Michael,
Your CDs are fantastic! After I listened to Voice from Within last night,
I sat there --- quietly stunned. I wasn't sure what had just happened,
but I knew something did. Then I realized that I felt more grounded
into my "Native-ness" - except I don't have any. Yet it was a pretty wonderful feeling!
The second CD was more like a journey somehow........
esp. Silent Journey and Canyon's Edge. I really liked the feelings I had,
although I can't exactly describe them to you just yet. I experienced a lot
for a first-time run-through! Some songs I totally
understood or identified with, and others, like Mother Bear Song,
I couldn't get a handle on. I'll just keep becoming more familiar with your music
and see what happens! So, I'll just continue to listen and learn on my own for now.
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Windwalker's voice.
It's beautiful, strong and clear. Very soothing, too. "Thank you, Windwalker."
Joen Bozarth
Osiyo Michael !
WOW! Again I am left stunned by your work! Your intense presence and the darkness of the setting is very dramatic. It really "pulled me in". The acting of the 3 flute players was great! The voice of the soloist was haunting! And the "Trail of Tears" was horrific! I hadn't heard about the white roses before, and your obvious emotion really added to the effectiveness of the educational segment. (The Trail has always totally horrified me - and now I'm living in the town where it all started. Ohmygod!) I've also never seen anything like the "Booger Dance". I just LOVE the way you're teaching us things we really should know about!
I also found it very touching that your wife and son were also on stage with you. And I thoroughly enjoyed the added footage during "Our Child's Lullaby". Hey, great jacket!
I also enjoyed seeing you backstage with the fans! And I especially enjoyed your great sense of humor while teaching Cherokee to the audience! So different from the show.......... wonderful!
I will experinece this DVD many more times. Thank you for creating it! Joen Bozarth
My CD's are available for purchase directly from Searching Bear
Flutes at
Searching Bear Flutes discography
page
.... DVD RELEASE ....
Michael Searching Bear's Live In Concert dvd release is footage
from the Un earthed cd tour with a cast of 10 band members.
Songs performed include arrangements from his Album of the Year winner,
Voice From Within, as well as his Nammy nominated Un earthed cd
along with un-released footage including a heart-tugging
Trail of Tears educational track. The Booger Dance is a wonderful
performance depicting an old Cherokee ceremony. Of course, Michael's
'Cherokee for Dummies' is included.... Directed by world renowned Eddie Tomecko,
this dvd promises to be a benchmark for Native American concerts.
REVIEW: Frankly, I needed to 'digest' the experience
to fully give an accounting of it. The concert was soooooo cool
live, there is no way ANY DVD would be able to stand up in
comparison, nevertheless, that's one reason we've had to
watch it again and again. It leaves the listener
wanting more..... that's a good thing!
The darkness of the setting gave me the impression
of timelessness. It's hard to explain, but in most music videos
it's clearly 'the band', 'the stage', 'the crowd', 'the music.'
In yours, the feeling was almost like a vision, taken back in time and place,
tribal feet all around me. Very effective.
My first favorite: The first song. Outstanding choice for an opening number,
remembering it live and the goose bumps it invoked. The DVD focused
nicely on the players. You have a remarkably intense presence.
Very dramatic without giving the feeling of 'acting.' It's just who you are.
Got to see/hear it again with surround sound.....
Your personality comes out so cleanly. Your most effective
songs were BOOGER DANCE, and those cuts which you introduced.
I would liked to have heard you intro your various flutes.
FLUTE TALK was FUN !! as was the vocal duet
and the Fujara/Didg. There were so many levels
and textures to this DVD. Very well rounded.
now....
The Trail of Tears segment... starting with the
SMUDGING CEREMONY, WHITE ROSE MARCH and TRAIL OF TEARS
are without a doubt the most powerful pieces I have
ever heard. As I write this I have tears in my eyes.
There are many things I want to say but can not put into words.
All in all, an outstanding DVD, more of an experience than a concert. Les Russell
I was very excited to receive this DVD of Michael Searching Bear - Live In Concert!
From the lovely shorelines of New England, I was taken to another realm, one which I can't express
thoroughly in words, but one has to feel with the heart.
This is a DVD like no other, It is beautifully put together,,, and makes one sit on the edge of their seat,,
wondering "Wow, whats next"? A true Joy is this Dvd and one that I think is a crucial part of
ones' music library.
You had me amazed and mesmorized. Thank you Michael Searching Bear for introducing me to
this very different style then I am used too..... You have a TRUE FAN!
Nominated for 2007 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Awards
for Single of the Year (Our Child's Lullaby), Best New Artist,
Best Instrumental CD, & Best Album Cover Design.
Nominated 2006 8th annual Nammy Awards:
Debut Artist/Group of the Year
Flutist of the Year
Best New Age Recording
Record of the Year
Song/Single of the Year - The Vision
Songwriter of the Year
Un earthed
'Siyo friends:
This recording reflects the different aspects of my journey in this world & the different
cultures I have encountered as I attempt to find out more about myself & who I truly am.
It is a cross-over of two cultures, or two worlds, that I live within. In contrast of my previously
released cd, Voice From Within - which was a simple traditional concept,
this cd is more an interweaving of the traditional & contemporary emotion.
I've orchestrated many of the instruments that I have fallen in love with
over the past & found that the Native American flute fits nicely in both of these worlds.
I would like to thank all the friendly & wonderful talent that so
generously shared themselves on this recording. From my heart, Wa do....
A few special wa do's:
Reviews:
on the Native American Flute??!!! Heck, I would have just taken
Michael on the flute and Windwalker on the vocals and gladly forked over
the dough...but Michael throws in those other wonderful (and amazingly complementary)
instruments as well, done with grace and aplomb, and you've got a one-of-a-kind blend
of contemporary and traditional sounds. Didn't think he could outdo "Voice From Within"...I was wrong!!
Tom Kerr - Executive Director, Kulture Kids. - www.kulturekids.org
Cd arrived, & I finally got a chance to listen, I sat down, & worked on a gourd rattle.
What gems you & yours are! Let me tell you, I have quite a collection of flute music by
R. Carlos, & Spotted Eagle, etc. & I have just found my new favorite art music
(I call it that because in order to keep my heart open while I work, I listen to music that brings light to me).
As for giving me any credit at all for using one of my instruments, that is so very generous of you!
It's you that brings life to your instruments! I am truly honored! Thank you!
Again, awesome cd! Thanks for the gift!
Sincerely, Cynthia - Proprietor, Picture Rocks Art
When I first heard it, I was very glad to hear how well you fused together
two cultures without taking away the integrity of either one. It was a perfect balance -
two ages apart by hundreds of years, yet brought together in perfect harmony.
That’s the beauty of music, it has no date. The Vision and Mother Bear
stand out, as I believe, the awesome potential of your music talent coupled
with your deep interconnection with our native culture. As I heard The Vision,
the haunting voices along with the rising musical panorama
left me in shock and awe. I could not help to envision a story of struggle,
change and growth. To which I later realized that the story
behind this song was very much as I envisioned it. Mother Bear then stepped
in to top-off the climax of the story – an amazing work.
Your tireless dedication to our culture along with your musical talent
is going to be well remembered long after this production.
As stated earlier – it’s timeless. Well done my friend…
Sincerely, Eric Wolf Windseeker
Listening to Un Earthed took me on a wonderful heartfelt journey.
The blend of Native American Flute with Contemporary instruments are awesome.
Appalachian Sunrise is so soothing to my soul, and The Vision is that wonderful blend
of cultures, fantastic. Many thanks to you Michael for this awesome CD. Mary Jo Green
Your CDs are fantastic! After I listened to Voice from Within last night,
I sat there --- quietly stunned. I wasn't sure what had just happened,
but I knew something did. Then I realized that I felt more grounded
into my "Native-ness" - except I don't have any. Yet it was a pretty wonderful feeling!
The second CD was more like a journey somehow........
esp. Silent Journey and Canyon's Edge. I really liked the feelings I had,
although I can't exactly describe them to you just yet. I experienced a lot
for a first-time run-through! Some songs I totally
understood or identified with, and others, like Mother Bear Song,
I couldn't get a handle on. I'll just keep becoming more familiar with your music
and see what happens! So, I'll just continue to listen and learn on my own for now.
I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Windwalker's voice.
It's beautiful, strong and clear. Very soothing, too. "Thank you, Windwalker."
Joen Bozarth
WINNER 2006 Just Plain Folks Music Awards:
Album of the Year
Nominated 2006 Song of the Year - The Gathering
Voice From Within
Hello friends:
You have known Michael Searching Bear for his wonderful hand-crafted
Searching Bear Flutes in the past. Now enjoy the wonderful tones of his flutes
and musical background with his new CD release, "Voice From Within".
"Voice From Within" has a variety of emotions which will take you on your
wonderful journey within. Eighteen songs fill this release which is
instrumented with solo flute and an array of percussion and natural sounds.
The solo voice of Windwalker, Michael's sister, is a special highlight
celebrating the beauty of the Cherokee language. All original recordings
went into this journey which was mainly written and inspired by the Cherokee
Trail of Tears journey in the 1830's. As Michael put it, "I was in mourning
when I conceived this music. It is truly a journey from track 1 to track 17.
See if you can feel it and come join in the journey." The final track is a duet
with Windwalker and Michael which was captured in it's entirety with a fire
being the atmosphere. " I wanted to capture the purity of the instrument,"
states Bill Hartzell, recording engineer and co-producer for the project.
Both of these CD's are available for purchase directly from Searching Bear Flutes at
Searching Bear Flutes accessories page for $15.00 plus shipping/handling/tax.
Order your copy today. "Un earthed & Voice From Within" can also be found
at Amazon.com,
Borders.com, CD Baby, CD Streets and many local music outlets.
Just ask for it by name - they are distributed by Super D distribution. Prices may vary at these locations.
Wa do
"Voice From Within" is being played at these fine radio stations:
Vancouver's Independent Radio Station - CFRO Website
Akron, Ohio - Red Hearts Radio Website
A few needed special wa do's:
with your help we WILL keep the culture alive!
Voice From Within reviews:
I received the CD Friday and I spent the weekend listening to it. In comparison
to the CD's I own from AH-Nee-Mah, Dougles Spotted Eagle, Dougles Blue
Feather etc... , yours is by far the most native of all. You went back
to the original native style using the drum beats, shakers and other native
instruments -- beautiful. The others I own mix contemporary New Age backgrounds
which give it a relaxing touch, but yours concentrates on the flute itself.
No studio tricks to drown it among keyboards, and no excessive reverb or
delay. Fantastic work! I also noticed you toyed around with half holes
as well as the big drone flutes, which gave it a unique character. The
native language did great as well. Thank you!
Eric "Boone"
We had it on playing in the background all weekend. Very soothing yet VERY interesting melodies and subtle rhythms.
Gorgeous. Love the recording quality. Very well done. The flutes sound stunning. Very haunting and warm.
Kenneth Leonard - recording producer/engineer for Lou Reda Corp.(History Channel / Dancetime USA)
and the truth is I liked it when I first heard it, but I like it better and better with each listening.
Terrific, beautiful work. What I like best is that it seems like you're
right there in the room playing. And it's not "over-produced" with a
lot of extra studio crap that might sound impressive but actually take away from
the instrument. The simplicity and purity of the flutes come through as
clear as the water of the mountain rivers I can see in my mind as you play.
OK, that may sound corny, but that IS how it felt for me. Congrats many
times over on a wonderful accomplishment. I'm telling EVERYONE about it!!---.
Tom Kerr, Executive Director, Kulture Kids. Kulture Kids web site
"a non-profit arts organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing diversity and multiculturalism."
I've ever heard. Great heart!
Blessings!
Jim Curley - Mountain Music Shoppe -
a li he li s di
hi a
a da ne di
- Enjoy the gift -
