Mother's Word

by Delphine Tsinajinnie

Overview

Dine (Navajo) singer Tsinajinnie is a Jill of all trades: singer, actor, author, and teacher. On this debut recording, she presents adaptations of 18 traditional songs, all sung in the Dine tongue. Tsinajinnnie has a strong, clear, expressive voice with a slightly nasal edge. Several tracks are a cappella, several have drum, rattle, or bell accompaniment. She overdubs her own voice in unison on some tracks to vary the texture. Her subtle dynamics and expressive phrasing are decidedly contemporary, yet she never betrays the traditional essence of the music. Her bluesy delivery on some tracks will call to mind the work of First Nations trio Ulali. One of her strongest influences is Ed Lee Natay, whose groundbreaking Natay, Navajo Singer was Canyon's first release 49 years ago. Natay, who died in 1967, appears through the miracle of tape on "Basket Dance Song." You first hear his stately version, then Tsinajinnie's warm update of the song. Mother's Word is a promising debut from a singer with strong roots in tradition yet an original voice. ~ Peggy Latkovich

Product Details

Release Date:	06/20/2000
Label:	CANYON RECORDS
UPC:	0729337632523

Tracks

1. Beautyway
2. Cheii Littleben's Line Dance Song
3. Scared Beauty
4. Corn-Grinding Songs
5. A Soldier's Birthday Song
6. Basket Dance Song
7. Suen's Work Song
8. Tapestry of Generations
9. Butterfly Lullaby
10. Feather Dance Song
11. Natay's Two-Step
12. Gourd Dance I
13. Courd Dance II
14. Shoe Game Song
15. Grandmother's Lamb
16. Bluebird Song
17. First Voice
18. Sandoval's Jig

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Delphine Tsinajinnie   Primary Artist,Vocals
Ed Lee Natay   Primary Artist
Leroy Tsinajinnie   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Jack Miller   Engineer,Mastering,Mixing
Leroy Tsinajinnie   Performer
John Running   Photography
Delphine Tsinajinnie   Liner Notes,Composer
Ed Lee Natay   Performer