Big Medicine

by R. Carlos Nakai

Overview

Big Medicine's liner notes describe R. Carlos Nakai Quartet's first album as "a new jazz expression haunted by the experience of native America." It's an excellent description. Whether you call it jazz fusion or new age, it undeniably strikes a new chord in the spectrum of Native American music. Drawing upon diverse influences, such as Ornette Coleman and Sun Ra, rich melodies and energetic performances are played upon a large assortment of both traditional and non-traditional Native American instruments. R. Carlos Nakai and AmoChip Dabney combine for a lush duo on Native American flutes and saxophones, respectively. Jazz singer Mary Redhouse, of the Redhouse Family, lends her electric bass playing and "eco-spiritual vocalizations." Longtime Nakai collaborator and drummer Will Clipman keeps the pulse for the quartet with dynamic percussive soundscapes using drums such as congas, djembe, udu, and hoop drum. Native American music, rock, and jazz rarely sound as good together as they do on songs like "Prairie Smoke," "Crow Canyon," and "Mitakuye Cyasin." The R. Carlos Nakai Quartet teamed up again in 2000 for the slightly different Ancient Future album. ~ Jeff Schwachter

Product Details

Release Date:	09/15/1998
Label:	CANYON RECORDS
UPC:	0729337702424

Tracks

1. Tsunami
2. Crow Canyon
3. Big Medicine
4. Go 'Round Mary
5. Makeda
6. Newfoundland
7. Schroeder
8. Montana Grass Dance
9. Prairie Smoke
10. Chota Spirits
11. New Chant
12. Mitakuye Cyasin

Album Credits

Performance Credits

R. Carlos Nakai   Primary Artist,Conch,Vocals,Trumpet,Native American Flute
Mary Redhouse   Vocals
Will Clipman   Udu,Drums,Congas,Djembe,Vocals,Taos Drum

Technical Credits

Seiichi Tanaka   Composer
Tony Furtado   Composer
Bill Cashman   Engineer
Jack Miller   Mixing,Mastering
David Champagne   Composer
Mary Redhouse   Arranger,Composer
R. Carlos Nakai   Composer,Producer
AmoChip Dabney   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Robert Doyle   Executive Producer
Will Clipman   Composer,Producer
John Running   Photography