...the good stuff

Music has the power to move mountains, and the Native American flute is a jackhammer! If you've ever wanted to play the 6-hole Native American flute, and play it well, Dick Claassen's book Celebrate the Native American Flute is for you. No music background is required. All the tunes are written in an easy to read tablature, (music notation that anyone can understand), whether you know anything about formal music notation or not. Regardless of what kind of 6-hole flute you own, and regardless of what key it's in, (C, D, E, F, F#, G, A, it makes absolutely no difference), you will be able to play the tunes in this book. You'll learn to play Native American tunes, religious chants, and familiar folk tunes. You'll learn how to play the blues in the pentatonic scale. And you'll learn how to use your flute for meditation. It's all here, in just one book. NOTE: This book is an ebook. You can download the book and the mp3 audio files as soon as you click the 'Buy' button in our shopping cart. No waiting for a book to arrive in the mail.

Neo Epoque is based in Japan, comprising a host of musical wonder, including Neo Epoque Radio, a web-based monthly radio program, and two member bands of incredible talent, Dogs & Docks and Russian Butcher Shop. Based in Chiba, Japan, Neo Epoque has just released its new CD/DVD package, Just a Human, an eclectic mix of musical styles, video, and animation, featuring Neo Epoque and works by some of their musical and artistic friends, including a new grass song by C.S. Fuqua entitled "Killing the Buddha." View a 2-minute trailer for the package on YouTube. For information on ordering, visit the band's website where you can listen to the group's monthly Internet radio program and get more information about band activities and CDs.

Out from Reverse -- Letters to the President features songs by a group of diverse musicians who have donated their music to benefit those most directly and adversely affected by the invasion and occupation of Iraq. All proceeds from CD sales go to the Armed Forces Foundation and Operation Iraqi Children. The CD is the brainchild of Kimberly Streible who heads the La Grange, Kentucky-based band A Death in Summer. C.S. Fuqua's songs, "Devil Disguised" and "We Used to Sing (My Country 'Tis of Thee)," both written in response to the invasion and occupation ofIraq, have been included on the CD and are also featured on Neil Young's Living With War website. The CD can be purchased at CD Baby or downloaded at ITunes. Learn more about the project and watch the promotional video at the Out from Reverse MySpace website.

Through organizations such as AcidPlanet.com, I've met some wonderful musicians, among them one of the best, trumpeter Skip Warren, known as LR-60, from Dallas, Texas. Over his 40-year career, Skip has recorded and/or performed with the best in the business, including "Disco Lady" Johnnie Taylor, the late Z.Z. Hill, Bobby "Blue" Bland (ten years with the band), B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Greg Allman, Albert King, Little Milton, Clarence Carter. Tyrone Davis, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Wilson Pickett, Junior Walker & the Allstars, Buckwheat Zydeco, James Brown, and Kirk Franklin on his Nu Nation Project CD. Skip has also written and recorded original compositions for CNN television and ASCAP. Now he's teamed up with Christian Denis, "Mr. Moods" from Laval Quebec, to explore down-tempo, trip-hop, and acid jazz on their new CD, Coldest Memories. If you like Miles Davis or Dr. Crush, you are going to love this CD. Hear samples and purchase it www.cdbaby.com or www.soundclick.com. For more information, please visit Skip's web home at www.LR-60.com.

John Tinger is a gifted fingerstyle guitarist whose music transcends genre and description. In the tradition of great guitarists such as Alex De Grassi and William Ackerman, John's playing is a vehicle for relaxation and meditation, a delight to hear. Visit John on the web to purchase CDs and learn more about his music.

If you like the blues -- the music, that is --  you'll certainly get into the music of the John McVey Band. John was recently dubbed by one Texas journalist as "Houston's hottest guitarist," After graduating high school in 1974, John headed for Arkansas with his guitar and later migrated to Texas. Since then, he's played with a host of the blues greats, including Johnnie Johnson, Albert King, Albert Collins, Johnny Little John, and Bigtime Sarah. His first solo CD, Gone to Texas,is now available at Amazon.com. Another CD is in the works.