AMG Review of Ancestral Voices

Jim Brenholts
All Music Guide

R. Carlos Nakai is one of the world's leading virtuosos on the Native American (or cedar) flute. Unfettered by its technical limitations, he explores the expressive qualities of the instrument. William Eaton is one of the world's leading performers on and inventors of plucked string instruments. Together, Nakai and Eaton share a passion for connecting with spirituality and heritage through musical exploration. Ancestral Voices, their third collaboration, showcases their musical talents and their sound design and compositional expertise. This CD has a symphonic structure. There are three major movements: "Witnesses," "First People," and "Dreamers." Each movement has six parts. There is no musical theme, but a deep spiritual connection runs through the entire album. The atmospheres and soundscapes are grand. This is a must-have for collectors of Native American music and atmospheric minimalism. It will appeal to fans of Coyote Oldman, Douglas Spotted Eagle, and Spirit Nation.