The songs on Many Roads Home say things that are very important to me. But it can be a little misleading to start talking about “where a project came from” or what we are “trying to say”. Like we always know. Like it was all carefully thought out and planned. What usually happens for me is that some day along the way, if I’ve had enough time and quiet to be attentive to what is going on around and inside me, songs will start to arrive in one form or another. A welcome ,if sometimes strange, gift from Great Mystery.
Often the songs get re-shaped, re-imagined, re-sorted over and over again until...Read More
Many Roads Home (behind the scenes)
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The Inspiration...
The Music...
Many Roads Home is a band CD, not a collection of flute songs. I decided early on that we would do whatever the music needed, even if that meant there might be some tracks with no flute at all. It turned out that much of the music needed to feature Janice Torres’ amazing singing. Many people will be blessed because of this. Janice also contributed powerful lyrics for “Dangerous Roads” and a lovely melody for the Bonus track, “Taino Prayer Song”.
To my ear, this music has a real “Native Americana” feel. Roots music. Deep roots. I love the way this music feels. It feels native, but not stereotyped native. I do believe that American Indian music has made an important contribution to contemporary American music that is often overlooked. Listen deep and you can hear the connections.
Maybe the best decision I made on this project was to ask Leonard Stevens to produce it. Lenny latched onto these songs like a dog onto a tasty bone and scratched and gnawed out every drop of goodness there was to be had in them. Aside from his usual stellar guitar work, he added some great arranging touches and kept all the sessions running smoothly and efficiently. Great skills, great spirit, complete pro.
Well, I don’t want to talk this CD into the ground, I want you to listen to it so you can hear for yourself why we are so excited about it. Hope to see you at a show down the road.
Wado, Bo'matum & Thank yous
- Ron Warren wishes to say wado to Great Mystery, Breath Giver, without whom none of this could be
- Chief Charlotte Hallmark, the Tribal Council and all members of the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama for their continued support
- My family, for not giving up on me
- Janice for the great singing and for being the best colleague, friend and road companion a flute player could hope for
- Lenny, Vince and Buster for all the killer tracks
- Colyn Petersen for the wonderful flutes
- Blaine, Megan, Keith, Dusty and all the folks at Cue Recording Studios
- Janet Rogers for inspiring words
- Leonard P, Dennis B, R.C. N, Joe F.C. and many others for inspiring lives; Ezra Fields, for that first invitation years ago
- The pan-tribal native community in the mid-Atlantic region, especially Guy W, Beverly L, Don H, Chuck T, Joe SWM, Chief Sewell, Chief Rudy, Mary Hope & Dave, Greg & Louise, Dawn A, Keith C, Jay NW and all the folks at NMAI ;
- Lucy for always greeting me at the door (except when you are napping…).
