Best Native American Album by NAR

Hi Friends. I'm back from the 1st Annual Casa Grande Ruins American Indian Music Festival and it was an overwhelmingly positive experience. I'll blog about it soon. In the meantime I am honored to let everyone know that my CD "A Place Called Peace" has been nominated for Best Native American Album by broadcasters worldwide as reporterd by New Age Reporter (NAR) the agency who reports and charts this genre of music. Each category has been whittled down to five nominated albums. I'm honored to be in the company of artists I have admired for years.

I'll keep everyone posted when the finalists are announced. These awards are voted on and suggested by Radio Broadcasters and hosts from around the world who play our music and as one programmer recently reminded me they get no less than 300 CD's a month. Yikes. That my music can be heard or stand out amidst that is humbling and I am grateful. Check out all the nominees at: http://www.newagereporter.com/admin/nominees.asp

Thank you all for your continued support! If there is a station or sattelite program who plays my music that you've heard, please thank them. Independent artists like myself rely on you and them to be heard.

Randy

NM Music Artist of the Month

Randy Granger

Randy Granger's latest CD, A Place Called Peace, is reviewed by Emily Drabanski in the current issue of New Mexico Magazine.

RANDY GRANGER
A Place Called Peace
GENRE: Native Flute

Randy Granger’s latest CD is a diverse collection of meditative flute songs. Richly layered with the sounds of a variety of flutes and percussion instruments, A Place Called Peace offers more depth than some flute solo recordings you might find. Here Granger also plays the hang drum, a metal lap instrument developed in Switzerland, as well as an Australian didjeridoo and an African djembe (drum). Recognized for his ability on both flutes and drums, he was a featured speaker at this summer’s International Native American Flute Association convention, in Wisconsin. The Hobbs native, who has lived in the Las Cruces area for more than seven years, calls himself “Mix” Granger for his diverse ethnic ancestry, including Mayan, Apache, and Dogrib.

While all of these songs are skillfully played, several stand out. The CD opens with the catchy “Za Zee Za Zu Zing,” Granger’s sweet tenor voice giving the song a hypnotic, soothing quality. This is the only track on which he sings; I would love to hear more. Amazingly, in “Double-Barrel Train Wreck,” Granger captures the sound of a train with his double-barreled drone flute. He gets the drone chugging by making the most of the one-octave difference between the flute’s two chambers. “The Dog Star” has a haunting melody, while “Río Grande Lullaby” is uplifting and peaceful.

But my favorite is “Chaco Moon Meditation”: Granger’s light, chime-like tapping on hang drum reminds me of a gentle rain falling in Chaco Canyon, the sound of a flute in the distance. If you enjoy meditative, contemplative music, A Place Called Peace fits the bill.

For info: www.randygranger.net. To hear a song: www.nmmagazine.com.

Learn more about Randy Granger online at
www.randygranger.net

Home | Terms and Conditions of Use | New Mexico Links | Contact Us

NewMexicoMusic.org is a project of the New Mexico Music Commission, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. This Web site is copyright © 2005-08 New Mexico Music Commission. Contributing artists retain copyright to their submitted text and images.

Ghost Dancers video.

This is "Ghost Dancers" is from my new album 'A Place Called Peace.' The song was inspired by the Ghost Dance religion that tragically led to the Wounded Knee Massacre. Indian people at that time in the 1890's were having it hard. Hunger, disease, despair and extreme poverty was the story of the day. A new religion that came to the Pauite Shaman Wokova said by praying, meditating, chanting and dancing the Ghost Dance an Apocalypse would come and after that the ancestors would return and the Buffalo and the old ways of Indians before whites. Ideas like borders, ownership and especially alcohol would have to done away with.

Tragedy upon tragedy followed ending in the Wounded Knee Massacre where 290 men, women and children Indians were killed by a heavily armed 7th Calvary. The same Calvary Gen. Custer once commanded. There were reports that many of the soldiers yelled "remember Little Big Horn?" as they chased Indians into the hills, the majority of them unarmed. 29 soldiers also died though it is said that it might have been from "friendly fire" as the Indians had been disarmed that morning just before the slaughter began. 23 7th Calvary soldiers later received Congressional Medals of Honor. There is a well-known photo of Chief Big Foot dead in the snow. He was known as a peace negotiator, was elderly and ill with pneumonia when he as branded a "fomenter of disturbances."

What saddens me about the entire Ghost Dance tragedy is that it was essentially a messianic religion and they believed that Jesus was going to raise their ancestors and restore the natural balance and order. This as a peaceful movement akin to Gandhi's nonviolent movement and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy. That they were banned, persecuted and eventually murdered for practicing their religion is a tragedy that more Americans should know about. Peace begins with forgiveness. Understanding and recognizing such violence will help to know when it happens again and call attention to it before more tragedy ensues. There is so much more on the Ghost Dance story and I implore you to research for yourself. Hate begets hate. Compassion leads to empathy. In this video and blog I don't want to blame anyone and make anyone feel bad or sad. I'm trying to tell the story that inspired the song Ghost Dancers from my perspective. I welcome a respectful debate. Thank you for reading.
RG

GHOST DANCERS

Notes from a Desert Pied Piper

Nothing like being on the road to give you an appreciation for home. This week began attending a memorial for a friend who died suddenly of a massive heart attack in his living room. His memorial was on a late afternoon in their back yard and art studio. It was so hot and we were all squishing around the shade like delicate plants. What was amazing was how he navigated so many different crowds here in my little town on the Rio Grande. Painters, poets, sculptors, writers and of course musicians all knew Juan and we gathered ate, drank and gave our funny accounts of our personal experiences. I played a song on my flute that he had suggested a title for. It was moving and interesting to see how many people showed up. I don’t even think I know that many people……

The chilie fields behind my house are growing so fast. I trimmed many Mexican Elder and Pecan trees trying not to wear out my hands. Rehearing for upcoming shows is going well. Problem is when I rehearse I always end up writing new material so have to give myself a talking to. The fires here in the west make our skies hazy. The Mexican border town of Juarez is just 35 minutes away and when our monsoon season kicks in we can smell the acrid fumes from the 2.5 million citizen’s cars and huge Maquiladoras where our cheap electronics are assembled. The violence in Juarez is out of control lately. Nearly 300 killed this year alone from drug violence not to mention the women of Juarez numbering in the thousands by some accounts whose bodies are found in the desert raped and strangled. Very sad and disgraceful.

Yet there are wonderful signs of art and friendliness. When I’m in town I try to make it to our Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings where growers and artisans gather to trade their wares in an open market. Even when I’m traveling I always try to go down to the local Grower’s Markets and busk, or play for tips. There is nothing better than playing for hundreds of strangers and trying out your music. Today there were volunteers walking dogs available for adoption so that was heaven for me. As usual the children always gather around when I’m playing and I love it. I think this must be the first time they are hearing a Native American flute and definitely a Hang drum. They love it when their parents give them money to put in my tip can. Cool. I bought some summer squash, plums, chilie and fresh garlic to make Calabacitas. Yum.

Musically some great things are going on I think. My music was included this week on Hearts of Space a nationally syndicated ambient/new age music radio program. I was so happy as this is one of those desires that is in my things I want to manifest journal. My T-shirts with the Kokopelli/Hang logo are here and I have put a website to order merchandise and CD’s. http://www.randygranger.net/order.html You can still order the traditional way through CDBaby.com, iTunes and Amazon.com. My newest CD “A Place Called Peace” is out in the world and I wish it well. It is all Native American flute music some with Hang, percussion and vocals. I’m very proud of this music and grateful for the opportunity to share it.

A couple of gigs fell through mostly due to the person I booked with initially was three persons ago and my contract is no where in sight or because my promised time slot was moved, trimmed or given to the friend of the organizer etc. Oh well. I believe everything is just as it should be so no longer fret. I uploaded a new song called “Chaco Moon Meditation” that has Hang and the mysterious Anasazi flute. I missed a chance to hang out with radio host Robin from NAMAPAHH due to conflicts of time. Mainly I had to take a friend to the airport very early Friday morning. Sorry Robin. Added some new shows to so it all balances out eh.

So check out the T-Shirts and give a listen to the new songs on “A Place Called Peace.” Say hi if you are at a show or festival. There is a special deal I’m offering to my MySpace fans for a few days. Order any CD and a T-Shirt from my website and I’ll throw in a free copy of “A Place Called Peace.” Yep free. It is my way to say thank you. Only one T Shirt per person please. I need some to sell on the road gas prices kicking my ass and all…… Just type in the word “myspacefan” for the deal.

Peace and unlimited happiness to you all.

Randy