Album Notes

"Traveling to the Yucatán changed me. When I returned to Northern Arizona, the experience seemed to have unlocked for me an unrequited artistic urge that has not yet been quenched. During the trip, I had heard for the first time the term ‘celestial’ used when talking about one’s quest to lead a meaningful and balanced life. At the time, I did not fully appreciate its meaning, thinking it was only part of the rich and mysterious Mayan lore. Now I believe the young shaman who invoked the word was speaking about his longing for the divine.

I was curious about the ‘secrets of the Maya,’ but nobody that I met was talking very much. But nonetheless I felt magic in the Yucatán, albeit both invisible and unspoken. Sometimes it returns to me when I play the Native American flute. I felt it when recording this album.

I was about half way through the recordings for this album when I went to the closet a pulled out a Fender Stratocaster guitar that I had not played in many years. I went immediately to the studio and started to record. The result was the track “Gone But Not Forgotten.” I continued to pepper the orchestrated tracks with some guitar here and there. I hope you like the results.

For this album, I relaxed and let the music come at its own pace. I would start an orchestration and let it marinate for a while and return with a fresh perspective. Most of the solo flute work I kept in the lower keys, including mostly Low G through mid C. I think this is a reflection of the stillness that I was seeking from the flutes. Many thanks for allowing me to share this work with you!"