Album Notes

Living at the foot of the greatest body of water on the planet (the Pacific Ocean) has always felt magical. That magic has to do with the spirit of the sea and all it represents; the hopes and dreams of migrants and explorers, the terror of slavery and deceived natives, the fury of nature, the peacefulness of meditation. We offer this work in humble reverence.

The opportunity to work closely with Omar Sosa over the past several years has been a wonderful school of discovery for us both. Neither of us had worked previously in a duo or trio setting, but our collaboration has felt ancient from its inception. Perhaps it's the common spiritual ground of West and Central African origin to which we mutually dedicated ourselves long before we met.

Perhaps it's the utter freedom that we always try to bring to the stage and studio, but each time we come together, we are profoundly affected. I'm extremely honored that our paths crossed and then united, allowing us to share some very special musical/spiritual moments in California, the Virgin Islands, the Midwest, the East Coast, and Europe. We hope that you will be uplifted by our interaction in the studio with some of our dear friends, all of whom share the ability to impart spiritual essence in their artistic expression.

John Santos
March, 2002