May 4:
Philadelphia Sinfonia, Irine Auditorium, U of PA, Phil. PA
Voyagers with Udi Bar-David
May 5
WHYY Technology Center, reception and concert, Phil. PA
Voyagers with Udi Bar-David and Intercultural Journeys, 5:30pm
May 10
Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Scottsdale, AZ
Solo, trio, and Cliff Sarde in concert 8pm
May 16-17
Performance of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Roses, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Mesa, AZ
Solois in DeMars opera, 7:30pm
Of Navajo-Ute heritage, R. Carlos Nakai is the world's premier performer of the Native American flute. Originally trained in classical trumpet and music theory, Nakai was given a traditional cedar wood flute as a gift and challenged to see what he could do with it.
Since 1983, he has released over 35 albums on the Canyon label. In addition to his solo appearances throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan, Nakai has worked with guitarist William Eaton, flutist Paul Horn, composers James DeMars and Phillip Glass and various symphony orchestras.
While well-grounded in the traditional uses of the flute, Nakai has explored new musical settings including new age, world-beat jazz and classical. His cross-cultural collaborations have included an album with the Wind Travelin' Band, a Japanese folk ensemble and Tibetan flutist and singer Nawang Khechog on several productions including “In A Distant Place.” Nakai has earned two gold records for “Canyon Trilogy” and “Earth Spirit” and has received eight Grammy® nominations. Nakai’s career has been shaped by a desire to communicate a sense of Native American culture and society that transcends the common stereotypes presented in mass media.
The "Wilde Boys Trio"
The Clipman, Eaton, Nakai "Wilde Boys" trio is a summit meeting of master musicians. From its inception, this trio has been committed to improvisation - the fine art of crafting music directly from the heart or through composing. The ancient melodies of Nakai's native American cedar flutes are enveloped in the sophisticated harmonic and chordal timbres of Eaton's uniquely handcrafted multi-stringed instruments. Both musicians are inbued with a fluid pulse arriving out of Clipman's pan-global percussion.
The "Wilde Boys and Nawang Khechog"
An intercultural collaboration exploring worlds of North America's indigena, Tibet, and native America, with special guest Tibetan flutist Nawang Khechog, supported in a rich sonic palette of strings by William Eaton, lilting Native American flute melodies by R. C., and the pulsing world beat percussion of Will Clipman.
The R. Carlos Nakai Quartet
RCNQ is devoted to multicultural musical fusion without boundaries. Look at us: in the many tributaries that flow into the river of our common blood, we represent every race on the planet. We draw our influences from every continent and culture on Earth,
as well as from our natural and spiritual worlds.
Native Voices R. Carlos Nakai with Keola and Moanalani Beamer
R. Carlos Nakai, the world’s premier Native American flutist, has 27 albums to his credit and numerous Grammy nominations. His beautiful interpretations touch the hearts of music lovers worldwide.
Slack key guitar virtuoso, Keola Beamer is one of Hawai’i’s most beloved performers. The recipient of multiple Na Hoku Hanahono awards (Hawaiian Gramm’s), his best-selling CD’s are innovative and enthralling.
R. Carlos Nakai with Udi Bar-David
The first of its kind in a recording collaboration of Native American and Jewish music. You will find the musical soul of Jewish prayers in dialogue with various chant-like melodies from Native American culture. A new art form was born through the yearnings of two people brought to life in this recording that blends two ancient and spiritual cultures through musical conversations.
This album is a continuation of the work of the organization I founded, Intercultural Journeys, which is dedicated to pursuing cross-cultural understanding by utilizing all art forms as universal languages, and providing a safe environment where listening and expressing are shared by the artists and their audiences. The sounds we have explored, whether Arab, Jewish, African American, Native American or Buddhist, have introduced us to the world of cultural treasures and have allowed us to develop a better understanding of diverse people and their heritages.
