Spirits In the Wind-Burning Sky w/ John Desnmore..

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

Ida Miller sent me a copy of this in 2003 and its quite pleasant. Dunno how much John plays on it but he is credited on several tracks.
Very soothing flute....worth listening to if you are in a mellow mood.....

Spirits In The Wind (Canyon Records CR-7047, 2002)



Pared down to the duo of Aaron White and Kelvin Mockingbird (both of whom are proficient on guitar and Native American flute) Burning Sky continue to make great music, though the feel now is one of soulful intimacy rather than exploratory inventiveness. Their three previous albums for Canyon were trio efforts with percussionist Michael Bannister as a core member, and for 1998's wonderful Enter The Earth (Ryko), the group added a bassist to become a quartet.

By that point they were part neo-traditionalists, part canny global fusionists (including African, Celtic and many other flavors in the mix) and part jam band. I'm not sure what kind of personal or professional shake-ups led to the current version of Burning Sky, but the fact that Spirits In The Wind is a work of considerable beauty indicates they couldn't have been too very painful. Acoustic guitar and flute in various solo and duo arrangements carry most of the disc, with a chamber music sensibility occasionally riled by blues riffing, growling didgeridoo or production that seems deliberately not fancy.

Interestingly, White and Mockingbird are joined by former Doors drummer John Densmore (credited with playing the dumbek, but it sounds more like a jembe), who adds some pleasantly primitive pounding on an effective cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" and elsewhere. This is not music that's going to blow you away, but with pieces like the closing "Shadow Man" taking their sweet time, you may well find yourself drifting away instead. This album can be seen as something of a musical crossroads for Burning Sky- they've blazed trails, and now, likely on their way to blazing more, they've paused to make music that's lovely and unpretentious. (www.canyonrecords.com)

Order & Listen to a bit of it here....

www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/5383551/a/Spirits+In+The+Wind.htm

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

Burning Sky (Dine/US)
Spirits in the Wind
Canyon Records
***
***Won a NAMMY (Native American Music Awards) for Best Duo/Group of the Year***
Dine (Arizona) duo, Aaron White and Kelvin Mockingbird Bizahaloni (Burning Sky) blend Native American flute, guitar, didgeridoo and ethic percussion on their fourth recording Spirits in the Wind. Drummer John Densmore (formerly of the 60's group, The Doors), pitches in percussion on a few of the 12 tracks that appear on the recording. Burning Sky has explored, jazz, folk, classical and blues on their recordings while taking their listeners on a journey that travels through the heart of Native America. On Spirits in the Wind, the musicians marry folk-blues guitar with Navajo flute and they throw in a few treasures along the way.
The first four songs revolve around acoustic blues guitar, heavy on the harmonics and flute. The guitar and flute create a warm atmosphere that gives off the expansiveness of a vast canyon. At times, there is a longing portrayed in the hollow notes of the flute that recalls an image of a coyote baying at a full moon (which is also portrayed on the CD's artwork). A cover of Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing features John Densmore on dumbek and rattles while reminding us of the legendary and spiritual Hendrix. Medicine Dance also features percussion and fluttering flute. 49ers Blues (not sports related) highlights Delta blues slide guitar along with fluttering and trilling flute. Star, features guitar, rattles and flute then paves the way for the final track, Shadow Moon which brings in bass flute and didgeridoo to the mix.

Burning Sky perform a contemporary Native American music, with African-American and other influences, and in utilizing breath, wind and wood, this group's music comes off as earthy and natural in every respect. It is spiritual music of the desert, composed by musicians who know the best of those worlds. And although the songs are instumental, they tell a rich story about dreams, journeys, musical warriors and spiritual enlightenment. And if you enjoy this recording, you might also want to check out Burning Sky's Blood of the Land, Burning Sky, Creation as well as, Native American Flautist Mary Youngblood's bluesy recordings.
PLH
Cranky Crow World Music

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

Reconfigured Burning Sky Should Still Score with Native American Music Fans

Burning Sky
Spirits in the Wind (Canyon Records CR-7047, 2002)

Pared down to the duo of Aaron White and Kelvin Mockingbird (both of whom are proficient on guitar and Native American flute) Burning Sky continue to make great music, though the feel now is one of soulful intimacy rather than exploratory inventiveness. Their three previous albums for Canyon were trio efforts with percussionist Michael Bannister as a core member, and for 1998's wonderful Enter The Earth (Ryko), the group added a bassist to become a quartet.

By that point they were part neo-traditionalists, part canny global fusionists (including African, Celtic and many other flavors in the mix) and part jam band. I'm not sure what kind of personal or professional shake-ups led to the current version of Burning Sky, but the fact that Spirits In The Wind is a work of considerable beauty indicates they couldn't have been too very painful. Acoustic guitar and flute in various solo and duo arrangements carry most of the disc, with a chamber music sensibility occasionally riled by blues riffing, growling didgeridoo or production that seems deliberately not fancy.

Interestingly, White and Mockingbird are joined by former Doors drummer John Densmore (credited with playing the dumbek, but it sounds more like a jembe), who adds some pleasantly primitive pounding on an effective cover of Jimi Hendrix's 'Little Wing' and elsewhere. This is not music that's going to blow you away, but with pieces like the closing 'Shadow Man' taking their sweet time, you may well find yourself drifting away instead. This album can be seen as something of a musical crossroads for Burning Sky- they've blazed trails, and now, likely on their way to blazing more, they've paused to make music that's lovely and unpretentious.

World Music Central
May 30, 2003