Two names you likely never heard of, but take my word, names worth remembering. I step aside from web design rarely, but in this case I was so impressed with this concert last night in Juneau that I wanted help spread the word, besides these two artists are to be two my favorites when asked what music do I listen to when I am programming or designing. So for the “Web design Connection,” two great musicians to listen to when suffering coders block.
Morgan is a former Juneau resident and Native American, 15 years old and playing the wood flute in a manner far beyond his years. Morgans return to Juneau for a FASD fund-raising concert has been a big deal here, both due to his talent as well as a very large extended family. Morgan is what is called a FASD child, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Morgan has dedicated himself to speak for those like him because it is a 100% preventable disorder… women, just do not drink while pregnant. With his first CD now released less than 2 years after picking up his first flute, he has donated 1/2 of all sales to help combat this problem. Morgan’s music is traditional native wood flute music and compositions of his own writing. He hopes his music will be healing to those in pain, after listening to it in concert I would say it likely is. Morgan opened for Arvel Bird who just met him this June and was so impressed he asked him to do some concerts with him.
Arvel Bird is a Paiute Indian tribe member with Paiute/Scottish background. Although he plays flute and a few more instruments, his instrument of choice is the fiddle. Whether alone or with the band, “One Nation,” Arvels music is a wonderful mix of contemporary sound with traditional native music with a good dose of Celtic to liven things up. It can be fast paced and rocking, or slow and emotional as with his instrumental CD “Animal Totems,” which we purchased at the concert and very much enjoy. For a taste of his music, check out his media section where some of his music can be heard on podcasts as well as this video from from Nammy 2006.
I think Morgan will have a long career and have a name among Native Americans and do allot of good for FASD awareness. Arvel is well on his way having already won the Native American Music Award (Nammy). With his style of music between the melancholy and fast “fiddle rock” he really rocked the house and earning the standing applause for a great concert from both natives and non-natives, young and old alike. his concert offered something for everyone.
Arvel, if you or your wife read this, it was an Honor to meet you both and I hope you will return here soon or we can catch you somewhere else one day. As soon as the photos and video are complete I will let you know. As for Morgan, look forward to you having a web site and offering your next CD on it. Cheers to the both of you.
If I could speak a moment about a wish concert, it would be Arvel Bird, Charlie Daniels & Vanessa-Mae. I have introduced Arvel and should not need to introduce Charlie, but if you Arvel or any readers do not know Vannessa-Mae, she, like Arvel, is a classically trained violinist who made quite a name for herself with her in London in 1992. She plays a mean electric violin. So at a minimum I would like to see Vanessa-Mae and Arvel do a concert first their own works and then end with a jam session, sort of free thinking make it up as you go sort of thing. If Charlie could get in with some good ole’ country fiddle it would be a killer concert. Maybe using Apocalyptica as opening act (Goth Rock played by three classically trained Finish Celloists), it may not be the same type of music but Apocalyptica, Arvel Bird and Vanessa-Mae have all taken a classic stringed instrument and used it in their own manner to make their own type of chosen music.
Photos by Patricia Lamson, for more photos see: Spotted.Juneau Empire.com. Note: The photos in the first pages are the Juneau based All Nations Children Dance group (Lda Kut Naax Sati’ Yatx’i) who opened the concert.