Podcast appearances and mentions of bob sherwood

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #618 is an hour of intrepid, dynamic, visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, 4- and 8-string ukulele, shruti box, Native flute, nylon-string and steel string guitars, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in late April of 2025, today's show begins with the languid, relaxed folk of “Let's all Wander”, a pretty song propelled by Mariam's nylon string guitar “Leonardo” and moves into the upbeat rock of “Fire”, a driving jam with a fine vocal from Mariam and inspired, fluid piano from Bob. “Sail Away Into Your Dreamtime” is a lovely, meditative, sprawling piece underpinned by Mariam's sighing shruti box and Craig's fundamental, heartbeat Native drum with a distinctive classical theme from Bob and “Calling For An Awakening” is a beautiful, softly flowing piece fluid, watery piano and a lush, flowing vocal from Mariam. “Almighty Standing Ones of Peace” is an evocative minor blues filled with distinctive touches from the ensemble and “Arise” is a cut from Mariam's “Release” LP, rendered here with a beautiful, languid mood defined by Mariam's dancing 8-string ukulele and Craig's steadily grooving congas. “Smile” was originally rendered as a raga in its first form on Mariam's “For The Children” album and is explored at length here as a driving forest adventure song with Native flute and piano braided in a compelling, extended game of musical tag. “Let's Rise Ever Higher” appears as a coda to “Smile” and completes today's show with a beautiful vocal from Mariam and diversions into bossa nova and jazz. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #617 is an hour of dynamic visionary acoustic improvised music made by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, singing bowl, Native flute, 4- and 8-string ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in April 2025, today's show eases in on the wave of low, heartbeat drum, crystal bowl and soaring Native flute that is “Silver Rays In The Night”, an affectingly fundamental song with a poetic lyric from Mariam punctuated by percussive Native flute. “To The Mystery Of The Starry Night” is a languid, gently propulsive folk number with beautiful 8-string ukulele, triumphant gospel piano and a fine vocal from Mariam and “Mandavina The Moose” is a gorgeous, psychedelic forest story with the ensemble turning in a nuanced and deeply affecting performance that journeys languidly through alternately lush and alien musical landscapes. “Sail On” is a beautiful waltz from the “Release” LP and receives a relaxed, emotional rendition with a fine vocal from Mariam. “Summer Around The Bend” has a beautifully relaxed air with the interaction of Mariam's ukulele, Craig's steady conga work and Bob's circular, repetitive piano motif. A signature Native flute fanfare from Mariam ushers in the emotional “Filling Each Others' Hearts”, a lovely, rich, unhurried ballad that ranges through various moods before settling into the “Romance” theme from Prokofiev's “Lieutenant Kije” suite to close today's session. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #616 is an hour of creative, visionary improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, harmonica, Celtic harp, 4- and 8-string ukulele and acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in mid-April of 2025, today's show begins with the somber, meditative “Let's Go Down Deep” that features dramatic piano and a lovely duet between Mariam's soaring vocal and Native flute. “One Door Closes” is a pretty, upbeat folk song led by Mariam's dancing vocal and chiming 8-string ukulele that seeks to make sense of the country's current climate in a hopeful and uplifting way and Mariam gently strums her whispering acoustic guitar for the gorgeous, widescreen “Let's Unravel”, an expansive ballad with languid piano and steady congas. The dramatic, powerful “May We Walk Along The River” features another fine, soaring vocal and driving work from the ensemble and “Full Moon Part Two”, an iconic piece featured on the Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour's “Best Of” compilation from 2013 is a mysterious moon song with a mystical lyric from Mariam and Gershwinesque piano figurations from Bob. The sprawling, anthemic “Sing At Sunrise” grows out of clouds of Mariam's Celtic harp and sweeping piano into a jazzy, abstract exploration supported by Craig's foundational heartbeat Native drum and a blues-adjacent piano structure from Bob supporting Mariam's fine vocal and harmonica work and we complete today's show with the skipping, bittersweet “May We All Just Relax”, a pretty folk song with chiming 8-string ukulele setting the stage for Mariam's wise and inspiring lyric. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #615 is an hour of intrepid, creative, compelling live music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, shruti box, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars, ukulele and kalimba, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on low Native drum and congas. Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in April of 2025, today's show begins with the hypnotic, mystical “Oh, Radiant Is Our Love”, a gorgeous ballad underpinned by Mariam's shruti box drone, hushed vocal and soaring Native flute, heartbeat drum and postmodern soul piano figurations. “It's A Bright Light” begins with hushed piano, chiming kalimba and Mariam's beautiful, minimalist melody before developing into a Beethovenesque art song and “Sailing Ever Stronger (Because We Can)” is a pretty gospel folk song with an uplifting melody, virtuosic piano, chiming ukulele and dancing, grooving congas from Craig. “Ganesha” is a prayer to the Hindustani Goddess rendered as a beautiful, reverent raga built on Mariam's suspended-chord shruti box drone. “Codes Of Light”, directed by Mariam's propulsive acoustic guitar, has a misty, 50s feel as it slowly refines into a beautiful minimalist ballad with a powerful vocal and we complete today's show with an unusual, gorgeously exotic take of Mariam's “Sing Down The Walls” from the “Gaea Star Crystal” LP, all chiming 12-string, powerful low drum and mournful, reaching piano. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #614 is an hour of dynamic, visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, 4- and 8-string ukulele and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live in late March of 2025 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today's show begins with the beautiful, meditative “Magenta Golden Rose” a languid, rich song with fine vocals and Native flute, throbbing Native drum and imaginative piano. “The Mists Are Rising” is a fast-paced nature travelogue driven by Mariam's chiming acoustic guitar and Craig's driving congas and “Morning, Morning” is a pretty folk song with a fine vocal from Mariam above energized piano and congas. “The Last Time” begins with peaceful, dancing ukulele and Mariam's pretty melody and adds gospel, folk and rock touches as it grows into a powerful, dramatic prayer of peace and “Let's Begin Again” grows beautifully, mystically from the embers of the preceding song into a rich, powerful raga supporting a languid Native flute and vocal ballet from Mariam. “Spirit Of The Forest”, originally recorded for the “Release” album, is given a stately, unhurried reading featuring tight conga work and a soaring, affection vocal from Mariam. Today's hour closes with “Returning Back Home”, a meditative, mesmerizing raga underpinned by Mariam's shruti box drone and enriched by imaginative piano directions and Native drum accents and rolls. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #613 is an hour of inspired, visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, harmonica, Native flute and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live in late March at Singing Brook Studio on Worthington, Massachusetts, today's show begins with the rich, evocative folk waltz of “Just This Way” before opening into the sparse, spacious “Seeds Of Love” a stately psalm with gorgeous, minimalist piano, soaring Native flute and a fine vocal from Mariam. “Oh, Our Sweet Mother Earth” is a vast blues journey that begins with fiery harmonica lines from Mariam and journeys into the realm of modern blues with sophisticated piano extensions and syncopated conga work from Craig. “Calling Us Home”, originally recorded for Mariam's “Release” LP is given a powerful, extended rock workout with energized contributions from the whole ensemble and a soaring vocal from Mariam and “Isis”, from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP is both stately and elegantly surreal. “Ancient One From The Stars, I Come To Walk The Path Of Peace” is an achingly beautiful ballad with a searching, expansive vocal from Mariam above a powerful ensemble of chiming acoustic guitar, throbbing Native drum and cyclical, repeating piano motifs. We complete today's show with the sweeping raga “Trust”, a mystical cloud of swirling 12-string guitar, skipping congas and an epic, hypnotic piano motif. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #612 is a dynamic, exploratory hour of visionary acoustic improved music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, hand drum, shruti box, acoustic guitar, 4- and 8-string ukuleles, acoustic guitar¸ dulcimer and marimba, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded in Worthington, Massachusetts at Singing Brook Studio in late March of 2025, today's show begins with the languid, unhurried, rhythmically compelling “Odaway”, led by Mariam's dancing melody and tight marimba harmonies and rhythms. “Ring In The Moonlight” is another mesmerizing, slowly unfolding piece supported by chiming 8-string ukulele, ambitious, exploratory gospel and classical piano and a loose, loping waltz setup from Craig on congas. The piece opens up into a beautifully unwinding Native flute solo over an ambitious series of harmonic setups and motifs on the piano. “We're Being Human” is a powerful, fundamental chant propelled by the rhythm section of Native drum from Craig and hand drum from Mariam before gracefully unwinding into a long, languid instrumental coda and “May We All Be Well” is a jazzy, tasteful blues workout with a fine vocal and acrobatic fat-fingered piano. “Flowers Of Delight” is a track from Mariam's “Release” album and the band renders it as a gorgeous, misty ballad driven by Mariam's tight acoustic guitar work and fine vocal and “Welcome In” is a sparse, funky workout with a mesmerizing lyric from Mariam over hip piano, tight congas and ukulele. “Windy, Windy” is a dulcimer-driven, mystical forest song with a beautiful, wild, pagan air and leads into the gorgeous ballad “Surrender To That Moment”, a deeply emotional vocal-and-Native flute conversation with an aching, beautiful piano ostinato that unfolds in waves of harmonic contrast. Today's show completes with another raga, the exotic “We Are All Called For A Different Purpose”, underpinned by Mariam's shruti box drone, stentorian piano and throbbing Native drum. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #611 is an hour of inspired, dynamic visionary acoustic improvised music and songs by Mariam Massaro played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam on vocals, Native flute, 4- and 8-string ukulele, acoustic guitar and 12-string acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early March of 2025, today's show begins with the whimsical, upbeat “Aloha Hey”, a fantastic island song by Mariam with the ensemble of ukulele, piano and Native drum firing on all cylinders. “Honor The Place Within” is a beautiful, stately raga performed with Mariam on DADGAD-tuned acoustic 12 string lending a rich, powerful drone and “Welcome To Spring” is a pensive folk song with a beautiful, questing melody from Mariam over chiming ukulele and anthemic piano. “Stay Strong (Even When You're All Alone)” is another rousing folk song with an inspiring lyric, featuring driving congas and tight acoustic guitar work from Mariam. “Twin Flame” and “Ryalia” are tracks from Mariam's “Gaea Star Crystal” and “Release” albums; the former is powerfully presented with a beautiful melody, the latter a mysterious, labyrinthine forest song with a compelling, rangey vocal from Mariam. “We Need A Brand-New Deck To Play This Game Of Life” is a rich, varied ballad featuring a lyrical conversation between Mariam's inspiring lyrics and soaring Native flute and we complete today's show with “Just Keep Showing Up For Peace”, another dynamic vocal-and-flute showcase with throbbing Native drum and rich, detailed piano. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #610 is an hour of improvised, visionary acoustic music recorded live by the Gaea Star Band at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in March of 2025.  Featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, ukulele, kalimba and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas, today's show begins with the drifting, mystical “Love-Filled Days”, a prayer for peace and understanding featuring lyrical native flute and celtic harp from Mariam.  “Dancing Fingers Of Light” is a gentle, bluesy ballad led by Mariam's smooth vocal and acoustic guitar and “Growing Into Wonder” features imaginative piano from Bob over Mariam's contemplative acoustic guitar.  “Alive, Awake, Alive You Are” is lush, somber contemplation led by Mariam's soaring Native flute and deep Native drumming from Craig.  “Oh Earth” features Mariam's ukulele in a sparse, minor setting, evoking gently waving branches and “May We Always Know The Way Of Love” is a gorgeous, drifting song from the “Release” album, featuring lush vocals and expressive flute from Mariam. "Distant Star" is a mystical, slowly unfolding song from Mariam's "Release" album and  “This Is The Way” closes today's show and is a rolling, surreal piece that rises to a fever pitch before reaching its swirling climax. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #609 is another hour of creative, dynamic improvised acoustic music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, Andean flute, 4- and 8-string ukuleles, acoustic guitar and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in late February of 2025, today's show begins with the jazzy “Every Moment”, a driving song with imaginative piano statements and a powerful vocal from Mariam. “Open To Your Spirit” is a beautifully dualistic piece that combines a jazz rock motif with a slyly entering classical motif, another beautiful vocal from Mariam and interpolations of her evocative Andean flute along with driving congas from Craig and modern, minimalist piano work from Bob. The piece winds out with a series of playful classical motifs before leading into “Gather Together”, a beautifully austere song from the “Release” album that evokes giant spaces and human unity. “Joyful Union With All Beings” is a powerful, powerfully stated song calling for human connectedness and empowerment in troubling times and “One More Day”, also from Mariam's “Release” LP is presented as a peaceful, pretty folk ballad driven by Mariam's lyrical vocal and chiming 8-string ukulele with hints of reggae above Craig's powerful Native drum heartbeat pulse. We complete today's show with two more of Mariam's classic numbers, the island folk rocker “Pele” from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP and the bucolic, beautifully pagan forest prayer “Spirit Of The Forest”. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #608 is an hour of inspired visionary acoustic improvisational music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, native flute, ukulele, acoustic guitar, shrudi box and sitar, Craig Harris on congas and Native drums and Bob Sherwood on piano. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in February, 2025, today's show begins with the mystical, mysterious “May We Walk In Balance”, a lush and evocative visionary song that gives way to the lovely, expansive ballad “Windy, Windy” featuring lyrical native flute and vocals from Mariam. “Let's Give It All We Can” is an understated ballad with inspired piano from Bob and more gorgeous native flute from Mariam, and “Thank You” is a song of praise and reverence to nature driven by Mariam's acoustic guitar and Craig's ever-steady conga work. “Train Of Love” praises love and the human heart with a delicate, unhurried ballad feel decorated by lovely piano runs. “Spirit Of Fire” is a triumphant, gospel flavored prayer that drives steadily upwards and today's show ends with the celebratory folk song “Happy Valentine's Day” for which Mariam simultaneously wields her acoustic guitar and Native flute with a lovely winding vocal above. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #607 is an hour of fresh, inventive visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, harmonica, ukulele and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts at the beginning of February 2025, today's show begins with the upbeat, vintage folk of “Around The Bend”, a pretty, whimsical song with a fine vocal and chiming ukulele from Mariam. “In The Grand Splendor Of Creation” is a pretty piece build on a pretty, bittersweet chord scheme and featuring a touching, rich and emotional vocal from Mariam over a pretty instrumental bed of ukulele, piano and congas and “May We All Hear Our Spirit Singing Out” is a rich, classically-leaning musical piece framing a gorgeous vocal and Native flute conversation from Mariam above Craig's thrumming Native drum heartbeat. The Gaea Star Band goes hard blues on the swaggering “Feel The Wind” with a fine vocal and visceral harmonica from Mariam and fat-fingered Chicago-flavored piano from Bob. “Step On The Button” is a lush, circular slice of minimalism with a ‘60s feel and a joyful, playful vocal from Mariam and “Change The World” weaves funk, Native American music, fusion, blues and visionary poetry into a rich, propulsive epic polished with another fine vocal from Mariam. “If You Know What Was In Your Heart” is an achingly pretty ballad with a haunting ‘50s feel and we complete today's show with the airy, prayerful “Do You Remember You're From The Starts Above?”, a gorgeous, love-filled island folk song driven along by Mariam's relaxed ukulele. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #606 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, harmonica, ukulele, acoustic guitar, shruti box and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and vocals and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in late January of 2025, today's show begins with the upbeat, folky “Family Of Light”, a gospel-tinged folk song with skipping congas from Craig and fine vocal from Mariam. “Channel Brightly As We All Manifest” is an intense, sparse raga with beautiful Native flute and expressive vocals from Mariam over Bob's classic motif and “Spirit Sisters Of The Ancient Grove” is a gorgeous, light song set in motion by Mariam's chiming mandolin and rootsy harmonica. “Sing Down The Walls” is a powerful gospel song originally recorded for Mariam's “Gaea Star Crystal” LP and “Yemanja” from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP is presented powerfully with fine interlocking vocals from Mariam and Bob. “Rooms Of Doubt”, also from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album is a powerful song of resistance in the face of powerful forcesa and is expressed today with particular passion. We conclude today's show with the powerful minor blues of “Standing Ones Of Peace”, a powerful, fundamental minor blues with fine contributions from the ensemble supporting Mariam's impassioned, bluesy vocal. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

On a bitterly cold January the Gaea Star Band gathers around the stove in the studio at Singing Brook to record Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #605, an hour of emotional, compelling, powerful improvised music and songs by Mariam Massaro with Mariam on vocals, acoustic 6- and 12-string guitars, ukulele, dulcimer, Celtic harp, Native flute and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and backing vocals towards the end and Craig Harris on Native low drum and congas. Recorded live, today's show begins with the rich, gentle-yet-powerful “So Many Veils”, a gorgeous folk song with a deeply powerful and affecting vocal from Mariam above tight acoustic guitar, imaginative piano and Ringo-esque conga work from Craig. “Here We Are Again” is a flowing raga based around Mariam's DADGAD tuned 12-string acoustic guitar, a meditation on circles and cycles and “The Snow Queen” is a beautifully classical-sounding winter song with lush, pillowy chording from Bob on piano and Mariam on ukulele and imaginative, range-y vocals and “I Am Bountiful” derives a powerful, rocking primitivism from Mariam's percussive mandolin, skipping congas and suspended, rhythmic piano. Mariam plugs in her crisp, rich-sounding dulcimer for the driving, throbbing “To The Glory”, a beautiful song with excellent ensemble work and a precise, virtuosic vocal that wraps evocatively and intuitively around the pretty, imaginative cadences. “Solare” continues the Gaea Star Band winter tradition of including a sunny, summery song during particularly cold spells and this version is driving, powerful and decorated in another fine vocal from Mariam. We conclude today's show with inspired takes on Mariam's “We Call In The Elements” and “Fire In Our Bellies” from her “Vision Quest” LP. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #604 is an hour of improvised visionary music played on a frozen, still January day in 2025 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts. The Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, kalimba, dulcimer, 4- and 8-string ukulele, mandolin, Celtic harp, harmonica and acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native low drum begin this dynamic, inspired hour with the gentle, acoustic guitar-led minor ballad “I Am Spirit Manifest” before bringing in the varied, evocative “In The Full Moon”, a pulsing, jazzy composition featuring chiming Celtic harp, throbbing low drum and flights of majestic Native flute. “Let's Slow Right Down” is a bittersweet, drifting coda to “In The Full Moon” with graceful, distant, echoing Native flute and gorgeous in-the-moment composition on the piano. “Grateful For The Memories” is a whimsical folk song with a fine vocal and tight, ringing 8-string ukulele from Mariam and hard blues piano from Bob. Mariam creates a wonderful elasticity on her ringing dulcimer that provides a framework for Bob's chordal support on the gorgeous, mystical “Happy I Am” and mournful, unhurried kalimba ushers in the unusual, circular “There's Only One Way”, a wonderfully melancholic, majestic moment of achingly pretty minimalism is held in frame by Bob's Prokofiev-derived piano movements and Mariam's powerful melody. “Oh Mother Earth” is the major-keyed analog to Mariam's powerful song “I Am The Mother Earth” and in this expansive, joyful framework, driven along by Mariam's crisp mandolin, becomes a piece of front-porch Americana. We finish today's varied, inspired show with an upbeat version of Mariam's island song “Lead Me Down”. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #603 is our first show of 2025 and was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts on January 6th featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, shruti box, dulcimer and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. The band begins appropriately with the blues rock of “Happy New Year”, a driving, dynamic song with a fine vocal from Mariam before easing into the colorful Celtic drone of “Blessing Our Lives With Light”, a lovely, epic moon song in several movements with rich harmonic detail in the vocals and piano. “Rai Train To Heaven” is a rich, mystical ballad filled with sweeping vocals and Native flute explorations from Mariam and “Oh, The Ice Has Returned To The River”” is a whispered winter ballad swept along by Mariam's chiming acoustic guitar and bluesy piano interjections from Bob. “Reflect The Light” is a rocking minor workout with an inspired lyric from Mariam and driving congas from Craig and “Wind Over The Water” is a rich drone underpinned by Mariam's shruti box and given forward motion with fine vocals, piano and congas. “Holy Ones Of Light” is a beautiful, buoyant high energy folk song with propulsive mandolin work from Mariam and “Arise” from Mariam's “Vision Quest” album is presented with an effortless, skipping energy and a lovely vocal from Mariam. “Sail To The Realms”, the opening track of Mariam's album “Gaea Star Crystal” is given an uptempo, high energy reading full of energy and emotion. We close the show today with an evocative, pitch-perfect version of Mariam's “Restore” from the “Vision Quest” album. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #602 is an hour of visionary improvised acoustic music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, singing bowl, acoustic guitar, mandolin and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in late December of 2024, today's show begins with concise, pretty minor ballad “I Am Enough” featuring a fine vocal from Mariam above Bob's kinetic, searching piano and Craig's steady congas groove. “Oh The River” begins as a sweet, major key folk song until it slowly morphs into a jazzy workout that evokes the return of a beautifully chaotic Spring. “Let's Turn The Page” is an ambitious, spacious ballad sprinkled with Native flute and gorgeous vocals and “Open Every Day” is a fine, imaginative, focused version of the track from Mariam's “Gaea Star Crystal” album. “That Golden Glow Within” takes shape around the stately, undulating drone of Mariam's crystal singing bowl, her hushed, whispered vocal and expressive flute passages and is slowly, intentionally raised into a beautiful, touching piece that evokes classical art song with a particular nod to Schubert in the way Mariam's lovely, understated vocals and flute make the most of Bob's formal, consonant cadences. “Open Every Day” is dancing, exotic Eastern European-flavored whimsy from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album and “In The Middle Of The Night” is a deep and beautiful midnight reflection built around Mariam's chiming mandolin and dynamic, slowly coalescing piano movements from Bob. Mariam strums her warm, intimate baritone ukulele for the affecting “When You Touch Me”, a standout of the “Smooth Sailin' Love Songs” album that receives a sinuous, deeply emotional reading with powerful congas from Craig over the tight mandolin and symphonic piano. “Receiving Misty, Misty Rain” slides slowly and effortlessly from floating, open gospel ballad to focused, driving minimalist jazz fusion and “Shine Brightly” floats in on cascades of Native flute, a beautiful, impressionistic tone poem with imaginative ensemble playing from the band and a powerful, dynamic vocal from Mariam. Beautifully impressionistic and featuring a deep heartbeat from Craig's Native drum, “Shine Brightly” cedes the stage for today's inspired closer, the pretty island song “Shamiyaya”, originally appearing on Maraim's “Release” album, evoking the islands on this deep winter day. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #601 is an hour of improvised visionary acoustic music performed by The Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, crystal bowl, mandolin and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in mid-December of 2024, today's show begins with the relaxed, slowly unwinding winter anthem “The Snow Queen”, a lovely folk song that paints winter with rich descriptive stanzas from Mariam. “Somebody Before You” is a rich and beautiful ballad featuring a gorgeous vocal and sweeping Native flute passages from Mariam and expressive piano from Bob and “Blessed Are The Peacemakers” is a dancing, energized minor ballad led by Mariam's chiming mandolin and Craig's propulsive conga work. “Star Ray” is a gorgeous and deeply emotional peace, simultaneously sweet and driving, with affecting, sweeping vocals from Mariam and “Trail Of Light” is a pretty, open folk gospel song propelled by Mariam's tight ukulele strumming and “Sail On” from the “Vision Quest” album appears in a gorgeous, soulful rendition that sustains the magical ukulele-piano interplay of the original supporting Mariam's powerful vocal. “May I Be The Reflection” is a spacious, minimalist arrangement that creates a vast space to feature a fine, evocative conversation between Mariam's powerful lyrics and Native flute passages that seem to fill the horizon and we close today with “Full Moon #2”, a beautifully unusual ode to the night sky that evokes moonlit vistas with clever chording and unusual melody.   Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal #600 is an hour of visionary improvised music and songs by Mariam Massaro played by Mariam on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, kalimba, Celtic harp, marimba, ukulele and mandolin and Bob Sherwood on piano. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early December of 2024, today's show begins with a eulogy for Puffy the cat who left us after 17 years today, “Ode To Puffy”. A powerful take of Mariam's “Reborn” continues the eulogy for a truly excellent cat and “Game Of Life” is a bouncing, playful folk song with a fine vocal from Mariam and dancing piano ostinatos from Bob. “May We All Find Our Peace Of Balance” grows like a flower from the ending of the prior piece with a soaring, expressive Native flute solo from Mariam and builds into a beautiful, stately ballad featuring rich piano from Bob and a compelling, extended conversation between Mariam's solemn, soaring vocal and her Native flute. “Release, Revive, Relax” is a minimalist, ambient piece built on a tight framework of marimba and piano and “La Luna” is a fantastical ballad with a gorgeous vocal from Mariam accompanied by kalimba and piano. Mariam's chiming mandolin holds the fort for the whispering, evocative “Walk In Truth With The Maiden Of Peace”, a gorgeous, prayerful, extended ballad with a sweeping, expressive vocal from Mariam and Mariam's “White Buffalo Calf Woman” receives a solemn, reverent treatment with beautiful, unwinding vocals and Native flute interpolations from Mariam and Bob's formalist, Prokofiev-influenced piano from Bob. We conclude today's reverent, deep tribute to a very beloved cat with the sparkling, playful and beautifully rendered “Shamiyaya”. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Today on Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #599 we present an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, mandolin, acoustic 6- and 12-string guitar, ukulele and sitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in late November of 2024, today's show begins with the stately, romantic “Open Wide Our Hearts”, a brisk folk song with tight acoustic guitar from Mariam, followed by “Listen To The Calling Of Your Spirit” is a mystical, reverent piece built around Mariam's alternately-tuned 12-string Martin acoustic guitar. “Mother Earth We Love You” is a beautifully mysterious minor-keyed folk song featuring a fine vocal and imaginative, gainfully-arranged classical piano from Bob. “I Want To Be A Witness” spins and stretches the theme of the previous song in a harmonically unusual frame and features a gorgeous melody over Craig's steady, supportive conga groove. Lovely, deep folk mode is achieved with the lilting “Into The Mighty Waves”, a deeply affecting, endlessly unwinding poem over a gently supporting carpet of sound from the ensemble. We close with a suite of two mystical ragas as Mariam strums her exotic sitar; the floating, evanescent “Sri Padma Lakshmi” and its frenetic, energized sister “Lotus Queens”, closing today's show with a flourish.   Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #598 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music recorded live by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on acoustic guitar, vocals, native flute, ukulele and harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and percussion, Robin Rooney on djimbe and vocals and Craig Harris on congas and native drums.  Taped at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, in November of 2024, today's show begins with the lush, hazy summer ode “Locust Flowers”, a gorgeous and hallucinogenic song featuring an evocative vocal from Mariam and deeply emotional piano from Bob.  “To The River” is an upbeat folk song led by Mariam's driving acoustic guitar that morphs through mystical variations and “Luminous Light” brings a veiled and lovely minor key into play with alternately drifting and jazzy piano statements from Bob over Craig's relentless heartbeat.  “We All Live Under The Blue Sky” is a powerful song of unity driven forward by Mariam's ukulele and a groovy wall of rhythm from Craig, Robin and Bob.  “To The Way It Was” is a powerful, gospel-influenced rocker with a fine vocal from Mariam and “Sweet Nia Sails Away” is a solemn, evocative tone poem that wafts along on waves of celtic harp from Mariam, a song of praise for the passing of her beloved cat. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #597 is an hour of visionary, improvised acoustic music played dynamically by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, harmonica, Native flute, mandolin, ukulele, acoustic guitar, mandolin and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early November of 2024, today's show begins with the mystical, slow rocker “When Unicorns Roamed Freely”, a mesmerizing piece led by Craig's fundamental low drum pulse and Mariam's chiming dulcimer before easing into the languid, aching “Come To The Table Of Love”, a pretty love ballad with a fine, leaping melody from Mariam and fine accompaniment from the whole ensemble.  “Ways Of Life” is a Ray Charles-like blues with hypnotic piano motifs and rocking solo harmonica from Mariam and “Guided By Love” is a beautiful folk song led by Mariam's rhythmic ukulele strumming and dancing, wide-intervaled melody.  “Enter In” is another powerfully mesmerizing, mystical piece, this time framed by Mariam's chiming mandolin and a deep, booming piano motif from Bob that subcommunicates a deeply buried, obscured power in contrast with Mariam's gossamer, dancing melody.  Today's hour finishes with an energized, rhythmic medley of two songs from Mariam, “Distant Star” and “This Is The Way”, closing the show with a powerful, driving groove supported by steady conga work from Craig. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #596 was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in late October of 2024 and is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukuleles, steel and nylon string acoustic guitars and electric guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and bass guitar and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas. Today's show begins with the beautiful, pastoral “Like A Brand New Day”, a pretty, light song with a classical Neopolitan feel before we move to the “Gaea Star Goddesses” album's “Isis”, a reverent, celestial prayer with a fine vocal from Mariam. “Pacha Mama” and “Amaru Machay” follow, both tracks from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” album, the first a bright celebration with a classic folk feel, the second beginning as a solemn, reverent psalm before lifting off to Dionysian abandon with powerful work from the band. “Oya Thunderqueen” from the same album is a rocking, New Orleans-flavored rocker with tight electric rhythm guitar work from Mariam over Bob's barrel role piano and “Heights Of Love” comes from the “Gaea Star Crystal” album with the band taking it up yet another notch with this powerful rocker. “Queen Of Heaven”, also from today's featured LP “Gaea Star Goddesses”, is a rich, complex anthem performed flawlessly by the band and featuring overdubs of bass guitar, Native drum and vocals and flute from Mariam. “We Call In The Wind” is a powerful, fundamental medicine song with a beautiful, jazzy refrain and a driving performance from the band propelled by Craig's powerful conga groove. “Pele” is a sunny Hawaiian reggae workout played drum-tight by the ensemble led by Mariam's tiny soprano ukulele and wide, leaping melody and “I Am The Mother Earth” closes today's show with a powerful, mystical musical journey accompanying a fundamental, powerful prayer from Mariam in conversation with her Native flute. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #595 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukulele and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and vocals and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in October 2024, today's show begins with the beautiful, meditative “Continue On”, a raga-like piece with delicate congas from Craig and gossamer, sweeping piano from Bob framing Mariam's powerful, soaring vocal. Reaching a tempestuous crescendo, the song is followed by Mariam's ocean prayer “Yemanja”, written for the “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP. Growing like an incoming tide, “Yemanja” features a show, powerful build, inspired, interweaving vocals from Mariam and Bob and a powerful, fundamental groove. “Celebrate Life” is a beautiful, spacious folk song led by Mariam's steady, chiming mandolin and revealing a powerful, universal message and “Let's Slip Away” is a kinetic, sunny piece of modern gospel/classical music with a stately, shifting piano theme supporting an inspired vocal from Mariam. “Bless Our Lives” is a lovely, deeply affecting minimalist groove with shifting meters from congas and piano and a lush, sweeping melody that mutates and evolves through jazz and Afro Cuban grooves and “Mighty Is The Force Of Nature” is a powerful slow anthem led by a powerful duet between Mariam's prayerful vocals and widescreen Native flute passages. We complete today's hour with the powerful, shifting journey of “Let's Dream A New Story”, an imaginative trip through styles bound together by Mariam's powerful lyric. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #594 is an hour of improvised acoustic visionary music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, Celtic harp, mandolin and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Recorded live in mid-October of 2024 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massacusetts, today's show begins with a spirited, uplifting take of Mariam's classic “Reborn” from her “Vision Quest” LP which yields to the blustery, unsettled weather of “Have Faith”, a dramatic piece with fine classical piano from Bob and a powerful vocal from Mariam. “Oh The Full Moon” is a uniquely gorgeous, simple ballad brought in by Mariam's sweeping, swirling Celtic harp and lush vocal and carried by Bob's granitic, deeply empotional piano motif. “Birch Grove” is a fantastical, magical forest song led by Mariam's mysterious vocal and chiming mandolin and “May We All Be In The Right Place” is another beautiful melody dressed in lush classical flourishes and swaths of sweeping, soaring Native flute and “Hello It's Been A While” is a somber, powerful raga based on Mariam's DADGAD-tuned 12-string acoustic guitar. In honor of World Indigenous Peoples Day we close today's show with “Honoring The Elders”, another stately raga propelled by Craig's fundamental pulse and Mariam's sitar-like 12-string guitar. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #593 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music presented by The Gaea Star Band featuring Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, dulcimer, Celtic harp and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas. Recorded live in early October of 2024 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today's show begins with a lively, energized rendition of Mariam's “Thistle In The Wind” from her “For The Children” LP. The Gaea Star Band supports Mariam's retelling of the story of “Painty The Turtle”, another song from the children's record. “Oh The Rain” is an altogether more grown up effort, a rich, psychedelic cloud of rainy imagery featuring Craig's heartbeat Native drum and a fine, soaring vocal from Mariam. “Constant Flow” is a funky, Ray Charles influenced workout with fine rain poetry from Mariam and hip, bluesy piano from Bob that settles into an inspiring Native flute feature and “Wind Over The Water” is a delicate Celtic harp fantasy from Mariam supported by Craig's fundamental drums and Bob's alternately modern, angular piano passages alternating with deeply European-influenced sections to support Mariam's gorgeous Native flute work. “Look Into My Eyes” is a sprightly, modal workout led by Mariam's chiming dulcimer and fine vocal and “Back Us Up Oh Angels” is an energized reading of Mariam's gospel rocker from the “Gaea Star Crystal” LP. Also from “Gaea Star Crystal” is the operatic, Verdian “Sing Down The Walls” and we complete today's show with the deeply dynamic “Oh Just Let It Be” featuring another fine vocal from Mariam and imaginative, developing piano from Bob. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #592 is an hour of compelling, visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaga Star Band with Miriam Massacre on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin, marimba and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum. Produced and recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in September of 2024, today's show begins with the jazzy, effervescent rocker “Celebrate Diversity”, a high-energy workout that earns its title with forays into all the favorite music's of the Gaga Star Band. “Carry Me Into Your Heart” is a gorgeous, delicate, shimmering ballad led by Miriam's plaintive acoustic guitar and emotive vocal and “I Am Enough” develops slowly from a beautiful Native flute and piano invention into a rich, sweeping ballad with a lush, echoing vocal from Miriam in conversation with her soaring Native flute. “Double Winged Dragonfly” is a song that often finds its way into the Gaga Star Crystal Radio Hour, always in a radically different form. On today's show it receives a Northern Appalachian feel with a spry bluegrass rhythm flowing from Miriam's chiming mandolin, accompanied ably and with energy by piano and congas. “Dream On” is a fine, bright folk song with a true, lovely vocal from Miriam above a driving groove that leans ever more towards the blues. “Freedom” is a rousing protest folk song given an energized reading and a powerful vocal, and “Vision Quest” from Miriam's LP of the same name rocks with a gorgeous, fundamental power and sense of mystery and adventure that rivals the original, with Miriam's powerful, driving marimba creating a tight, compelling braid of sound with Craig's Native drum and Bob's far eastern piano touches. Today's show closes with the uncompromising rocker “Trust” and the band hits it with a ferocious, tight attack that sends Mariam's powerful prayer home. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #591 is an hour of improvised, visionary acoustic music featuring The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, melody harp, ukulele, Native flute, acoustic guitar, mandolin and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano, Craig Harris on Native drum and congas and today's special guest singer and percussionist Robin Rooney. Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in mid-September, 2024, today's show begins with the peaceful, relaxed, rich groove of “Wake Up, It's Morning!”, a prayerful tone poem featuring beautiful call and response vocals from Mariam and Robin and “The Wind, She's Dancing” is a gorgeous folk song led by Mariam's chiming acoustic guitar and more fine vocal work from Mariam and Robin. “My Body Is A Living Temple Of Love” is a languid minor exploration with beautiful melodies and fine drum work from Craig and Robin and “Oh, May The Wind Bring You Light” is a fantastical, spacious, hypnotizing song with gossamer vocals, beautiful classical piano flourishes and sweeping Native flute. “Hello, Hello, Oh Beautiful One” is a rich raga based on a drone from Mariam's shruti box and a call-and-response vocal setup from Mariam and Robin that opens into a spacious musical wonder of space and economy. Mariam strums her bright, dancing mandolin for “We're Flowing Like Spirit”, a mystical forest song energized by powerful drums and expressive piano. Closing today's show is a powerful, tight, rollicking take on Mariam's island song “Lead Me Down” with excellent contributions from the whole ensemble. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #590 is an hour of dynamic, visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukulele, dulcimer, acoustic guitar and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and vocals and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in September 2024, today's show begins with the energized, upbeat folk song “Golden Sun”, a pretty piece driven by Mariam's fine vocal and dancing ukulele.  “Full Moon” is a laid back, mysterious piece featuring a fine ensemble of piano, congas and acoustic guitar and the driving blues of “Wake You Up, Humanity” features fat-fingered barrelhouse piano from Bob and a fine vocal from Mariam. “Standing Ones Of Peace” from Mariam's “Vision Quest” album is interpreted as a spacious, beautiful folk song led by fine vocals and authoritatize, defining dulcimer from Mariam and “Many Seeds Have Fallen” from the same album is cast as a swirling, gorgeous, mysterious exploration with expressive vocals and imaginative piano.  “Ladies Of The Lake” from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” album is presented faithfully, a beautiful and deeply mysterious piece with a rich, evocative harmonic framework that flatters the player.  “Coming Home” is a Bob's song and he presents it with a fine vocal and excellent interplay from the band with Craig's driving congas and Mariam's chiming dulcimer and echoing Native flute.  “All Life Unfolds” is a gorgeous raga from Mariam which she leads on her droning, fundamental dulcimer and beautiful, prayerful vocal with imaginative piano from Bob and deep drumming from Craig.  “Spectacular Colors, It's Your Time To Shine” is a swirling, mysterious autumn piece with mesmerizing piano and a fine, dancing, echoing vocal from Mariam and we finish today's show with Mariam's beautiful, simple lullaby “Night Is Near” from the “For The Children” album.   Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #589 is an inspired hour of visionary acoustic improvisational music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, shruti box, mandolin, acoustic guitar and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and bass guitar and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum and again featuring special guest, prominent Turkish folk artist Ludingirra Ozdemir on vocals and Saz, a guitar-like instrument that incorporates microtonal scales.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in early September of 2024, today's show begins with the relaxed, mystical strains of “Oh Summer Day”, a beautiful improvisation characterized by a three-way dialogue between Mariam's vocal and Native flute and Ludingirra's Saz.  “Early In The Morning” is another staid, spacious piece with a gorgeous vocal from Mariam and imaginative, compelling piano from Bob and Ludingirra takes center stage on vocals with his exotic, deeply reverent “Ela Ciozlu Pirim Geldi”.  Mariam then picks up her chiming mandolin for the lush, magical “Slow Down”, a pretty ballad that increases up in energy until Bob's gorgeous classical piano coda and “Youldum” is another powerful, meditative, unusual piece from Ludingirra featuring fine backup vocals and Native flute from Mariam.  “Here We Go All Over Again” is a pretty folk song from Mariam led by her lovely vocal and acoustic guitar and featuring Bob on bass guitar and “Reborn” from Mariam's “Vision Quest” album is given a powerful reading with Craig's driving congas, more bass guitar from Bob and a fine vocal from Mariam.  We conclude today's show with Mariam's powerful Goddess/environmental anthem “Queen Of Heaven” from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” album. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #588 is an hour of dynamic, visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 4- and 8-string ukulele, shruti box, mandolin and dulcimer, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas and featuring today's special guest, Turkish singer and folk musician Ludimirra Ozdemir on vocals and playing his richly resonant Saz, a stringed instrument similar to a guitar.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in late August of 2024, today's show begins with the varied, imaginative “Raise My Voice In Praise”, a rich, evocative song featuring fine instrumental contributions from the whole combo supporting a beautiful, sweeping vocal from Mariam.  “Transform” is a steady, powerful gospel-like song built on a two-chord motif from the piano and “Star Ray” begins as a delicate, tonally floating whisper and builds gracefully into a beautiful cathedral of sound with a lush, emotional ballet between Mariam's vocal and her Native flute.  “Make New Friends” appropriates a children's song to spin a musically rich, mysterious tale about rescuing a stuck deer in the deep winter before spinning into a powerful, gospel-pitched coda of rich vocal and stately piano.  The band slips seamlessly into a mysterious, swirling minor and a mirror-image of the previous piece emerges, a night to the day that has passed, lit with moonlight, plaintive and formal.  “Let's Realign” is an energetic, powerful folk reel led by Mariam's chiming mandolin that grows in power until settling into a beautiful piano coda supporting a hushed, whispered vocal from Mariam.  Ludimirra's arresting, powerful song “My Soul's Deepest Longing” rises unhurried from a beautiful mesh of Saz and Native flute, his powerful vocal performance arriving as if from a great distance.  This piece travels from the Turkish steppes to the frozen north as Bob's Prokofiev-sourced piano parts push and pull at the eastern modes.  Mariam floats in to close today's show with the solemn, powerful “Honor Your Spirit”, a concluding prayer that stretches and pulls the music in intriguing Afro-Cuban directions.  Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Today on Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #587 we present an hour of visionary acoustic improvisation music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, ukulele, mandolin, Native flute and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and drums and Ludimirra Ozdemir on vocals and Saz.  Recorded live at Singing Bridge Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today's dynamic show begins with the driving, syncopated “Know Yourself”, a varied groove with a fine vocal from Mariam.  “Alive In The Beauty” is another driving, swinging piece that finds a powerful confluence between western and eastern modalities and “Find Your Rhythm” features dynamic saz figurations decorated with soaring Native flute from Mariam and driving, unrelenting drums rhythms from Bob.  “Tall Trees” is a gorgeous, languid, reverent tone poem built around Bob's modernist, minimalist piano work that ascribes interesting variations to Mariam's fine vocal and lyrical Native flute and “I Found You” is a fantastical, Dyonisian celebration with Mariam's mystical lyric, circling, diving Native flute, Ludimirra's winding string work and Bob's driving, surprising hand drum grooves.  “Tall Trees” is a gorgeous, minimalist folk song with a pretty, repetitive harmonic framework set up by Mariam's chiming mandolin and Bob's stately piano that is repeatedly, seductively pulled into the minor with Ludimirra's eastern modes on the saz.  “I Found You” is a triumphantly successful hybrid of western 12 tone modes and eastern modal drone driven by Ludimirra's questing, questioning Saz with Gershwinesque piano comments from Bob supporting a powerful, unwinding lyric from Mariam.  One of today's standouts is Mariam's “Calling Us Home” from the “Release” album, presented powerfully and imaginatively by the band and supporting a fine vocal from Mariam.   We conclude today's show with a languid, rich coda of “Calling Us Home” that showcases beautiful Native flute from Mariam and virtuosically rendered Saz from Ludimirra. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #586 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, marimba, mandolin, 8-string ukulele and harmonica, Bob Sherwood on piano and percussion and this week's special guests Dan Morningstar on acoustic guitar and vocals and Ludimirra Ozdemir on vocals and Oud.  Recorded live at Singing Bridge Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in August of 2024, today's show begins with the intensely rhythmic, hypnotic “Oh, May The Music Flow”, a powerful piece built around Mariam's insistent, tight marimba figures braiding with Bob's sinuous percussion and ornate, intricate lines from Ludimirra.  “Leyllm Ley” is a Turkish song from Lou, a beautiful, striking drone with propulsive percussion from Bob and Mariam.  “To Reach The Moment” begins with a dramatic, expressive vocal from Mariam above a bed of mandolin and Oud and unfurls into a gorgeous song of steppes and rainbows above a shifting, mind-bending modern classical setting of piano, Oud and mandolin.  “Ten” is a formal structure that features a complex, soaring conversation between Native flute and Oud and Mariam's sparse, dramatic “I'm Walking” swells from a whisper, building a powerful, psychedelic journey as Mariam leads us through the caves of our souls.   “Youldum”, another rich journey into Turkish folk from Ludimirra, is a rich, powerful exercise with tight, interlocking rhythms from Mariam's dance of Native flute and marimba.  A tight ensemble and fine vocals from Mariam and Bob create a mesmerizing tapestry on the dancing, racing “Solare” and the lovely, spacious, unhurried “Bring It All Home” wanders and returns, featuring fine contributions from the whole ensemble and lush vocals from Mariam and Ludimirra.   Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #585 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 12-string acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmonica, Celtic harp and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and percussion, Craig Harris on Native drum and congas and special guest, prominent Turkish folk musician Ludimirra Ozdemir on vocals and oud.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, in mid-August of 2024, today's show begins with the swirling, mystical “It's Just That Way”, an evocative ode to inevitability driven by Mariam's chiming mandolin and Bob's circular piano figures.  “Tell Me Your Story” is a beautiful minor key folk ballad featuring a fine vocal from Mariam and upbeat, driving congas from Craig and “Like The River” is a staid, open gospel ballad with a fine vocal from Mariam above Bob's reverent gospel piano.  Ludimirra joins us on his mournful, expressive oud for the droning, mystical “Nectar”, a beautiful nature prayer from Mariam underpinned by her alternate-tuned Martin 12-string guitar.  “Dum Gedje Se Irimde” introduces the gorgeous, otherworldly music of Ludimirra to today's show.  The piece is a beautifully overcast ballad placed in an Eastern drone with a fine, poetic vocal.  The ensemble again enriches one of Ludimirra's mystical original pieces, this one entitled “To Practam O Sirimush, Sirimush”.  This piece expands and intensifies immeasurably with powerful work from piano, harmonica, congas, 12-string and Native flute.  “Let's All Circle Around The World In Piece” stretches and draws the eastern D drone of the preceding extended modal workout with western harmonic touches and suggestions from Bob's piano supporting Mariam's reverent poetry.  The ensemble eases into Mariam's extended coda “To The Oak, Standing So Tall”, a lush, expressive poem carried on light, stretching touches of gossamer from the instrumentalists.  We conclude today's show with the powerful, affecting, piano-led “Yemanja”, a piece that sums up today's threads and directions using Mariam's evocative song from her “Gaea Star Goddesses” album. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #584 is an hour of improvised, visionary acoustic music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 4- and 8-string ukuleles, acoustic guitar, nylon string guitar and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in August 2024, today's show begins with the beautiful, staid love ballad “I'll Cross The Sea” featuring a fine vocal from Mariam above a tight, precise rhythm track from the ensemble.  “Pretty And Pink” brings a playful energy after the dramatic “I'll Cross The Seal” with dancing piano and ukulele and “Abundance” is a powerful rock song with an energized vocal from Mariam and driving congas from Craig.  “You Are At Peace” is a rich ballad that projects a deep longing through aching Native flute passages from Mariam above a delicate, classical structure.  “This Is The Way” is among Mariam's more powerful songs and the band leans into it with power, supporting a deep, evocative, impassioned vocal from Mariam.  “My Love For You” is a swirling, impassioned love song built around the chords Mariam caresses from her nylon-string guitar and a wonder-filled piano ostinato from Bob over Craig's surrounding heartbeat drum.  “The Stars Are Calling” is a sparse, formally structured aria for Mariam to express praise to Mother Nature and the starry night and we complete today's show with the extended tale of “Sparkle The Starfish”, a children's story from Mariam's “For The Children” album that is massaged and developed into a progressive musical adventure with powerful contributions from all. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #583 is an hour of inspired, visionary acoustic improvised music featuring the Gaea Star Band and special guests with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, steel-string and nylon-string acoustic guitar, ukulele and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and vocals, Craig Harris on Native drum and congas, Robin Rooney on vocals and djembe and Ludimirra Osdemir on Oud and vocals.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in mid-July of 2024, today's show begins with the hypnotizing “Circle Of Light”, a rich, meditative and poetic piece with fine vocals from Mariam and Robin.  “Return” is a lush, spiritual raga based on Mariam's droning shruti box and decorated with fine harmonic work from Ludimirra and Bob and solid, syncopating drumming from Robin and Craig.  “Enjoy Life” is a spirited, mystical, electronic piece with fine Native flute passages from Mariam and affecting Oud playing from Ludimirra.  Next we accompany Ludimirra as he presents his gorgeous “Ela Ciozlu Pirim Geldi”, a fantastic original Turkish folk song that seems to cascade languidly as The Gaea Star Band adds touches of flute, piano, percussion.  “Serving Eternally” is a powerful raga with a booming pulse and a gorgeous, sweeping melody passed back and forth between Mariam and Robin as Ludimirra improvises mystical melodies that braid craftily through the piece.  “Fire In My Belly” and “We Call In The Elements” are spiritual anthems from Mariam's “Vision Quest” LP and the band presents energized, rich, expansive versions of each with adventurous instrumental features passed back and forth between the players.   The ensemble then creates a powerful, hypnotic groove with Bob's original song “Coming Home”, a beautiful, languid conversation between Bob's rich voice and Mariam's soaring Native flute given depth from each player.  We complete today's varied, compelling hour with a lush, mysterious take of Mariam's “Water” that references the original formalist classical structure before being swept into a rich, eastern-flavored desert rain prayer ballad raga. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #582 is an hour of visionary acoustic musical improvisation featuring the versatile, multi-talented Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, acoustic guitar, Native flute, ukulele and percussion, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drums and congas.  Today's show was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in mid-July of 2024 and begins with the sedate, peaceful “Oh Mother Earth, We Love You”, built around Mariam's ukulele and sinuous vocal and a Gershwinesque piano accompaniment from Bob.  “Oh, The Moon And The Stars” begins as a bittersweet folk ballad, spacious and mournful, a prayer to nature in each of Mariam's elegant couplets and culminates with a gorgeous, languid conversation between Mariam's vocal and her Native flute.  Stepping into a languid blues mode with the shuffling “Oh, The Rain” the band drifts into a Beatlesque groove as Mariam weaves 21st century melodies into the psychedelic brew.  “We Are Here Now, Inside Our Body Temple” is an unusual, haunting air with an airy, gossamer vocal from Mariam and “Bless Your Journey” spins an unusual, retro jazz R&B groove from a sparse Native flute and drum intro that culminates in a powerful series of gospel choruses.  The band gives Mariam's “Isis” and “Sail To The Realms” a brisk, airy runthrough with a fine vocal and solid rhythm from all as we finish this week's installment with the rich, gorgeous, burnished majesty of “Just Abandon All Longings”. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #581 is an hour of improvised visionary acoustic music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic 6- and 12-string guitars, ukulele, dulcimer, shruti box and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and tambourine, Craig Harris on Native drum and congas and today's very special guest from Turkey, singer and Oud player Loudingirra Ozdemir.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in July 2024, today's show begins with the peaceful, reverent “Open The Way”, a spacious piece featuring Loudingirra's Oud and Mariam's Native flute and vocals in beautiful conversation.  “Oya Mama Hey” is a dancing, folky tune featuring Mariam on vocals and mandolin with fine contributions from the ensemble, following which we conduct a fascinating interview with Loudingirra.  Next we feature his music with support from the Gaea Star Band, beginning with the powerful, deeply spiritual “Hayat Misin Olummnusin” which translates as “Are You Life Or Death?”  “Tum Diherde Gunahkar” is next, which translates as “I Am Placeless” and is a breathless, galloping, impassioned piece with Bob joining Craig on percussion and featuring a peerless vocal from Loudingirra.  “There's A Fine Line” is a gorgeous raga underpinned by Mariam's rich, sitar-like 12-string drone and beautiful Oud accompaniment and we conclude today's compelling show with the mysterious, expanding “Sun Is Calling”, a compelling minor piece eased into Eastern spaces with Loudingirra's modal instrumental work. Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #581 is an hour of improvised visionary acoustic music featuring the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic 6- and 12-string guitars, ukulele, dulcimer, shruti box and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and tambourine, Craig Harris on Native drum and congas and today's very special guest from Turkey, singer and Oud player Loudingirra Ozdemir.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in July 2024, today's show begins with the peaceful, reverent “Open The Way”, a spacious piece featuring Loudingirra's Oud and Mariam's Native flute and vocals in beautiful conversation.  “Oya Mama Hey” is a dancing, folky tune featuring Mariam on vocals and mandolin with fine contributions from the ensemble, following which we conduct a fascinating interview with Loudingirra.  Next we feature his music with support from the Gaea Star Band, beginning with the powerful, deeply spiritual “Hayat Misin Olummnusin” which translates as “Are You Life Or Death?”  “Tum Diherde Gunahkar” is next, which translates as “I Am Placeless” and is a breathless, galloping, impassioned piece with Bob joining Craig on percussion and featuring a peerless vocal from Loudingirra.  “There's A Fine Line” is a gorgeous raga underpinned by Mariam's rich, sitar-like 12-string drone and beautiful Oud accompaniment and we conclude today's compelling show with the mysterious, expanding “Sun Is Calling”, a compelling minor piece eased into Eastern spaces with Loudingirra's modal instrumental work. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #580 is a lush, relaxed midsummer reverie of improvised, visionary acoustic music played by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic steel- and nylon-string guitars, ukulele and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded live on an early July day in 2024 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today's show begins with the languid "Layers Upon Layers", a sparse, staid piece with a lovely vocal from Mariam above a relaxed rhythm section and "Celebrate Our Differences" is another languid, easeful piece led by Mariam',s ukulele and a fine, inspiring lyric from Mariam.  "Singing In The Wind" is a mysterious forest song with gorgeous Native flute and evocative, repeating piano themes from Bob and "Standing Ones Of Peace" is a prayer to the forest from Mariam's "Vision Quest" album led by Mariam's chiming mandolin, driving congas from Craig and Bob's blues piano figurations.  Eastern modes and scales define the mystical tone poem "Beneath The Arbor Of Flowers", a gorgeous, unhurried abstract with a fine vocal from Mariam that rises in tempo and energy into a beautiful pagan dance and "Goddess, Goddess" from the "Release" album is presented as a simple, pretty piece that floats elegantly in a two-chord framework with a gorgeous vocal from Mariam.  "Queen Of Love" from the "Gaea Star Goddesses" album and "Thunderbeings" from the "Vision Quest" album are both presented authoritatively, the former a deeply romantic flamenco, the latter a Native anthem to the old growth trees of the forest.  "Shamiyaya" is an upbeat island song, the lead single from Mariam's "Release" album and we close today's show with the beautiful lullabye "Night Is Near" from the "Vision Quest" album. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #579 Part Two is an hour of improvised, visionary acoustic music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukulele, marimba, mandolin, Celtic harp, harmonica and acoustic guitar, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington Massachusetts in June of 2024, today's show begins with a track from Mariam's “Vision Quest” LP, the inspiring, evocative “Vision Quest” featuring fine percussive marimba from Mariam decorated with Bob's piano, together suggesting a wide savannah.  “Pot Of Gold” is a fine, dancing folk piece built around Mariam's chiming mandolin and “Are You My Angel?” is a gorgeous minor ballad with soaring Native flute from Mariam in conversation with her fine vocal.  “Simply Being Rays Of Light” is a powerful ballad with more compelling Native flute passages, a throbbing heartbeat from Craig and granitic, fundamental piano from Bob and “Summertime” is a rollicking blues with top notch work from the whole ensemble supporting Mariam as she rocks on harmonica.  “Solare” is a gorgeous, mysterious prayer to the sun from Mariam's “Release” LP and the ensemble caresses its graceful contours before rolling into a powerful take of the rocking “Smooth Sailin' Love Songs” track “Happy With You”.  “Chimes Chinking” is a deeply emotional, evocative ballad with a gorgeous vocal from Mariam.  “Ladies Of The Lake”, a deeply unusual, innovative song from Mariam's “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP is attempted by the band here for the first time and the results are rich, mysterious and funky with particular praise for Mariam's Native flute performance.  We finish today with the barrelhouse blues of “A Memory Of Life Divine” featuring fine fat-fingered boogie woogie piano from Bob, rolling, rocking congas from Craig and Mariam's bluesy vocal and harmonica work. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #579 is another hour of improvised visionary acoustic music brought to you by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, nylon string guitar and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in June of 2024, today's show begins with the energized blues of “Oya Thunderqueen” which transitions into the equally bluesy “Woody”, a light-hearted ode to woodpeckers and the onset of summer.  The Path Of Light” is a beautiful, rich folk song led by Mariam's whispery, expressive nylon-string guitar and “Make The Best” is a reggae-folk song with a fine lyric from Mariam over a tight rhythm section of nylon string guitar, congas and piano.  “Open The Way” is a lush, expansive exploration with fine, soaring vocals and psychedelic Native flute from Mariam and a clever piano framework from Bob and “Calling In The Sweetness” serves as a lovely, hushed coda with beautiful, echoing vocals from Mariam and powerful, expansive Native flute passages.  “Life Is Like A River” is a fine, upbeat folk song led by Mariam's chiming mandolin and fine rhythm work from Craig and Bob and “Moon Queen” is a gorgeous, prayerful ode to the moon that flows and ebbs with fine Native flute, imaginative piano development, and psychedelic electronic treatments.  “Sweet Mother Earth” is a pretty, lilting minor folk song with fine vocals and caressing congas, and we wrap today's show with a pair of Mariam's songs from her “Vision Quest” album, the airy, bittersweet waltz “Rainbows” and a hushed, appealingly understated take of “ Spirit Of Air”. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #578 is an hour of expansive, evocative, visionary acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, shruti box, mandolin, nylon string guitar and ukulele, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in June 2024, today's show begins with the staid, whispering, lovely “Roses” before sliding smoothly into the hushed raga “Deep Down”, a pretty piece with imaginative piano over Mariam's shruti box drone that slowly expands into a powerful, melodic coda.  “Come Along” is a pretty, open, harmonically innovative piece featuring powerful vocals and Native flute from Mariam and clever chord clusters from Bob and “Peace Prevailing” is a mysterious, minor folk song built upon Mariam's clear, open ukulele and Craig's tightly defined congas.  “Life Holds Us In An Embrace” has the imprimatur of ancient British Isles folk music harmonically and sonically with Mariam's chiming mandolin and Bob's obsessive ostinato.  “Gathering In The Forces Of Love” is a beautiful, mysterious drone piece given variety and contrast with Mariam's sweeping melody and Bob's imaginative piano directions and “River Flowing By” is a widescreen, spacious piece that begins with a trademark Native flute fanfare over Native drum until electronically treated piano enters and supports a powerful duet between Mariam's lilting melody and Native flute work.  Today's show concludes with the Verdian gospel song “Sing Down The Walls” from Mariam's “Gaea Star Crystal” album from 2009. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #577 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music recorded live by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, classical guitar, dulcimer and mandolin, Bob Sherwood on piano and bass guitar and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in June of 2024, today's show begins with the beautiful, mystical “Sail On”, a beautiful waltz originally recorded for Mariam's “Vision Quest” album in 2014.  “Leonardo” is a sprightly, bouncing folk gospel song celebrating Mariam's nylon string guitar of the same name and “You're The One” is an inspiring pop song from Mariam's “Gaea Star Crystal” album.  “I Was Wondering” is a clever, crafty country rock song from the “Smooth Sailin' Love Songs” album, given an energized, inspired airing on today's show.  “This Is The Way” is a lush, evocative minor key rock song enhanced with overdubs featuring Native flute, Native drum and bass guitar.  Mariam wields her chiming mandolin for the summery, psychedelic “Double Winged Dragonfly”, a pretty song with a fine vocal from Mariam, austere, modern chording from Bob and steady congas from Craig.  “Happy I Am”, “Smile” and “Gypsy” close today's show with energized, expanded and inspired renditions of these numbers from Mariam's “For The Children” album. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #576, we feature the Gaea Star Band playing visionary, acoustic improvised music with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 4- and 8-string ukulele, acoustic guitar shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on congas and Native drum.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in May of 2024, today's show begins with the beautifully focused and kinetic “Running Pure”, an exhilarating, driving folk song with a fine vocal from Mariam.  “Oh The Rain” is piloted by “Oscar”, Mariam's chiming 8-string baritone ukulele and features gorgeous, celestial piano work from Bob and a solid, driving conga groove from Craig supporting Mariam's evocative vocal-and-Native-flute conversation.  “Open My Heart” is a fine, uplifting folk song from Mariam with sprightly ukulele and bouncing reggae piano and “Your Eyes Shine” is as sultry rocker from the “Smooth Sailin' Love Songs” LP played with a beautiful vocal from Mariam and controlled passion with fine, incisive playing from the whole band.  “Celebrating Feeling Good” is a spacious, pretty, classically-inflected piece again driven by chiming chords from Mariam's 8-string uke and “Amaru Machay” from Mariam's “Gaea Star Goddesses” album is presented as smoldering, slowly intensifying rock with a compelling vocal from Mariam and imaginative piano touches from Bob.  Continuing with the Peruvian theme, “Pacha Mama”, also from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” LP is given an energized, tight airing featuring percussion, vocal, flute and bass guitar overdubs.  The smoldering “When You Touch Me” from Mariam's 2012 “Smooth Sailin' Love Songs” album is rendered spaciously and prayerfully with a beguiling vocal from Mariam and we close today's hour with the scintillating, gently insistent raga of “Happy To Be Alive” a pretty, spacious piece built upon Mariam's droning shruti box. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #575 is an hour of inspired, visionary acoustic improvised music featuring Mariam Massaro and Bob Sherwood of the Gaea Star Band with Mariam on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, 4- and 8-string ukulele, shruti box and dulcimer and Bob on piano.  Today's show, taped live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in May of 2024, begins with the hushed, mysterious, reverent raga “ We Are The Ancient Ones” featuring Mariam's mournful shruti box before moving into “We're Flying As We Shine”, a pretty, open folk song featuring Mariam's chiming ukulele and fine vocal.  “Keep On” is a gorgeous, echo-laden tapestry featuring a compelling flute-and-vocal conversation from Mariam and “Water” is a striking classical piano and vocal duet from the “Vision Quest” album.  “As We Gather Together” is a pretty, light folk ballad with chiming 8-string ukulele and cascading piano and “Spirit Of The Forest” is a spirited, sprightly forest song from the “Vision Quest” album.  “Many Seeds Have Fallen” is another “Vision Quest” track, here given a hushed, poetic vibe with a fine vocal from Mariam.  “Only One Way On This Holy Ground” closes today's show with a deep, varied exploration that winds several themes together in major and minor variations. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #574 is an hour-long exploration of visionary acoustic improvised music played live by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, dulcimer, acoustic guitar, ukulele and kalimba, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded in May of 2024 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts, today's show begins with the gorgeous raga “Touch The Seeds Of Joy”, an energized celebration of long-awaited spring propelled by Mariam's chiming dulcimer.  “We Know How To Live In Peace” begins with an evocative Native flute and piano exploration before easing into a meditative, musically rich piece, full of passion and variety.  “Open To Your Divinity” is a full, rich folk song with a fine lyric from Mariam and “Remember The Ancient Teachings” is a mysterious, mystical minor ballad with an inspired vocal and skipping, percussive ukulele from Mariam.  “Oh, Lovely Luna's Light” is one of Mariam's lovelier moon songs, full of gorgeous melody and soaring, ambitious piano movements draped on Mariam's rhythmic kalimba playing and Craig's fundamental heartbeat drum.  “Spontaneously Express Your Special Gifts” is an impassioned, psychedelic, electronically-enhanced ballad with another beautiful extended Native flute and vocal conversation from Mariam and we complete today's show with the aching summer ballad “One More Day” with fine work from the band and a soaring, inspired vocal from Mariam. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #573 is an hour of visionary acoustic improvised music created by The Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukulele, mandolin, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitars, harmonica and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano, Craig Harris on Native drum and congas and special guest Esencia on acoustic guitar.  Today's show was recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts in April of 2024 and begins with “Shanaynayoh”, a mystical meditative piece played over a loop on a singing crystal bowl.  “Fire In My Belly” is a powerful, sparse minor blues with an impassioned vocal from Mariam and “Room Of Doubt” is a folk rocker with a powerful message driven by Mariam's driving, chiming acoustic guitar.  “Gentle In The Wind” is a hushed, evocative piece full of cascading piano and underpinned with fanfares from Mariam's Celtic harp and “Every Day Is A New Day” is a beautiful, spacious piece featuring chiming, sparkling 8-string ukulele from Mariam and a circular, groovy conga figure from Craig.  “Ministar Moonbeams” is a straight jazz blues with an evocative vocal from Mariam in conversation with her jazzy harmonica.  Mariam strums her sweetly singing mandolin for “It's A Lovely Day”, a pretty, swirling piece with another fine vocal over Bob's ever-shifting, imaginative piano and we welcome guest acoustic guitarist Esencia for today's last number, the sprawling, meditative, raga-like “Standing Ones Of Piece” also featuring Mariam's custom-tuned Martin 12-string guitar. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #572 is an hour of dynamic visionary acoustic improvised music played live by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, ukulele, acoustic guitar, kalimba, mandolin and Celtic harp, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Today's show was recorded in early April of 2024 at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts and begins with the majestic waltz of “Oh My Soul”, a beautifully open and expressive piece with a fine vocal from Mariam over gospel piano and a steady, pulsing conga groove.  “Misty Clouds” is a mystical, spacious ballad replete with electronics, vast piano chords and lyrical Native flute passages from Mariam in conversation with her powerful vocal.  The spry folk of “Deva Magic Fire” is imbued with Eastern touches and a drum-tight conga-ukulele-piano rhythm section and “Ryalia”, from the “Release” album, is a beautiful, driving minor folk song with a notable Romani influence in Mariam's impassioned vocal and fast, tight ukulele strumming.  “Just Walk Away” is a swinging ‘50s rocker also from Mariam's “Release” album with an appealing, bluesy retro approach and another fine vocal and “Treasures” is a deep, earthen chant built on a pulse of Native drum and a carpet of minor acoustic guitar and piano.  Mariam strums her lustrous, shimmering 8-string ukulele for the pretty, uplifting “Somebody Before You”, a lovely, lilting piece with Mariam's evocative vocal and busy but spacious gospel piano from Bob and “It's Just That Way” concludes today's hour with a hushed, reverent minor ballad built on the imaginative interplay of kalimba, Native drum, piano, Native flute and always Mariam's clear, expressive voice soaring across the top of the lush, unusual soundstage. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #571- Singing Brook Studio in Worthington brings you another live studio recording of the Gaea Star Band performing visionary acoustic improvisational music with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, acoustic guitar, ukulele and shruti box, Bob Sherwood on piano and tablas and Craig Harris on congas and Native drums.  Recorded in early April of 2024, Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #571 begins with the sweet, blossoming, meditative “Oh May The Waters Bless You”, a fundamental groove featuring fine Native flute fanfares and a beautiful vocal from Mariam.  “Let Your Life Sail Along” is a strangely mystical creation evocating mystery and wonder, bouncing on waves of ukulele, congas and imaginative, dancing piano.  “Sailing Through The Flowers” is a profound and deeply affecting raga with the drone provided by Mariam's shruti box.  Craig and Bob create a mesmerizing framework of congas and tablas for Mariam's gorgeous Eastern creation.  The band gradually evolves the theme into a series of alternately beautiful and psychedelic variations before shifting into the simple, sedate folk of “I Only Want To Serve In The Light”, a pretty, gospel-influenced air given shape with Mariam's steady acoustic guitar chording.  “Tiny Slipper In The Sky” is a beautiful midnight moon song with fine vocal work from Mariam and “Open My Heart”, a classic gospel song from Mariam, concludes today's show on a high note. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #570 is an hour of visionary, acoustic improvised music played by the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, Native flute, 4- and 8-string ukulele, acoustic guitar, mandolin and harmonica, Bob Sherwood on piano and Craig Harris on Native drum and congas.  Recorded live at Singing Brook Studio in Worthington, Massachusetts on the first day of April, 2024, today's show begins with the heavy groove, clever lyrics and imaginative chord figurations of “Nature At Her Best” before sliding into the uptown, Ray Charles minor blues of “Let's Ride The Waves”, an epic, circular jazz rock piece with fine vocals and blues harp from Mariam.  “Always” begins with an evocative Native flute fanfare from Mariam that flows into a series of touching melodies and chord figurations, with Mariam returning to lyrical Native flute runs to give her lovely, sparse vocal shape and context.  “Windy Breeze” is a strikingly pretty, unsettled sky song made rich with Mariam's 8-string ukulele and floating, unsettled piano chords from Bob to support the windy vibe and “The Universe Is Working On Our Behalf” is a gorgeous, austere song with a beautiful, soaring melody from Mariam set in a richly minor soundstage, filled with echoes and mystery.  “Along The Strands Of Life” again features Mariam chiming 8-string ukulele and soaring melody above a sprightly conga groove from Craig and Bob's endlessly extrapolative piano and “Let's Circle Around” closes today's show with a powerful, spiritual suite of musical movements all supporting Mariam's powerful, inspiring message of peace. Learn more about Mariam here: http://www.mariammassaro.com