As Jeffrey Fisher explains in the liner notes of his latest CD, Satyagraha – Songs of the Earth, the term Satyagraha means “the power of truth,” a term which Mahatma Gandhi used to represent his philosophy of nonviolent opposition and resistance. It is a term which best describes Fisher’s latest musical meditation, which evokes the power of the truth of nature and is in a sense “nonviolent” toward nature in its very process.

	Satyagraha is also the name of Fisher’s home and recording studio in the San Jacinto Mountains of California, where he powered his recording purely with solar energy. So the music is not only inspired by and evocative of nature, but is directly connected to and in communal harmony with nature, as are Fisher’s rustic watercolors that constitute the artwork of the CD’s digipak. This is a refreshingly rare example of a musical artist practicing what he preaches.

	The CD’s cover calls attention to the fact that this is ambient, meditative, instrumental music that features the bass violin. However, this is no mere showcase for solo bass violin. Much of Fisher’s musical prowess is brought to bear on this project. In addition to bass violin, Fisher also plays Navaho flutes and keyboards and synthesizers, and together, all the instruments conjure an earthen orchestra of the mystery and mysticism of nature.

	The titles of the tracks – “Moonrise,” “Babbling Spring,” “Coyote Dreams,” “Home on the Range,” “Tai Chi,” “Windhorse,” “Bird Dance,” and “Evening’s Prayer” – provide an indication of the feel and intent of the compositions.

	If you’re looking for a CD to help you become one with nature and tap into its transcendental energy, Jeffrey Fisher’s musical musing on Satyagraha – Songs of the Earth is the perfect conduit.
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When one takes a moment to consider what daily life would be like without The Arts, everyone can quickly realize that more traditional teachings of math, science and biology are vital to every one of us individually, but the expressions of music, painting and poetry are an equally consequential part of our culture and personal identity.  Jeffrey Fisher from Southern California has chosen to make The Arts his principal focus during his diverse life as a composing musician.  While some might pursue more fundamental scholastic studies, the more conceptual and creative aspects of art, poetry and teaching have nicely become a mainstay to his more individual endeavors and this reflection is transferred to his music.  Natural surroundings and his unique inner imagination are on display again by his current nature inspired release.  Satyagraha – Songs of the Earth is his New Age, Ambient, Meditative, Instrumental 2010 release drawn from the imagination and past experience of this multifaceted artist who has improvised well while composing and performing music in nearly every genre.  The album title Jeffrey Fisher has chosen for Satyagraha translates to read The Power of Truth and references the non violent and principal ideals of Gandhi.  In addition Satyagraha became the name for his nature retreat in the San Jacinto Mountains where this album was first brought to the surface and then recorded.  Satyagraha – Songs of the Earth is a nature inspired album that represents the serene and dramatic virtues of nature as realistic and one of natural beauty, much like the artistic rendition displayed on the accompanying cover art Jeffrey Fisher himself has painted using watercolors.  In a similar representation of the portrait shown, his music is serene and even though a performing artist on numerous instruments, his melodic improvisations on a 160 year old bass violin is the primary instrument for instilling color and the harmonious points of view in his music.  In accompaniment with the natural warm tones of bass violin, most of the 8 songs on the album are blended with the woodwind tones of Navaho flutes, keyboards and percussion which intermingle with the essential brush strokes to paint the final picture of nature using a very personal touch and with the artful imagination one would expect from both a musician and individual.
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El último lanzamiento del multi-instrumentista y polifacético artista Jeffrey Fisher lleva como título Satyagraha, termino que Gandhi utilizaba para referirse a la "resistencia con la no violencia". Satyagraha está compuesto por ocho cortos, donde cada pieza es una agradable y bella mezcla de instrumentos acústicos y electrónicos, clásicos y étnicos... Verdaderas maravillas, algunas de larga duración, inspiradas por un mundo mágico, un escenario que el artista siempre ha perseguido para encontrar la paz, la tranquilidad y la inspiración.  Jeffrey Fisher, además de músico (actuando con grandes del Jazz, entre otros) y pintor, mostrando sus obras en museos y galerías, es profesor de Tai Chi Chuan, Reiki, curandero, poeta y maestro, que ha encontrado su iluminación en las montañas San Jacinto del Sur de California, donde actualmente reside.


"Moonrise" abre el CD. Un track que mezcla sonidos brillantes de sintetizador y violonchelo en su comienzo, dando paso a una flauta nativa y a un piano que dibujan un ambiente plácido, describiendo la caída de la noche, delicada, suave y donde este último es el principal instrumento de la pieza, reproduciendo una melodía bellísima, relajada, y que en ocasiones, es seguido por la flauta nativa o el violonchelo. Oscura y profunda, a veces desconcertante, pero inmensamente bella.

Es fácil recordar el mundo oriental con esta emocionante pieza, trasladando la memoria al antiguo Japón. Con aires orientales, la flauta nativa que reproduce la hermosa y tierna melodía, es acompañada por un sutil piano e instrumentos de sonidos brillantes, como campanillas. Una pieza que mantiene un curso lineal, variando y alternando la melodía principal con otros instrumentos. Realmente relajante y perfecta como música de fondo para momentos de relax y sosiego. Me encanta!.

"Coyote Dreams" es la pieza más extensa de este CD, más de diecinueve minutos. Con un comienzo misterioso, esta mantiene al oyente expectante en todo momento, a la espera. La flauta realiza melodías enérgicas y expresivas, mientras el fondo musical sigue inalterable, acompañado de toques de cuerdas del chelo y casi imperceptibles acordes de piano que posteriormente toman el relevo de la flauta para ser el instrumento principal, reproduciendo una melodía igualmente desconcertante. Una pieza que es la banda sonora de un sueño del artista, donde este se encontraba vagando por colinas, cazando y cantando.

un sonido estridente presenta a "Home on the Range". Una mezcla de sonidos que recuerdan al viejo Oeste, bucólico, donde el sonido estridente se mantiene de principio a fin como fondo de acompañamiento a un improvisado toque de cuerdas del chelo, que junto a un sonajero de uñas (chaschas) dan vida a una pieza que posee una melodía que fluye libre.

Otra de las piezas más extensas de este álbum es "Tai Chi", casi quince minutos de relajada música de fondo, donde la flauta, el chelo y el ukelele crean el entorno perfecto para la realización de este arte marcial que nació en el Imperio de China y que gracias a sus movimientos lentos y fluidos, el hombre consigue unir cuerpo y mente; muy provechoso para la salud, para el desarrollo de la personalidad y la meditación. Escuchar esta pieza con atención es asegurar quince minutos de relajación absoluta. Me gusta!.

En contrate con los tracks anteriores, "Windhorse" es el tema más breve de todo el CD y el más agitado. La flauta, como instrumento predominante, es acompañado por percusiones, sonajas y chelo que marcan un ritmo repetitivo y rápido, recogiendo la escena de caballos a la carrera.

"Bird Dance" se aleja del estilo de los tracks anteriores (más próximos a Músicas del Mundo) para acercarse más al estilo New Age. Mezclando una melodía nostálgica de chelo, esta se une a un fondo orquestal de cuerdas, siendo la pieza más melódica de todo el CD. Realmente apasionada y hermosa, esta muestra los movimientos de las aves después de un día de lluvia, saltando, jugando. Una pieza sumamente bella que posee un fuerte sentido de liberación. Mi favorita!.

En coincidencia con la pista que abría el CD, "Evening's Prayer" describe el momento en el que el Sol se oculta, dejando paso a la tarde y posteriormente a la noche. Una pieza, que al igual que la pista anterior, une chelo y cuerdas, creando una pieza idónea como final para este trabajo, cuya melodía mantiene un carácter suave y conmovedor que alivia el alma. Qué exquisitez!.


Jeffrey Fisher ha puesto banda sonora a todas las vivencias y emociones que inspiran el privilegiado escenario que el artista habita. En Satyagraha, la naturaleza es la principal responsable de dar vida a las ocho pistas que componen este trabajo y cuyo mensaje es reproducido por los instrumentos del propio Fisher (Flauta, sonajas, teclado, piano chelo). Satyagraha es sencillamente relajante, delicado y hermoso; la voz de lo puro y lo natural.

reviewsnewage.com
20/07/10
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"Satyagraha: Songs of the Earth" is a fascinating new album from Jeffrey Fisher, a multi-talented artist, musician, composer, healer, poet, and teacher, just to name a few of his passions. “Satyagraha” translates to “the power of truth” and was Gandhi’s term for non-violent resistance; it is also the name of Fisher’s retreat in the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California. The lead instrument on this recording is a 160-year-old contrabass, an instrument that is not often given featured status unless it is to improvise a riff in a combo. Fisher’s solo bass is especially interesting to me because I played bass in school and often played cello duets with my best friend. I remember how melodic and soothing the bass can be with its deep, rich sonorities - much like a cello, but lower in pitch. Fisher also performs on Navaho flutes, keyboards, and percussion in this collection. 

Fisher’s musical background is amazing in its diversity. He has played jazz and blues with many artists over the years as well as new age, rock, neo-classical, folk, and rhythm and blues. Some of his music is designed for healing and massage therapy, but he has also composed for string quartet, solo piano, marching band, jazz band and vocals, and others. He says that in his years of playing and listening, he has felt and heard “an underlying connection with the earth, the specific area that music came from.” For this album, Fisher tapped into that feeling directly - “not just in mimicking the sounds of birds and coyotes but in portraying the landscape musically.” (Quotes are from the liner notes.) Taking this natural process to an extraordinary length, the computer that Fisher used in the recording the music is powered by the sun! What an inspiration! Even the beautiful cover artwork was done by Fisher, a watercolorist and oil painter who has had his work shown in museums and galleries.

The music of "Satyagraha" is a collection of eight tracks that range in length from just under three minutes to just over nineteen. Some of the music is very peaceful and serene while other pieces are more intense, reflecting the various moods and intensities of nature. The instrumentation is layered and in some of the music, it is interesting to focus on one instrument for awhile and then move on to another - much like listening to the various sounds of nature - the flow of a river, the call of a bird, the rush of the wind. These layered sounds can create some challenging listening at times, but they depict an artist’s interpretation of his surroundings in a way that is refreshing, deeply felt, and completely honest. Check it out!
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