Album Notes

Randy Graves began playing the didgeridoo in 1993 while a music composition student at the University of California at San Diego, and quickly added it to his repertoire of sounds: electric and acoustic guitar, voice (including various techniques such as overtone and break singing), keyboards, the Japanese Koto, and various percussion instruments. He began playing solo and with various ensembles and giving demonstrations while a student, then went on to form his own group, Didginus, which performed around the Southwestern United States from 1995 to 2000. Randy's style ranges from demonstrations of traditional playing to rock to jazz to culturally mixed "world music" to "contemporary classical." Many have called him one of the finest contemporary players and teachers of the didgeridoo.

Randy first travelled to Australia in 1999, spending time in Aboriginal communities, learning about their traditional playing style and method of crafting didgeridoos. He visited with Djalu' Gurruwiwi, world renowned didjeridu maker for Yothu Yindi, and was given a name and kinship place within the Yothu Yindi family. On his return, he hosted a concert and workshop with David Blanasi, master didgeridoo maker and player from another region he had visited only briefly, learning a great deal about that style as well. He returned to Australia with a small group in 2001, in order to share his experiences with more overseas didjeridu enthusiasts, and to continue his own studies. He recently began studying Yolngu languages and culture through Northern Territory University and worked at the 2002 Garma Festival of Aboriginal Culture in Arnhem Land. Randy hopes to use his continuing education in the traditional culture of the didgeridoo both in his own playing and to respectfully spread accurate information about Aboriginal people and their culture among the growing number of American didgeridoo players.

Whirlwind is a collection of Randy's favorite homebrew pieces from his first 6 years of didjeridu playing. Music includes the intense didjeridu trio "Brothers," the slow ambient groove with crystal bowls on "Nothing Lasts Forever," the quirky didjeridu melody of "Switcheridoo," and more!