Playing Time – 49:04 -- Salon d’Esoterica is “a place to rest and be refreshed,” and the infectious reggae music of Oregon-based I-Chèle and The Circle of Light shares a common theme about sharing unconditional and liquid musicalove. While an impressive cast of eighteen musicians contributed to this soulful album, some play larger roles than others.  I-Chèle has nearly two decades of experience in this genre. She wrote or co-wrote all of the tracks, and her lead vocals exhibit unique and fervent panache. 
Like Sade, I-Chèle is an evocative songstress with a sound as smooth as suede.  

Assisting with the writing and arranging is Sequoia Williams who also contributes keys, bass, and drum programming. 
Reggae legend Vince Black (Black Uhuru, Dub Syndicate, Wailing Souls, Prezident Brown) produced the album, co-wrote several songs, and contributed his talents on guitar, bass, drums, keys, percussion and harmonica. Black also provides backing vocals on “Painkiller.” The rest of The Circle of Light includes Julie Stoike (vocals), Roger McConnell (guitar, vocals), Joe Hall (guitar), Rick Moser (keys) and Erik Avery (drums).  Many other instrumentalists frequently collaborate as part of the Circle of Light. They include MC Mystic, Maurice McConnell, Bibbs Goff, Shawn Murphy, Ras Eddie-I, Joe Espinosa, Lisa Haber, Dana Heitman and others. I especially enjoyed hearing some sax, trumpet and violin in the mix. 

This optimistic and stirring music has a very alluring quality. Besides being mesmerizing, it is also quite heartening. Their river of musical love clearly has much therapeutic value for the body, mind and soul. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)
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