The traditional flute music of Native Americans has been fused with rock, folk, hip-hop, African, and techno influences by Robert Mirabal. The result is a sound that the Village Voice described as "ancestral drumming and ritualistic chanting [that] create an intoxicating swirl as they intermingle with contemporary ideas and sounds."
A member of the Taos Pueblo tribe of New Mexico, Mirabal began making traditional Native American flutes at the age of 19. Borrowing money from his grandmother, he recorded a self-titled debut album in 1988. Four years later, he received a New York Dance and Performance Bessie award for the score, "Land," that he composed and performed for Japanese modern dancers Eiko and Koma. In 1996, Mirabal collaborated with Native American singer-songwriter Bill Miller on an album, Native Suite-Chants, Dances and the Remembered Earth. A collection of Mirabal's poetry, prose, and short stories was published as A Skeleton of a Bridge. His flutes have been displayed at the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum.
JOHNNY WHITEHORSE BY JOHNNY WHITEHORSE
Imagine a sprawling landscape of plateaus set against a golden sunset. The dirt roads are dotted with hoof indentations, for this is horse country; and majestic eagles soar into a vast horizon. This is a taste of the Johnny Whitehorse experience - a place of beauty, contemplation and harmony with the earth. An alias/character creation of Robert Mirabal, Whitehorse has a sound that is acoustic, with a nice balance between traditional and contemporary styles. Flute is the central element on many of the cuts, backed by the low rumble of drums, a little didgeridoo and some rattles and shakers. Synthesizer atmosphere is used to add mood and drama to the music and the whole album has a strong organic quality to it. JOHNNY WHITEHORSE is a must hear for anyone who likes Native American flute music and mostly traditional arrangements.
1. Whitehoerse Dreaming 6:09
2. Indian Pony 5:11
3. Spirit Rider 3:27
4. Iron Horse 6:00
5. Runners of the Snowy River 4:45
6. Riding Alone 4:34
7. Fear the Colt 6:14
8. Riders in the Rain 6:57
9. Last Ride of Cochise 7:33
10. Whitehorse Rides 6:17
Songwriter of the Year" winner at the 2000 Native Music Awards, Robert Mirabal is easily one of the most cutting-edge performers in Native American music. His mixture of rock and Native instrumentation coupled with strong, introspective lyrics make every one of his endeavors fresh and exciting. MUSIC FROM A PAINTED CAVE is a live concert recording that comes from the PBS-TV special of the same name. Mirabal, along with his band Rare Tribal Mob, presents a collection of both new material and revisited hits. Listeners can enjoy a diverse set that includes powerhouse rock songs, soft instrumental pieces and Native American pop.
1. The Dance 5:57
2. Little Indians 5:57
3. Ee-You-Oo 4:34
4. Courtship Song 3:59
5. Medicine Man 5:41
6. Skinwalker's Moon 4:04
7. Shield Dance 4:28
8. Runner Dreamtime 2:45
9. Hope 3:00
10. Painted Caves 4:32
11. 1000 Miles 5:51
12. Drum Battle 4:35
13. Navajo Fires 4:00
14. An Kah Na 1:35
15. Sisters 3:50
16. Stiltwalker 3:09
Powerfully evocative of the people and the land he loves, Robert Mirabal's new release TAOS TALES is a brilliant cross-over release bridging the gap between his previous ethereal flute releases and his recent rock-oriented titles. With his Native flute and the haunting, spirited words of his Tiwa language, Mirabal, along with his band on cello, guitar and percussion, uses ritualistic chanting, shakers and sampled sounds to reflect the soul of the ancient Taos Valley and the impact made on it and its inhabitants by the inroads of the modern world.
1. Painted Caves 5:48
2. Friends 4:05
3. Popay Runner 5:57
4. Hunting Party 3:02
5. Skinwalker's Moon 3:51
6. Onate 4:23
7. Bataan Death March 3:33
8. Ee-You-Oo 5:12
9. Flute Song 3:53
10. The Courtship of Starboy 2:49
11. Acid Rain Dance 2:38
12. Day of the Dead 3:53
13. Quiet Season 2:54
Johnny Whitehorse is Robert Mirabal's alter ego. In contrast with the contemporary, rock-infused music commonly found on Mirabal's core releases, his work under the Whitehorse pseudonym reflects his introspective side - the eternal wanderer and explorer, roaming the plains in search of higher knowledge and enlightenment. TOTEMIC FLUTE CHANTS is a haunting release that focuses on the melancholy serenity of the Native American flute, amidst guitar, light chant and rhythmic/percussive elements whose purpose is to provide emphasis and dramatic flair, rather than keep the pace. The theme of the album is totems or animal spirits that watch over, protect and help us connect with Mother Earth. It's a simplistic though very colorful work that does an excellent job of conjuring mental imagery associated with the vast plains of Middle America and the Southwest.
Imagine a sprawling landscape of plateaus set against a golden sunset. The dirt roads are dotted with hoof indentations, for this is horse country; and majestic eagles soar into a vast horizon. This is a taste of the Johnny Whitehorse experience - a place of beauty, contemplation and harmony with the earth. An alias/character creation of Robert Mirabal, Whitehorse has a sound that is acoustic, with a nice balance between traditional and contemporary styles. Flute is the central element on many of the cuts, backed by the low rumble of drums, a little didgeridoo and some rattles and shakers. Synthesizer atmosphere is used to add mood and drama to the music and the whole album has a strong organic quality to it. JOHNNY WHITEHORSE is a must hear for anyone who likes Native American flute music and mostly traditional arrangements.
MP3 clip CD PRICE $17.00
Songwriter of the Year" winner at the 2000 Native Music Awards, Robert Mirabal is easily one of the most cutting-edge performers in Native American music. His mixture of rock and Native instrumentation coupled with strong, introspective lyrics make every one of his endeavors fresh and exciting. MUSIC FROM A PAINTED CAVE is a live concert recording that comes from the PBS-TV special of the same name. Mirabal, along with his band Rare Tribal Mob, presents a collection of both new material and revisited hits. Listeners can enjoy a diverse set that includes powerhouse rock songs, soft instrumental pieces and Native American pop.
Powerfully evocative of the people and the land he loves, Robert Mirabal's new release TAOS TALES is a brilliant cross-over release bridging the gap between his previous ethereal flute releases and his recent rock-oriented titles. With his Native flute and the haunting, spirited words of his Tiwa language, Mirabal, along with his band on cello, guitar and percussion, uses ritualistic chanting, shakers and sampled sounds to reflect the soul of the ancient Taos Valley and the impact made on it and its inhabitants by the inroads of the modern world.
Johnny Whitehorse is Robert Mirabal's alter ego. In contrast with the contemporary, rock-infused music commonly found on Mirabal's core releases, his work under the Whitehorse pseudonym reflects his introspective side - the eternal wanderer and explorer, roaming the plains in search of higher knowledge and enlightenment. TOTEMIC FLUTE CHANTS is a haunting release that focuses on the melancholy serenity of the Native American flute, amidst guitar, light chant and rhythmic/percussive elements whose purpose is to provide emphasis and dramatic flair, rather than keep the pace. The theme of the album is totems or animal spirits that watch over, protect and help us connect with Mother Earth. It's a simplistic though very colorful work that does an excellent job of conjuring mental imagery associated with the vast plains of Middle America and the Southwest.
