Judi Silvano Sound Garden: Spirit Music CD

Not to be confused with the thunderous Seattle-based grunge act that rose to prominence in the 1990s (that rock quartet writes its name as one word), Sound Garden play quiet and restrained music that is calming to the mind and body. Flutes, bells, and chimes create delicate tapestries of sound while a variety of percussion instruments lend subtle color to the songs.

The music is quite ambient, with a great deal of atmospheric space between the phrases, and the vague Far Eastern flavor of the sounds conjures the dreamy, observant world of haiku poetry, a parallel further highlighted by titles like "Fluttering Aspen," "Gentle Winds," and "Blooming Landscape." SPIRIT MUSIC avoids sentimentality, and is a superb companion to the practices of yoga, meditation, and massage.

Sound Garden ~ Spirit Music is a series of collaborations between composer Judi Silvano and master musician Joe Lovano. They both play woodwind instruments and a beautiful array of gongs and percussion instruments. Judi plays flute, alto flute and alto recorder while Joe plays wood shakuhachi flute, bass clarinet and bass recorder. These tracks are musical improvisations which evolved from their interwoven personal and long musical relationship. Judi sings only sporadically on this disc and uses her voice often as an evocative ccompaniment for Joe's melodic excursions. There is a spatial quality to this set of music, which leaves room for quiet reflection, peaceful breathing and a calm appreciation of the world around us.Reviews from Listeners:The drifting pastoralism of this music coasts along on flutes, recorders and gongs set amid a bed of bells and reverberating percussion. A good accompaniment to a soft snowfall. Jason Bivins, Cadence MagazineThis is a lovely offering by a great musical couple, from their hearts. The music is enchanting and haunting as the candle flickers: mysterious gongs shimmer and help us float away. Bruce Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery NewsI put on this CD one afternoon to calm the children for their nap and it was so smooth and relaxing that it helped them quiet down and go to sleep. Bev Mammato, a working grandmotherSound Garden - Spirit Music (JSL Records) is a peaceful musical journey of East-Indian and jazz-influenced music. The improvisations featuring flutes, recorders, gongs and percussion, voice, and reed instruments (such as alto and bass clarinets) are played by two veteran musicians showcasing their empathy and partnership in music and in life. The music transcended mere tunes and what otherwise might be expected from music, touching upon something actually quite spiritual..Laurence Donohue-Greene, Editor, All About Jazz