Album Notes

Though Richard Ball is known more as a jazz musician, he has been a student of world flutes for the last 15 years. The Native American flute holds a special place in his heart, and he makes and plays the instrument. Richard has a number of CDs of more experimental music which can be downloaded from his website Ballflutes.com. After listening to this music, long time friend and flamenco great Miguel Espinoza suggested that the combination of Native Flute and didgeridoo heard on a recent release was inspiring and something people wanted more of. So Richard recorded this CD in response. This CD features the Native American flute peppered with the sounds of the Australian didgeridoo, drums, and the guitar on one track. This CD is a calm and relaxing work that is perfect for greeting the day, resting at night, and meditating. The pieces on this CD are inspired by a number of factors: Richard's frequent pilgrimages to the Navajo Nation, where he goes at least once a year and lives out of a pack in the back country, inspired "Lizards and Spirits," "Elders," "Canyon de Chelly" and "Hope." "Source," "Arjuna," "Hope," and "Metal" were inspired by a complete recovery from a serious illness which he recently went through. "Curandero" is a tribute to Miguel. "Thoughtfulness" and "Fierce Gentleness" are tributes to his friends. "Namasté" features the elusive Chinese Xaio flute and is an allusion to Richard's other world interests.