Medwyn Goodall Snows Of Kilimanjaro CD - Import

Medwyn Goodall has been making music for many years, and there's little doubt he has a sweeping sense of melody and an obvious infatuation with the pan pipes of South American music. But both those seem to somehow suit this meditation of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The grand vistas of "Journeys of the Heart" summon up images of wonderful views and snowy peaks and rich tribal voices. An excellent multi-instrumentalist, Goodall is especially adept at the textures and subtle colors that shade his compositions. For all those pluses, however, ultimately there's not a great deal of depth to the album -- it slides over the surface of consciousness without ever diving in. For listening it's sumptuous, like a cloud; for longevity, it just doesn't make it. ~ Chris Nickson
Continuing his musical journey around the world, Medwyn Goodall travels to Tanzania, where he encounters Africa's tallest peak and, according to the local Chagga people, the mythical home of an angry god who punishes anyone who tries to climb it. SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO was composed in response to the death of Martin Friend, who was murdered by Interahamwe rebels in Uganda just before he set out to climb the mountain. The killing resulted in a group expedition, organized by the Duchess of York and her group, Children In Crisis, to scale Kilimanjaro
From its opening notes, SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO displays a sense of urgency and a more sophisticated production than previous Goodall releases. Beginning with "Kilimanjaro" and proceeding through the remaining tracks, the album charts the passions and motivation that sustain climbers, from the delicate, marimba-like notes of "Be All You Can Be," through "Ascent" and "Above the Clouds," until the resolution of "Dawn Over Africa," with its ecstatic African singing.

Award WinnerNAPRA Review (05-06/02, p.81) - "...A standout among the many offerings from this prolific musician....This music echoes with touches of somewhat ghostly African chant, nature sounds, and world vibrations, creating a global aura..."