Storyteller and Stud: Sotiw and "Kokopelli Shuffle"

Our random tune for today is by Sotiw, pronounced So-too. Made up of Native American flautist Michael Joseph Ulery and guitarist Derek Mortland, Sotiw combines New Age, eclectic, world and fusion jazz styles to create a musical world with no boundaries. The two musicians were initially drawn together by their heavy metal past, but found an instinctual kindred in writing music. In addition, Mortland had to relearn guitar after suffering a paralyzing injury in a motorcycle accident, and in the process of relearning he also redefined his musical perspective by breaking through new barriers. This song, Kokopelli Shuffle, highlights both of their abilities and this new direction, between the traditional flute rhythmically matching the guitar's dissonance. The song is named after the Southwestern Native American trickster and fertility god. You can find Kokopelli Shuffle on Sotiw's 2007 album Sketches in Time.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/Sotiw

The Webs We Weave: David Burkhart and "Iktome"

Some native American flute music is our random song for the day. Iktome is by David White Cloud Burkhart. Unfortunately, I couldn't find much information on him. The title of the song refers to the spider trickster of the Lakota people who represents the intersection and confusion of wisdom and folly. While he is usually a spider, he can take any shape including that of a human who wears red, yellow and white paint with black rings around his eyes. One should avoid his gaze, unless one wants trouble to find oneself. He is said to have invented language and is considered a patron of new technology. In fact, one legend says that he will eventually spread his web over the world, which is taken by some Lakota to symbolize telephone wires and the World Wide Web. You can find Iktome on David Burkhart's 2007 album Ina Maka.

Ways of Seeing: William Gutierrez and "Visions"

Native recording artist William Gutierrez, who is a flute maker and musician of Dineh and Ute heritage, brings us the random tune for today. There isn't much information on him personally that I've been able to find, though his flutes are highly prized. This song, Visions, can be found on his 1995 album Eagle Canyon.

Shades of Blue and Green: R. Carlos Nakai and "Dreamscapes: Turquoise World"

R. Carlos Nakai brings us the random tune today. Born in Flagstaff, Arizona, R. Carlos Nakai is of Navajo and Ute heritage. Given that his music is so peaceful, it is hard to believe that he started out his musical career at Northern Arizona University playing brass instruments in a marching band, and that he enlisted in the US Navy as a sophomore so that he might play with the US Navy Band. After passing the audition, he was 28th on the Armed Forces School of Music waiting list, but an auto accident damaged his mouth and made it impossible for him to play brass. Not long after his accident, he was presented with a traditional cedar flute as a gift, and challenged to master it. And master it he has! Drawing from Native tradition but also blending Native music with that of other cultures, Nakai has created the only two Native American albums to be certified gold and platinum. He has worked with musical luminaries such as American composer Philip Glass, Israeli cellist Udi Bar-David, Tibetan flautist Nawang Khechog, American flautist Paul Horn and slack key guitarist Keola Beamer. He has been inducted into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. This song, Dreamscapes: Turquoise World is on his 1993 platinum album Canyon Trilogy.

Stay Away from the Water: Ron Korb with Hiroki Sakaguchi and "River Child (Kappa)"

Today's random song is by Ron Korb with Hiroki Sakaguchi, called River Child (Kappa). The song refers to the Kappa, a mythical Japanese water spirit/demon/imp used by Japanese parents to warn their children of the dangers of rivers and lakes. Roughly humanoid in appearance, they have a kind of shallow depression on the top of their head filled with water and is the source of their power. Their tricks range from the relatively harmless such as looking up women's kimonos to malevolent including killing and rape. But they can be rendered harmless and even indentured to humans, and they have a particular Japanese sense of decorum that binds them to keep their oaths. Ron Korb is a Canadian flautist, recording artist, producer, composer and songwriter who has released over 30 solo albums and has also written songs for major Asian performers. He has mastered a variety of wind instruments and is known as Dragon Flute, Thunder Blessing and Prince of Flutes in China, Taiwan and Japan, respectively. You can find River Child (Kappa) on Korb's 1992 album Japanese Mysteries where he is joined by Hiroki Sakaguchi, a Japanese composer and pianist who composed five of the 13 songs that appear on the album.

Ageless: R. Carlos Nakai and "Dawn's Mirage: Echoes of Time"

Noted Native American flautist R. Carlos Nakai performs today's random tune, Dawn's Mirage: Echoes of Time. Born in Flagstaff, Arizona, Nakai is of Navajo and Ute heritage. Given that his music is so peaceful, it is hard to believe that he started out his musical career at Northern Arizona University playing brass instruments in a marching band, and that he enlisted in the US Navy as a sophomore so that he might play with the US Navy Band. After passing the audition, he was 28th on the Armed Forces School of Music waiting list, but an auto accident damaged his mouth and made it impossible for him to play brass. Not long after his accident, he was presented with a traditional cedar flute as a gift, and challenged to master it. And master it he has! Drawing from Native tradition but also blending Native music with that of other cultures, Nakai has created the only two Native American albums to be certified gold and platinum. He has worked with musical luminaries such as American composer Philip Glass, Israeli cellist Udi Bar-David, Tibetan flautist Nawang Khechog, American flautist Paul Horn and slack key guitarist Keola Beamer. He has been inducted into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Dawn's Mirage: Echoes of Time is on his 1993 platinum album Canyon Trilogy.

Vision Quest: William Gutierrez and "Visions"

Native recording artist William Gutierrez, who is a flute maker and musician of Dineh and Ute heritage, brings us the random tune for today. There isn't much information on him personally that I've been able to find, though his flutes are highly prized. This song, Visions, can be found on his 1995 album Eagle Canyon.

Labyrinthine: R. Carlos Nakai and "Resonance: Into the Maze"

Today's song is by Khaira Arby, often called the Queen of Desert Rock and also the Nightingale of the North. An artist from the northern deserts of Mali, she is a cousin to the great Ali Farka Touré. She uses a varied assortment of instrumentation, such as electric guitar, calabash, traditional violin, acoustic guitar and drumming, and she sings in languages such as Sonrai, Arabic and Tamashek. She is the only singer in her family. She started singing when she was eleven years old. Before working with her own band, she performed with the Troupe du Cercle de Tomboctou and later the Troupe Regionale de Gao. This song, Khaira, is from her 2013 release Timbuktu Tarab.

The Things He's Seen: William Gutierrez and "Through Ancient Eyes"

The random tune for today comes from William Gutierrez, a Native American flute maker and musician of Dineh and Ute heritage. There isn't much information on him personally that I've been able to find, though his flutes are highly prized. This song, Through Ancient Eyes, can be found on his 1995 album Eagle Canyon.

Dwellers Below: R. Carlos Nakai and "Dreamscapes: Canyon People"

Fall into a dreamworld with today's random tune. Dreamscapes: Canyon People is by noted Native American flautist R. Carlos Nakai. Born in Flagstaff, Arizona, Nakai is of Navajo and Ute heritage. Given that his music is so peaceful, it is hard to believe that he started out his musical career at Northern Arizona University playing brass instruments in a marching band, and that he enlisted in the US Navy as a sophomore so that he might play with the US Navy Band. After passing the audition, he was 28th on the Armed Forces School of Music waiting list, but an auto accident damaged his mouth and made it impossible for him to play brass.

Not long after his accident, he was presented with a traditional cedar flute as a gift, and challenged to master it. And master it he has! Drawing from Native tradition but also blending Native music with that of other cultures, Nakai has created the only two Native American albums to be certified gold and platinum. He has worked with musical luminaries such as American composer Philip Glass, Israeli cellist Udi Bar-David, Tibetan flautist Nawang Khechog, American flautist Paul Horn and slack key guitarist Keola Beamer. He has been inducted into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Dreamscapes: Canyon People is on his 1993 platinum album Canyon Trilogy.

Snoozer: Robert Mirabal and "Lullaby"

Today's global music random song is by Robert Mirabal, a New Mexican Native American musician. A flute player and maker from Taos Pueblo, he is a leading proponent of world music. He performs around the world with a mix of flute playing, tribal rock, dance and storytelling. He has been twice named Native American Artist of the Year, and was featured in a Grammy Award winning album, Sacred Ground: A Tribute to Mother Earth in 2006. This song, Lullaby, is featured on his Warrior-Magician CD from 1996.

Magic Flute: R. Carlos Nakai and "Dawn's Mirage: Ancestral Home"

Today's random tune should help awaken you. Dawn's Mirage: Ancestral Home is by noted Native American flautist R. Carlos Nakai. Born in Flagstaff, Arizona, Nakai is of Navajo and Ute heritage. Given that his music is so peaceful, it is hard to believe that he started out his musical career at Northern Arizona University playing brass instruments in a marching band, and that he enlisted in the US Navy as a sophomore so that he might play with the US Navy Band. After passing the audition, he was 28th on the Armed Forces School of Music waiting list, but an auto accident damaged his mouth and made it impossible for him to play brass.

Not long after his accident, he was presented with a traditional cedar flute as a gift, and challenged to master it. And master it he has! Drawing from Native tradition but also blending Native music with that of other cultures, Nakai has created the only two Native American albums to be certified gold and platinum. He has worked with musical luminaries such as American composer Philip Glass, Israeli cellist Udi Bar-David, Tibetan flautist Nawang Khechog, American flautist Paul Horn and slack key guitarist Keola Beamer. He has been inducted into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Dawn's Mirage: Ancestral Home is on his 1993 platinum album Canyon Trilogy.