo. Infusing the soul with relaxation, “Trance” puts us in a moody, musically liquid space before evolving into an exotic and hypnotic ballad featuring an elegant lead melody on the Indian santoor (played by Vanil Veigas, whose mastery graces a total of seven tracks).

The chamber music and rock influenced “Contemplation” features the mystical charms of another special guest, harpist Pamela Copus (2002) interacting with George’s soulful violin lines; later in the piece, Pearce’s soulful and crisp electric guitar echoes sweetly over the lush ambience, then creates a hypnotic steel string harmony behind the harp  melody. “Ritual” alternates atmospheric dreaminess with dramatic drums and percussion fills, bells and powerful keyboard chords. Underneath all that is the deep rhythm of a beating heart, as if on a mission to pump life into the spirit. Capturing the lighthearted side of Conti’s fluid musical spirituality, “Devotion” is a playful and poppy, sensual and infectious romp based on a pilgrimage song from the Middle Ages. It was inspired by a visit to a cloister and reflects humanity’s constant struggle to sustain one’s own devotion and balance.

Driven by Conti’s elegant, contemplative piano melody and some later caressing string harmonies and a gentle violin solo by Manoj George, we are drawn into a “Prayer” whose ultimate aim is to become one with the cosmos – and grateful for all things. In this state, it’s easy to have “Visions” of what Conti’s inspiration, 12^th Century mystic Hildegard von Bingen, called “the shade of living light.” Conti proves a masterful weaver of trippy sonic delights here, tying seamlessly together a gentle flute line, a resonant santoor melody and a deepening wash of dreamy ambience even before the rhythms enter the picture via Karthik K’s ever present tabla. The stark, ambient and trance-inducing “Pilgrimage” was inspired by Spain’s renowned Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage. It features an initial conversation between dark and light elements via Conti’s keyboard melody and George’s violin – then as the tempo picks up, Conti swirls his ancient flavored keys with a lively, dancing violin and the fiery electric guitar of another guest star, Jeff Pearce.

The artist wraps the collection with “Anima Aeterna,” a contemplation of one of the most mystical concepts of all, the human soul. He expresses this never ending mystery via Brooks’ dreamy vocalizing, lush atmospheres, a unique combination of santoor, electric guitar, tabla and other exotic elements. With this artful, sweeping blend, Conti helps us explore the eternal while inspiring the mystic in us all to engage in our surroundings. Mystic is deep and insightful work that can be grasped on many emotional and spiritual levels. While it can be enjoyed all the way through for its dual ability to relax and exhilarate, upon further careful listens, one comes to appreciate the artist’s incredible tapestry of textures.   

Mystic releases worldwide on October 7, 2016.

                                                  -- Jonathan Widran