Music

Come Away With Me– Nora Jones She may be the daughter of Ravi Shankar, but don't expect any sitars on the debut full length album from budding vocalist Norah Jones. The subdued, sultry-voiced Jones, who was schooled in jazz music from a young age, has carved her own musical niche which draws from her jazz background as well as country, folk, blues and pop music. COME AWAY WITH ME was produced by legendary producer Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson) and features the talents of musicians Bill Frisell, Brian Blade, and Kevin Breit. Already being compared to Billie Holiday, it looks like a bright future awaits Ms. Jones.

Peace and Power– Joanne Shenandoah Native American music's most exalted female artist, Iroquois vocalist Joanne Shenandoah, provides a retrospective of some of her most beautiful songs from her four albums on the Silver Wave label. PEACE AND POWER showcases Shenandoah's lush singing against warm acoustic instrumentation, which includes guitar, percussion, Native American flute and keyboards. Highlights include the incredibly haunting title track, a nearly a-cappella piece that displays the sheer power of her voice, as well as the thought-provoking "Prophecy Song," and other classics like "When Eyes Meet," "Mother of Nations" and "Path of Beauty."

Shamanic Dream Vol 1– Anugama The long awaited sequel to the best-selling SHAMANIC DREAM, has finally arrived. Gifted multi-instrumentalist Anugama induces listeners into a soothing serene realm. Artfully blending shakuhachi flute, didjeridoo, keyboards and percussion with the sounds of nature, Anugama sculpts three beautiful, delicately textured extended compositions that evoke a very peaceful expansive state. The latest in his "Spiritual Environments" series, SHAMANIC DREAM II incorporates a number of special sound enhancement techniques specifically designed to induce deep relaxation. A landmark recording from a pioneering aural alchemist

Music for Savasana– Steven Halpern Sound Healer Steven Halpern provides yoga enthusiasts with a specially-sequenced album of music designed to accompany the Savasana pose. Savasana, also known as the "corpse" pose due to its appearance, is used for relaxation and focus, often at the conclusion of one's yoga session. MUSIC FOR SAVASANA provides one hour of gentle, radiant music designed to help listeners expand their consciousness and find inner harmony. Halpern uses grand piano, electric piano, vocal tones, Tibetan bowls and bamboo flutes to create simplistic, Asian-style melodies that comfort and soothe.

Chakra Chants– Jonathan Goldman This recording of vocal harmonies, overtone chanting, Tibetan bowls and bells, and tuning forks, was created to resonate and align the energy centers of the body known as the chakras. The sounds were designed to create balance in the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. This recording can be used as a self-healing and meditation tool. It can also be used as a sonic environment for creating balance and alignment during subtle energy work and body work. CHAKRA CHANTS is ideal listening music which will help create an enjoying and relaxing feeling for yourself.

The Prophecy of the Eagle and Condor– Tito La Rosa Natural harmony and Native American spirituality are expressed through the music of Peruvian sound healer Tito La Rosa. A descendant of the Quechua Indians of the Andean Mountains, La Rosa combines influences and instrumentation from both North and South American Native cultures. Award-winning artist Mary Youngblood represents the North, channeling feminine grace and the musical artistry of her Seminole heritage into rich flute music. The sounds of the South are much more dominant, with guitars, drums and La Rosa's meandering pan flutes giving the album a distinctly Andean sound.

EMBRACE– Deva Premal & Miten Deva Premal is a pillar of originality in the grand garden of Indian music. You might say that she's to Sanskrit Mantras what Enya is to Celtic music. Her smooth soulful voice, which resides in the lower octaves, haunts atmospheric, lightly rhythmic, ethereal soundscapes skillfully crafted by her partner Miten. Together they take listeners on a journey into the depths of the soul that doesn't forget to make a stop at the heart. The music's easy on the ears, spiritually provocative and contains enough mass appeal to make even the yoga-phobic stir. Throw in a duet with Jai Uttal ("Om Ram Ramaya") and you’ll get anyone's chakras in an uproar.

TRANCE PLANET VI, from the popular ethnocentric series of mellow electronica albums, offers a dozen new cuts of hypnotic worldbeat music. The line-up remains star-studded as with previous releases in the series: ecstatic Pakistani vocalist Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Swiss guitarist Max Lasser, Turkish virtuoso Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Sicilian ambient groovers Agricantus, and the list doesn't end there. This CD is lighter on the electronica elements, instead offering a well-rounded acoustic selection of global tunes for your listening pleasure.

The Soul Of Healing Meditations from Deepak Chopra M.D. takes an elementary approach to healing and relaxation by offering a set of basic meditations that can be useful for the novice and the experienced meditator alike. Through exercises that seek to coordinate vital bodily functions like heartbeat, breathing and blood flow, Chopra helps the listener tap into their body's innate healing mechanisms while blocking negative emotions and destructive behavior in the process. Adam Plack provides the atmospheric score, which incorporates keyboard ambience, pulse-like drums, bells and occasional wind instruments into Chopra's meditative environment.

Middle Earth- Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's infamous "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, David Arkenstone and friends explore the magic and mystery of MIDDLE EARTH with this haunting recording. The interpretations presented on this album are filled with imagination and evoke the epic, spine-tingling enchantment of the novel with sweeping fantasy-themed orchestral pieces. MIDDLE EARTH starts with light Celtic instrumentation (penny whistles and acoustic guitar are most prominent) to capture the innocence and pastoral beauty of the Shire, home of the "hobbits". From there, the album sets forth on a musical adventure that ranges from dramatic to the ethereal

Acoustic Garden- If there's one element that draws listeners to the acoustic sound of Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel more than any other, it has to be warmth. Few instrumentalists are able to achieve quiet folk elegance better than the guitar/woodwind duo. ACOUSTIC GARDEN is album of original compositions that features the artists doing what they do best, with added piano accompaniment from several pianists Tracks like "Acoustic Garden" and "Deep in My Soul" paint a pastoral picture that calls to mind an afternoon drive through the country or a stroll in the titular garden, leaving the listener filled with feelings of peace and love. For a limited time - the album insert contains wildflower seeds making it the first ever plantable CD cover!

SONG OF SONGS, composed, performed and produced by violinist Lorenza Ponce and pianist Ben Zebelman, sets the verse (derived from the Bible's Old Testament) to gentle music. The passionate love poem, believed to be a secular ode to sensuality between two young lovers, is based on a recent translation by Ariel and Chana Bloch. Alongside the wonderful interplay of the piano and violin, narrators Laurie Brown and Andrew Marston speak the lyrical passages with quiet passion and serene elegance. As a musician, Ponce has had the opportunity to perform with such luminaries as Sheryl Crow and John Tesh

JEWISH ODYSSEY is an exploration of the diversity and richness of Jewish music. Showcasing artists from major diaspora centers all over the world, Putumayo has brought together an assortment of amazing talent. Selections from late Israeli superstar Ofra Haza as well as The Klezmer Conservatory Band, KlezRoym, the Burning Bush and more create an exquisite tapestry of Jewish culture. Each has a distinct style which ranges from the Gypsy flavors of Central Europe to the contemporary klezmer sounds of America. JEWISH ODYSSEY is a perfect gift for the holidays and beyond.

In The Garden of Souls- Long-awaited and highly anticipated, IN THE GARDEN OF SOULS is another rewarding release from the extraordinary duo Vas. A uniquely stirring musical experience, the album resonates with spiritual ambience and exotic melody. It is an exquisite tapestry woven from Azam Ali's stunning vocal textures and Greg Ellis' percussion genius. Hammered dulcimer, udu, tabla, dumbek, frame drum, keyboards and more combine with harmonic voice to create the eleven otherworldly tracks that include "Inamorata," "Ephemere," "The Inward Coil," "Ceremony of Passage" and "Prayer of Soheil." Other titles include Sunyata and Offerings

Now- Author and spiritual guru Bhaghavan Das teams up with Mike D (of the pop/rap group The Beastie Boys) for an album of devotional Hindi chant with a contemporary spin. Das has a passionate, ecstatic way of singing that is fueled with intense spirituality. It grabs the listener and fills them with harmony and love. Against an experimental whirl of samples and keyboard-devised sonic textures merged with the sounds of traditional Indian and Middle Eastern instrumentation, Das strikes a wonderful balance between ancient and modern. This is a great album for followers of the Bhakti yoga tradition as well as for those seguing from secular musical genres.