Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour with Mariam Massaro

Gaea Star Crystal Radio Hour #259 was taped at Singing Brook Studio on Worthington, Massachusetts on a sunny day filled with the promise of spring, and features the Gaea Star Band with Mariam Massaro on vocals, ukulele, native flute and acoustic guitar, Craig Harris on congas and drums and Bob Sherwood on piano. We begin with a lovely, mystical, mist-soaked piece called “Sweet Papayas” that joins Mariam’s exposition of her recent trip the Big Island in Hawaii with music that seeks to replicate the sweet climes of the Hawaiian Islands. A rich, varied and evocative piece, “Sweet Papayas” opens up for a coda featuring Mariam’s pretty, piping G flute and more gracious, lovely poetry in praise of Maui. “We Are Sharing Beauty Ways” begins somberly with minor chords from Mariam’s acoustic guitar and sensitive accompaniment from Craig on congas. This gorgeous, unhurried piece visits realms of deep peace and mysticism, a visionary vocal from Mariam duetting with her calm, sweeping native flute over stately congas and deeply emotional piano inventions. Following the break we visit three powerful pieces from Mariam that feature on her albums. “Reborn” from the “Gaea Star Crystal: Awakening the Tribes Of Light” soundtrack, is taken as a driving, hybrid waltz led by a fine vocal and assertive acoustic guitar from Mariam. “I’m The Full Moon” from the “Gaea Star Goddesses” album is a song of praise and reverence to the moon and the night-hunting goddess Artemis and is presented in a greatly rocked-up arrangement. The powerful, deeply elemental and earthen “I Am The Mother Earth” closes the show today with deep drum pulses from Craig and a profound vocal performance from Mariam, exposing the deep poetry of this song originally featured on the “Vision Quest” album.