Dancing With the Muse

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Known and loved by fans of instrumental New Age for more than 10 years, Chris Spheeris enters 2000 by adding the sensually uplifting Dancing with the Muse to his already large body of work. Influenced by everything from the Southwestern landscape to Middle Eastern exoticism to ancient world mysticism, Dancing stretches into eight lengthy pieces grounded by piano, synthesizer, and subdued vocals. Gradually building in size and intensity to the nearly 14-minute "Invisible Hands," Dancing functions as a cycle, and as a soundscape for the internal life of seekers. For his part, Spheeris is not only expressing his spiritual and artistic evolution, but playing right into the hands and hearts of his most fervent listeners. --Paige La Grone

Dancing With the Muse,Chris Spheeris,Higher Octave,Ethnic Fusion,New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop

Tracks:

Magaya
Dancing With The Muse
The Joy Of This Longing
Marionette
The New West
Shahzada
Remain In Motion
Invisible Hands

Amazon.com

Known and loved by fans of instrumental New Age for more than 10 years, Chris Spheeris enters 2000 by adding the sensually uplifting Dancing with the Muse to his already large body of work. Influenced by everything from the Southwestern landscape to Middle Eastern exoticism to ancient world mysticism, Dancing stretches into eight lengthy pieces grounded by piano, synthesizer, and subdued vocals. Gradually building in size and intensity to the nearly 14-minute "Invisible Hands," Dancing functions as a cycle, and as a soundscape for the internal life of seekers. For his part, Spheeris is not only expressing his spiritual and artistic evolution, but playing right into the hands and hearts of his most fervent listeners. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

By far my favorite "new age" CD.......2006-03-08

I am in love with this CD. The recording quality is superlative, the musicality and creativity are top notch... can't express how much I love this one. Even those who aren't into "new age" could find things to appreciate about this CD.

The second song, "Dancing with the Muse" is my favorite. Incredible stuff.

Don't walk to buy it, run.

Dancing with the inspiration!.......2005-10-04

It results very difficult and many times useless to pretend entitle to Spheeris as New Age musician. In particular I disagree with this appreciation. Chris revives with a great doses of musicality, instrumentation and careful brightness the hidden melodies of the Arabian and Spanish cultures, going always toward the roots.

In this case Arabian rhythms are renovated with elegance and innovativeness. But a warning must be done: where do the Arabian moods finish and in the meantime the Spanish music reborn? Spheeris knew blend both rhythms with extraordinary easiness, fruit of his admirable talent. Dancing with the muse is the happy melting of these two cultures joined by a history of seven centuries.

Magaya is to my mind the perfect sample about how you can mold and recreate with astonishing presence the millenary Arabian dances employing an evident resources economy.

You will be pleasantly surprised, listening this curious work.

a fan.......2003-06-15

I first heard a Chris Spheeris tape in an ariport in 11/93..and had to have it..I did not get to play it until I returned..and have never regreted it..I own many tapes/CD's..they are most soothing to listen to..I also enjoy the "Culture" CD

Incredible Album.......2003-02-13

I have been a fan of Chris Spheeris for a decade and own all of his music. This album is incredible as with all of his previous works--it is rich, multi-layered, and vibrant music. Chris keeps his wonderful Greek heritage and adds a level of Middle Eastern influences to his music that uplifts the soul. I highly recommend this album along with all of his previous albums.

Intense, varied and always interesting.......2002-11-30

Each time I try to define or categorize this recording, I find that I can't. It's a true original! Spheeris is a guitarist, keyboardist and composer who seems to cross stylistic boundaries and cultural borders as easily as most people surf through channels on a TV. Part New Age, part world fusion, with a touch of Latin guitaristry, these compositions incorporate a full range of sounds both electronic and acoustic. Percussive and dreamily mysterious textures are enhanced by vocals and chants from India, Greece, Spain and the Middle East. On this recording, Spheeris is joined by sample programmer Robert Cory, a host of percussionists, and wind and string players. Come along with them on a fascinating yet relaxing journey! Spheeris's earlier work, from the mid-eighties through mid-nineties, can be heard on the compilation album "Desires", as well as on numerous original releases.

Average customer rating:

Musing with the Dance, Dancing with the Muse

Dancing with the Muse
Chris Spheeris
Manufacturer: Essence Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mystic Traveller
Essentials
Enchantment
Desires
The Best of Chris Spheeris: 1990-2000

ASIN: B00005RT1G
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Tracks:

Magaya
Dancing With the Muse
Joy of This Longing
Marionette
New West
Shahzada
Remain in Motion
Invisible Hands

Customer Reviews:

Musing with the Dance, Dancing with the Muse.......2007-07-13

I love Chris Spheeris and his music, so don't get me wrong. When I rate this four stars, it's only because some of his other albums are worth 5 stars! This is a bit more laid back, a bit more repitive, and although lovely, and soulful, my soul gets full a bit sooner here than with other albums he has done. Perhaps with more thematic transitions, a broader overall vision for the album, focused on a stronger central theme, these could have elevated it to a 5. Of course, then the title would have needed to be different...somthing like...Dream Visions of the Pita Baker Lost Off the Rocky Cliffs of Crete. We could then have had a lot of ocean sounds, surf and splashing, sea birds and the ancient curses of an old embittered Pita Baker as he rows futiley against a strong headwind, dangerously close to jagged rocks, whilst the sea birds ruin his hat, his Pita bread and his dreams of long lost youth. The Pathos!

Average customer rating:

Aural Bliss, Dreaming Awake

Muse of the Round Sky
Paul Avgerinos
Manufacturer: Round Sky Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Electronic | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

An Ancient Muse

ASIN: B0009R1SUU
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Tracks:

Invocation
Songs of the Harper
The Lotus Eaters
Signs and a Vision
Grace of the Witch
Muse of the Round Sky
Well of Souls
Becalmed
The Night Sky
Father and Son

Customer Reviews:

Aural Bliss, Dreaming Awake.......2006-11-04

Paul Avgerinos' "Muse of the Round Sky" is a wonderfully expansive dreamscape that fans of New Age and World Music will enjoy having in their collection. Rich in aural textures, musically mature, this is the perfect recording to put on when you're needing some time for soul-searching, an armchair vacation, quiet contemplation, or simple solitude. Insert this CD in your player and let Avgerinos carry you away to the distant shores of your most satisfying dreams. Highly recommended!

Average customer rating:

Give 'em Some

Manufacturer: Muse Eek Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005Y4PL
Release Date: 2002-01-17

Tracks:

Blues for Arnie
Give 'em Some
Smoke
Techtonic
Timeline
Rush
Foggy Timeline Breakdown

Album Description

Rock, Funk, Jazz, and 20th Century Classical music combine to create a sound that seems familiar, yet is actually remarkably different.

Bruce Arnold has built his reputation on his critically acclaimed explorations into twelve-tone structure. He now presents a CD of music that is both muscular and intellectual, bringing together the interactive nature of jazz with the hard driving groove of rock and the bracing, bittersweet flavor of post modern classical sounds. The three musicians, Bruce Arnold, Ratzo B. Harris on bass, and Tony Moreno on drums negotiate this landscape with grace and passion, and Bruce lets loose with the fiery inspiration that has made him one of New York's established artists.

On first hearing "Give 'Em Some" a listener might not focus on the stringent form that went into this set of 6 compositions for trio. The pieces, made more accessible by blues or rock structures may sound simpler than Mr. Arnold's previous work. "The challenge was that I was soloing over some pretty shifty twelve tone based chord patterns, and rocking out at the same time," says Bruce. "But I really let loose on this CD."

Highlights:

"Blues for Arnie," a piece dedicated to the seminal composer Arnold Schoenberg. Not strictly a blues, it nonetheless embodies the energy and emotion that the blues has brought to American music. "Give 'Em Some" is an extremely intricate chord progression supported by a strong and funky groove. "Smoke" journeys into the bluesy wah-wah land of Jimi Hendrix. "Time Line" is an extended rock ballad reminiscent of Jeff Beck, another guitar icon. "Rush" is a pastiche of groove and a gamut of evocative electronic guitar sounds with bookends of effects processed solo work. "Funky Timeline Breakdown" is a coda to "Time Line." "I loved soloing over that one!" says Bruce.

Pop Music:

Pop Music

pop music

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