Aaron White's guitar solo in "Josiah's Dream" is worthy of Santana it's so good. I love his flamenco sound on "Spanish Heart"  too. Charles Button's production is seamless. I can play this album over and over when I'm in the car or at home doing some creative work. Great Mystery's First Flight has it all.
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AWARDS & NOMINATIONS 

2007 Native American Music Awards - Nominated For "Debut Group Of The Year" 
2007 Native American Music Awards - Daniel Hicks Nominated for "Native Heart" 
2008 Los Angeles Music Awards - Nominated for Producers Choice - "Instrumental Album of the Year" 
2009 Phoenix Music Awards - Recipient of "Instrumental Artist of the Year"
2009 West Coast American Indian Music Awards - Recipient of "Traditional Instrumental"
2009 Los Angeles Music Awards – Recipient of “Producers Choice Instrumental Album of the Year”
2010 Los Angeles Music awards - Recipient of "Spiritual Artist of the Year"
2010 Error FM, Buddhaman's International Experience, The BlackRaven Band - "Band of the Year"
2011 Phoenix Music Awards "Film Score of the Year" for Sedona The Motion Picture, Recipients Ebony Tay  Producer/Music Composer and Daniel Hicks - Music Coordinator

REVIEWS

Whispering Wind Magazine 11/27/07 
Audio Review: by Gene M. Bates 
'First Flight': Blackraven 
Category: Contemporary/ New Age/ Instrumental 
Buttonhooks Music CD/Copyright 2007

1) One of the best contemporary flute CD's of 2007; Blackraven's debut is dazzling! A clever confection of contemporary instrumentation and Native American flute, Blackraven's music is full of color and light. Dan Hicks' flute sails above each alluring track, drawing us into the lush musical landscapes painted with each and every note. The playing is clean, the songwriting impeccable, and the accompaniment balanced and restrained.
A well-deserved nod should be given to producer/engineer Charles Button as well as special guests, world percussionist, Will Clipman and guitarist extraordinaire, Aaron White (of 'Burning Sky' fame) for their contributions.
What an amazing album! Favorites 'cuts' include "Running Horse", a marvelous track entitled, "My Love" and the colorful Button/Hicks composition, "The Irish in Me". A marvelous mix of 'today and traditional', Blackraven's "First Flight" is 'first rate'! 

2)On its debut CD First Flight, Blackraven (the Native American Music Award® nominated duo of Daniel Hicks and Charles Button) takes the unique sound of the Native American flute in imaginative new directions, weaving its evocative melodic voice as the unifying thread into a fresh sonic fabric that embraces elements of folk, rock, and world music. The highly personal flute stylings of Daniel Hicks blend seamlessly with the guitar, bass, and keyboard textures of co-composer and producer Charles Button, ably accompanied by multiple Grammy® Nominees Will Clipman on pan-global percussion and Aaron White on guitar, along with a stellar cast of supporting players. As Gene M. Bates of Whispering Wind Magazine writes: “First Flight is first rate!” 
Will Clipman/Copyright 2007
 
With national critical acclaim BlackRaven's debut album "First Flight" (produced by Charles Button) went above and beyond our expectations. With all of the encouraging and complimentary responses we received, we send back a big “thank you.”
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A truly amazing CD I love hearing the child laugh and the wolves howl Spanish heart makes you feel at your love connection. Spiritl love makes you feel like you're connected to nature through skillful flute drums guitars and amazing voices. Blessings and thank you Hart
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I love the band and the material. Fantastic!
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