Distant Mirrors

Track Listings

1. Sweet Simplicity (Larson)

2. Santa Maria (13th cent. Galician/Larson)

3. Anantarivo (Bobby McFerrin)

4. Armenian Allure (Trad. Armenian/Larson)

5. Creator (Larson/Kimberling)

6. The Boatman (Trad. Celtic/Larson

7. Be Still My Soul (Larson)

8. Slow Tears (Larson)

9. The Way of the River (Larson/Halley)

10. Montana (Halley)

11. The Gift (Larson)

12. O'Carolan's Concert (O'Carolan/Larson)

13. Lughnasa (Larson)

14. Nova Scotia Farewell (Trad. Celtic/Larson)

15. Distant Mirrors (Trad. Sufi/14th cent. Montserrat/Larson)

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Grammy Award winning virtuoso flutist Rhonda Larson came into International recognition after winning the NFA Young Artist Competition, including a Carnegie debut. After many years performing with the Paul Winter Consort, Larson embarked on her own music journey, creating a refreshing hybrid music for the flute: continuing in the highest standard of her classical training, but crossing over in to a more accessible music, while maintaining a universal, soulful depth. Larson journeyed to South Africa as a musical ambassador for the United States to perform for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, sharing the stage with such luminaries as Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. She has toured in Russia, Japan, Israel, Europe, Central America and throughout North America.

Album Description
"Distant Mirrors" is a dazzling musical reflection on world cultures and ancient traditions, captured on the luminous flute voices of Rhonda Larson. This is an innovative merging of the most soulful elements of sacred, classical, jazz, folk, Celtic and ethnic music, derived from ancient folk sources as well as created originally from these influences.

Tracks:

Sweet Simplicity (Larson)
Santa Maria (13th cent. Galician/Larson)
Anantarivo (Bobby McFerrin)
Armenian Allure (Trad. Armenian/Larson)
Creator (Larson/Kimberling)
The Boatman (Trad. Celtic/Larson
Be Still My Soul (Larson)
Slow Tears (Larson)
The Way of the River (Larson/Halley)
Montana (Halley)
The Gift (Larson)
O'Carolan's Concert (O'Carolan/Larson)
Lughnasa (Larson)
Nova Scotia Farewell (Trad. Celtic/Larson)
Distant Mirrors (Trad. Sufi/14th cent. Montserrat/Larson)

Album Description

"Distant Mirrors" is a dazzling musical reflection on world cultures and ancient traditions, captured on the luminous flute voices of Rhonda Larson. This is an innovative merging of the most soulful elements of sacred, classical, jazz, folk, Celtic and ethnic music, derived from ancient folk sources as well as created originally from these influences.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!.......2005-01-21

Rhonda Larson played in Cleveland, so I was able to see her in person. I was dazzled by both her playing and her persona. Now I play her two CDs constantly, probably several times a day-- I'm a writer, and I actually think that having Rhonda's music pulsing through the house makes me a better writer. Her music is all about hope, the bouyancy of the human spirit, the richness and mystery of life. I'm grateful that my friend dragged me along to the concert!

MUSIC FROM THE SOUL.......2004-08-10

RHONDA LARSON gives us a glimpse of her soul in the deeply evocative streams from her flutes, and from the sounds of her worldly and exceedingly talented ensemble.

Her newest release, DISTANT MIRRORS is a profound reflection on moments, both past and future.

Stunning music, amazing flute playing.......2004-07-26

I've had been luke-warm about the flute until I heard Rhonda Larson play live in performance. I had no idea that there could be so much variety both musically and with the many different kinds of flutes, and it made the entire experience so much more profound. Her level of technical expertise was more like a Paganini on the flute, a style of virtuosity I hadn't even heard James Galway produce. I bought Distant Mirrors at the end of the performance, and can't stop listening to it--for six months now! There is even more variety on the recording than she is able to produce live, thanks to the great luxury that the recording medium affords her. Haunting, stunning, mesmerizing music. Ten stars in my book.

Very good. But not quite as stellar as "Free as a Bird.".......2004-04-30

I number myself among the more rabid fans of Rhonda Larson. So it is a pleasure to have a new album from her (only her second "feature" album since striking out on her own after an extended tour with the Paul Winter Consort more than a decade ago). That first feature album was "Free as a Bird," essentially her solo debut album. And, as that first album came out nearly ten years ago, it's simply been too long "between albums" for this fan. More than reason enough for me to acquire, and then comment on, "Distant Mirrors."

Try as I might, though, I simply am not able to rate "Distant Mirrors" as highly as I did "Free as a Bird" (when it first showed up on its Amazon page some years back). That album-at least in its initial-launch form and track count (about more which later)-was in a class by itself in terms of showcasing the performing capabilities of this remarkable flutist. And, while both albums are studio productions, "Free as a Bird" is truer to what one might expect when seeing Rhonda in concert. (And I have. And she's truly an outstanding performer.) "Distant Mirrors" suffers somewhat by comparison because it is too much of a studio job, with too many track overlays (all of which nonetheless speak to Rhonda's formidable abilities as a multi-instrument musician) to be representative of catching her in a live performance.

Taken as a whole, the Celtic-based tracks on "Distant Mirrors" fare best. "The Boatman" reminds me of Rhonda's earlier "Lament" composition on "Free as a Bird," and that is no small accomplishment, and no faint praise. And "O'Carolan's Concerto," "Lughnasa" and "Nova Scotia Farewell" clearly showcase her technical skills on flutes and whistles of all varieties (and other instruments as well), and her taste in adapting Celtic themes to fit her style and her band. "The Way of the River" is based on an earlier Paul Halley tune, and (probably) as a result of these roots, comes across as a very accomplished composition. "Anantarvio," based on a Bobby McFerrin tune, is interesting and well done (and performed).

The rest of the album, in my opinion, fares less well. "Montana" (a tune written for Rhonda by Halley quite a few years back) fares much better on "Spanish Angel" (a Paul Winter Consort album recorded live, when the Consort had been on tour in Spain). The remainder of the tracks have a sameness to them that simply doesn't hold my interest to the extent that "Free as a Bird," as a concept album, does. And, while Rhonda's "Ventus" band are all accomplished musicians, they don't rise to the level of the musicians who sessioned on that earlier album, most particularly Halley and Jordan Rudess on keyboards, the "triple threat" of Glen Velez, Jamey Haddad and Gordon Gottlieb on percussion, and David Darling on cello. That band simply provided a much more varied array of instruments and timbres as compared to Ventus.

"Free as a Bird" remains my first choice for those interested in Rhonda Larson. It isn't easy to find in CD form. The current Amazon-listed CD is slightly different than when it was initially released: Two tracks have been eliminated from the earlier release, and the remainder of the tracks have been rearranged in an order that is not nearly as appealing as the original had been. And one of the two eliminated tracks ("Hodie Christus," a Paul Halley arrangement of the famous Gregorian chant) had been one of my favorite tracks on that CD. Fortunately, though, the original 13-track CD is available at Rhonda's website, rhondalarson.com. Worth a side trip!

In the meantime, "Distant Mirrors" serves as a readily-accessible means for experiencing this multi-talented musician. I'm sure you'll be hankering for more, once you listen to it.

It is nice, by the way, to read the acknowledgements of thanks that Rhonda includes in the booklet notes, and to see that she never fails to attribute a major part of her new-found instrumental voice to Paul Winter, about whom she was quoted as saying, well over a decade ago, about his skill in bringing out this voice from a once-classical flutist, "For the first time, I played my flute from somewhere inside. I'll never forget it."

Bob Zeidler

It doesn't get any better than this on the flute!.......2003-10-21

I'm not one to write reviews, but I have been inspired to write, spurred on from the previous review about Rhonda's "classically trained" style. In fact, I don't believe the Irish Leprechan himself (James Galway) would be playing the flute with more aliveness than Rhonda does. This woman plays from the soul. (Is it possible that classical flutists are not used to this?) The only other way to put it is that this music and playing moves me in my deepest depths. I, for one, have not heard any flute playing that touches me more deeply, nor did I think the flute "could".
By the way, my wife reluctantly agrees with me on this....another milestone by Ms. Larson!

Average customer rating:

Free As a Bird (Earth Sea Records)

Manufacturer: EARTH SEA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00094H7EY

Product Description

1. Peregrine 2. Loner Song 3. Maskell's Harbor 4. Lament 5. Rhuah Returns 6. Movin' On 7. Adoro Te 8. Ekkaleo 9. Vocalise 10. Bach in a Minute 11. Alleluias

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Vol. 64-Jazz in the Charts-1941

1. Sweet Simplicity (Larson)
2. Santa Maria (13th cent. Galician/Larson)
3. Anantarivo (Bobby McFerrin)
4. Armenian Allure (Trad. Armenian/Larson)
5. Creator (Larson/Kimberling)
6. The Boatman (Trad. Celtic/Larson
7. Be Still My Soul (Larson)
8. Slow Tears (Larson)
9. The Way of the River (Larson/Halley)
10. Montana (Halley)
11. The Gift (Larson)
12. O'Carolan's Concert (O'Carolan/Larson)
13. Lughnasa (Larson)
14. Nova Scotia Farewell (Trad. Celtic/Larson)
15. Distant Mirrors (Trad. Sufi/14th cent. Montserrat/Larson)