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Artist:
Nawang Khechog
A lot of artists evoke the spirit of Tibet, but Nawang Khechog is actually a former Tibetan monk, who took off the robes and took up the flute to travel the world 20 years ago. His albums are usually slotted in the New Age and meditation genres, and certainly his packaging and imagery inspire that. Unfortunately, it overshadows a music that is perhaps deeper, or at least more artistically profound, than that. Tibetan Meditation Music scans less like a background for contemplation and more like a tone poem to the spirit. The opening track seems like an Asian refraction of "Amazing Grace," with Tsering Khechog singing over Nawang Khechog's flute. Khechog's music draws on folk and spiritual traditions but takes them further afield. Think Arvo Pärt on the Tibetan plateau with strings droning a minor-key refrain while Tibetan bells and chimes sound in the background and Khechog chants. I do wish Khechog had brought along just a touch of the drama and shifting moods heard on some of his earlier discs, like the Kitaro-produced Karuna. Tibetan Meditation Music is unvarying in its somber tone. Khechog's chants, which are intimately spoken, whispered more than sung...
List Price: $17.98 |
Our Price: $11.94 |
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Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Staring:
Kodo
KODO has been exploring the limitless possiblities of the traditional Japanese drum, "Taiko" for over 30 years. In their pursuit of striving to take their theatrical art further, KODO has actively been seeking new collaborations with other musicians and mentors. One result of this can be seen in "One Earth Tour Special", a performance that has Tamasaburo Bando, one of Kabuki's most renowned performers, serving as artistic director. Under Tamasaburo's keen direction, KODO's aim is to reincarnate their performance, not just a mere improvement in quality, but to reinvent their performance with power and grace. It will show KODO's journey back to the basics of drumming to capture the beauty of simple movement. With sold our tours and over 500,000 units sold in the US, KODO will continue to captivate American audiences with the "One Earth Tour Special" release.
List Price: $19.98 |
Our Price: $13.49 |
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Artist:
Keiko Matsui
Contemporary jazz icon Keiko Matsui's new album, (Swahili for "heart and soul"), recorded with local musicians in South Africa, Japan and the United States, introduces new sounds and rhythms to her elegant piano melodies and gentle jazz grooves. For this project, Keiko invited other artists into the creative process, including legendary trumpeter Hugh Masakela, sax player Gerald Albright, soprano sax player Paul Taylor, bassist/vocalist Richard Bona, drummer Akira Jimbo and vocalist Waldemar Bastos.
List Price: $18.97 |
Our Price: $13.39 |
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Artist:
Various Artists
List Price: $9.98 |
Our Price: $5.18 |
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Artist:
Shugo Tokumaru
Shugo Tokumaru is the kind of artist you hear about from that friend of yours, the one who first took you to that out-of-the-way Peruvian restaurant, the one who made you that mix with the great Icelandic reggae band on it. This friend has a knack for sniffing out things that are special and unique. Extraordinary maybe. Extraordinary is a word that describes Shugo well. In fact, if there is any one adjective that can be applied to a young pop genius making miniature symphonies in his bedroom in Tokyo, extraordinary is it.
List Price: $12.98 |
Our Price: $5.05 |
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Artist:
Dengue Fever
"A unique and surprisingly danceable group that combines a beautiful Khmer-language vocalist from Cambodia and a quintet of seasoned locals with a knack for mixing Southeast Asian pop, Vietnam-war-era lounge music, klezmer, ska, surf rock, and Ethiopian jazz." -- SPIN psychedelic. They are world music. They are anything but mainstream. There is virtually no other band in the world playing "Khmer Rock," the style of 1960s Cambodian rock derived from Armed Forces Radio in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Sophomore album Venus On Earth features eleven original songs that expand on the band's sound but will please hardcore fans of both the group and the genre. There is no other band like Dengue Fever, which garners fans in everyone from indie kids to well-heeled world music consumers.
List Price: $16.98 |
Our Price: $11.26 |
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Artist:
Hiromi
Hiromi's supergroup, Sonicbloom, has shattered the formula of making records written solely by the celebrated pianist/composer. Their latest outing, "Beyond Standard," finds Tony Grey (bass), Martin Valihora (drums), and Dave "Fuze" Fiuczynski (guitar and otherworldly sounds) helping Hiromi craft unique versions of familiar tunes such as Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm," Rogers & Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things" and even Jeff Beck's "Led Boots." The group has been recognized for its energetic virtuosity by music industry and mainstream publications alike: Downbeat, JazzTimes, Keyboard, and The New York Times. Playing festivals such as Glastonbury, Fuji Rock, and Playboy Jazz proves that Hiromi's unique fusion nuevo has been accepted in the world of jazz as well as rock. "Beyond Standard" is a showcase for Hiromi and her band's abilities, with each player getting plenty of room to shine. While most of the music on the album was penned by songwriters other than Hiromi, the album as a whole is a continuation of her previous release, "Time Control" (2007). "Beyond Standard" starts with a quick "Intro" that includes the popping and scratching sounds of a vinyl record, a signal that w...
List Price: $18.98 |
Our Price: $9.98 |
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Artist:
Eckhart Tolle
List Price: $17.98 |
Our Price: $12.57 |
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Artist:
Abigail Washburn
Digipak of self titled album by Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet. Abigail Washburn has created a new sound that crosses global and cultural lines, personified in the raw, transcendental music of the Sparrow Quartet. The all star collaboration features banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck, acclaimed cellist Ben Sollee and Grammy nominated fiddler Casey Driessen. The artistry of Abigail is her love of both American roots musics and the Chinese culture she has been exploring for over a decade. Produced by Bela Fleck, the music was composed and arranged by the foursome. The unprecedented mixture of two banjos (clawhammer and three finger style), cello and fiddle unfolds like an otherworldly chamber suite.
List Price: $17.98 |
Our Price: $12.10 |
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Artist:
Yoko Kanno
From the popular series, "Ghost in the Shell: A Stand Alone Complex" arrives the original scores from the 2nd Season. Renowned composer, Yoko Kanno once again blends a magnificent array of stylish jazz, bouncing techno, thunderous rock and smooth ballads that only she can accomplish. 17 breathtaking tracks from the hit T.V. series aired on Cartoon Network. Song lyrics included in the CD insert. Genre Anime-CD Sountrack
List Price: $14.98 |
Our Price: $8.29 |
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