Canyon Trilogy represents a return to the simplicity of Carlos Nakai's earlier albums such as Changes and Journeys. There are no additional instruments here, no rattles, and no chanting, just his haunting flutes, either solo or multi-tracked. The "trilogy" in the title refers to the three sections of the tape -- "Dawn's Mirage," "Dreamscapes," and "Resonance." ~ Backroads Music/Heartbeats, All Music Guide

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R. Carlos Nakai is one of the world's leading virtuosos on the Native American (or cedar) flute. Unfettered by its technical limitations, he explores the expressive qualities of the instrument. William Eaton is one of the world's leading performers on and inventors of plucked string instruments. Together, Nakai and Eaton share a passion for connecting with spirituality and heritage through musical exploration. Ancestral Voices, their third collaboration, showcases their musical talents and th   [ read more ]

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Featuring recastings of past compositions, Inner Voices teams the haunting Native American flute of R. Carlos Nakai with the sumptuous yet delicate string arrangements of Billy Williams. It's an opportunity to hear Nakai in something of a different setting, and it's also a highly effective setting: his melodies thrive under the string treatments, and his playing throughout is meditative yet compelling. The overall tone of the album is pleasantly engaging, suitable for foreground listening as wel   [ read more ]

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R. Carlos Nakai has made a career of weaving his soulful flute playing into the music of many talented collaborators. On this release, he teams up with Tibetan avant-garde flutist Nawang Khechog. The two traditions, Tibetan and Native American, mesh together well. Both styles have a breathy, ethereal quality that lends itself to soaring improvisation. It is that very quality that is the blessing and curse of this disc. While both men are accomplished musicians, what they have created here lacks direct   [ read more ]

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R. Carlos Nakai is both gifted and prolific. Journeys, Vol. 3 is a 56 minute gathering of his acoustic flute atmospheres. His aggressive style is smooth and sweet. The Native American flute -- in this magician's hands -- sings like a chorus. There are no loops or layers or electronic instruments or devices. These soundscapes are Nakai's flutes and chants with amplification. This disc is definitively Native American but it would fit quite nicely in ambient, minimalist or space music collections. It    [ read more ]

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CD $15.18

Emergence, Vol. 6 is another acoustic ambient CD from the sound worlds of R. Carlos Nakai. In the hands of this master, the Native American flute becomes a paintbrush, with the entire universe as a canvas. Nakai mixes traditional folk melodies with original compositions and improvisations to create his masterpiece. This is not a paint-by-numbers deal; this man is a true craftsman -- an artisan of the highest order. His aggressive style allows his atmospheres to transcend typical {\worldbea   [ read more ]

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CD $15.18

Island of Bows is a stunning mixed cultural work by Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai with the world acoustic sound of Wind Travelin' Band and featuring Shonsuke Ohkura and Oki Karo. Nakai's flute never sounded better. It is the tie that binds a world's difference in music and ultimately provides a common definition of music. His playing is fluid. He can bend notes where needed to match the Oriental scale. Wind Travelin' Band offers extraordinary direction with their traditional a   [ read more ]

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Nakai continues his collaboration with musicians outside the Native American tradition with this release. Amo Chip Dabney is a versatile multi-instrumentalist who brings a gentle jazz sensibility to Nakai's rich flute playing. With various saxophones, bass, and synthesizers, Dabney adds just the right touches of muted colors to these introspective pieces. He has played with artists as diverse as Sun Ra & His Omniverse Arkestra, Queen Ida, and O.J. Ekemode & the Nigerian All-Stars. He   [ read more ]

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CD $15.18

Enter Tribal features a variety of artists performing 11 songs that synthesize tribal drumming, flutes, and singing with electronica beats and flourishes. Some of the featured performers include R. Carlos Nakai, Cliff Sarde, Jay Begaye, Robert Tree Cody, Delphine Tsinajinnie, William Horncloud, and Verdell Primeaux. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

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