EASTERN PEACE has always been one of my favorite recordings, for several reasons: the music itself, the backstory, and, as my fourth major recording project, it was a demonstration of magic being alive and well, and recordable.
Ancient Chinese, Japanese and Indian traditions honored the power of sound, and from the first time I heard non-Western sonorities and scales., I felt very much at home. In all my concerts, I have always included at least one song using their pentatonic motifs....
EASTERN PEACE has always been one of my favorite recordings, for several reasons: the music itself, the backstory, and, as my fourth major recording project, it was a demonstration of magic being alive and well, and recordable.
Ancient Chinese, Japanese and Indian traditions honored the power of sound, and from the first time I heard non-Western sonorities and scales., I felt very much at home. In all my concerts, I have always included at least one song using their pentatonic motifs.
I was introduced to an associate of Dr. Andrija Puharich, and spent an amazing evening with 'special guests'. In my autobiography, I'll share more details about the 'music lesson' I recieved. * For now, I'll simply say that as I was recording COMFORT ZONE, at one point, I was suddenly aware of a very different vibe in the studio. Instantly, I knew that I was about to receive another 'lesson'. I turned to my engineer, told him to put on a fresh reel of tape, closed my eyes and began to play.
The entire first half of the album unfolded in a continuous, magical flow.
Silence is an important component of this music. The spaces between the notes speak as elogquently as the tones themselves. Pay particular attention to the subtle sustained overtones that are very much a part of each composition.
This is truly music that is finished in the mind of the listener.
The second half of the original album features the bamboo flute of my friend, Schawkie Roth, in live duets with me on electric piano, a few months after the solo piano recording. For the CD, I added several tracks recorded after my first visit to Japan in 1983, and features the artistry of my friend Dallas Smith.
For this MP3, my engineer and I remastered the recording to improve the luminous quality of the tones, and reduce the tape hiss that was an unavoidable part of 1978 recordings. This is the best version yet, and I invite you to listen deeply, with headphones, and journey with me into 'the space between(ital) the notes.'
STEVEN HALPERN Yamaha grand piano, Rhodes electric piano, Tibetan bowl, Chinese Temple gong.
Schawkie Roth, Bamboo flute, bass bamboo flute
Sophia (Sande Hershman)- tambura
recorded at The Music Annex Engineer: Roger Wiersema
C) P) 1978, 2010 Steven Halpern /Inner Peace Music
* Special thanks to Greta Woodrew and the Ogatta Group for their inspirational interdimensional transmissions, Richard Smolowe, Michael Andron, Andrijah Puharich, MD I rec ommend Greta's bestseller, "On a Slide of Light" to learn more about her work.
Cover art: Pyramid Sunset C) 1975 Tom Akawie
