Maracle covers range of styles in latest CD

Page 15

The multi-talented Thomas B. Maracle has added another item to his long list of accomplishments-the renowned sculptor and award-winning musician has released his fourth CD of original music.

Mixed Emotions, recorded at Maracle's Sa Tune Da Ga Multi-Media Studios on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, was released last year, and Maracle is already hard at work on his fifth album.

His previous releases include Catch the Dream, , and Spirit Land Band, which earned Maracle awards in the Best Instrumental Album and Best Traditional Album-Contemporary categories at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in 2001.

Mixed Emotions is indeed a mixed bag of music, with Maracle presenting songs ranging in style from country to jazz to rock to spoken word. From the country sounds of With Love in My Heart, to Storm Within the Mind, which melds Mohawk flute and traditional chanting with a rock beat, to the Spanish feel of Lullaby, to the alternative sounds of Techno Red, you're never quite sure what's coming next on this album.

Maracle wrote or co-wrote the lyrics for all of the songs on the album save two-the poems of Carol Ballagh provided the lyrics for Lullaby and Silent Eyes. Maracle provides vocals on the album, plays the Mohawk flute and the saxaphone. He is joined by Bill Murphy on drums and percussion, Laslo Horvath on acoustic and electric guitars and Randy Hollingsworth on bass guitar. Additional vocals are provided by Bonnie Crawford, Christina Raven and Annette Reynolds.