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Our Review

Maya's unique, percussive sound defies easy description or labeling. The musical selections are primarily Middle-eastern, lending the entire affair an exotic flavor, and making it seem almost as if one were taking a mystical journey to the Holy Land.

Here, several off-the-shelf holiday standards have been mixed with some less well-known fare, giving the garden variety listener some familiar themes for orientation, but then adding this remarkably rich, otherworldly seasoning. For example, the opening number, Bolgar Gypsy Hero, was completely new to me. This piece sets the tone for a fantastic magic carpet ride. Even the familiar I Wonder As I Wander seemed like a clever way of expressing the wonderment I felt while listening to this unique sound. Not surprisingly, the Arab Dance from The Nutcracker turns up, midway through. There seems to be something here for everyone, as well as comprising a wonderfully pleasant introduction to Middle-eastern holiday music for the initiate.

Sato Moughalian's exotic flutes, Jacqueline Kerr's ethereal harp, along with John Hadfield's rare and exotic percussion instruments makes Maya's In the Spirit a must-have CD for new age and world music enthusiasts this season.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2008)

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From the liner notes:

Sato Moughalian plays Powell #2511 14k gold flute, J.R. Lafin breadjoint; Wm. S Haynes piccolo #46745; Powell alto flute #5402
Jacqueline Kerr plays Salvi Aurora 47 string Concert Grand pedal harp John Hadfield's instruments include: ankle bells, Beijing opera gongs, cajon, caxixi, Chinese finger cymbals, cymbals, djembe, frame drums, ocean drum, riq, small Turkish bells, Turkish darbuka, and the Gibson Echoplex

Maya

In the Spirit

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Track List