After providing Rough Guides for everything from reggae, salsa and flamenco to the music of South Africa, Eastern Europe and Brazil, the World Music Network's excellent Rough Guide series turned its attention to Native American music with this 18-song CD. Assembled in 1998, The Rough Guide to Native American Music isn't meant to be the last word on Native American culture, but it does offer an interesting, exciting variety of music by Native Americans. "Variety" is definitely the key word for this compilation, which ranges from the traditional to the contemporary. Some of the disc's more traditional offerings include R. Carlos Nakai's "Cleft in the Sky," Primeaux & Mike's "Healing Song," Peter Garcia & the Garcia Brothers' "Basket Dance" and the late Ed Lee Natay's "Sacred Mask Dance" (which was recorded in 1951). On other selections, you'll find Native Americans embracing everything from folk-pop (Joanne Shenandoah's "Tekanatsyaslitha" and Sharon Burch's "Sacred Wind") and Mexican ranchero music (Southern Scratch's "Cuatro Vidas Polka") to hardcore rap (Without Rezervation's "Are You Ready for W.O.R.?"). The latter is quite compelling, bringing to mind the searing political commentary of Public Enemy; "Are You Ready for W.O.R.?" finds Oakland rappers Without Rezervation pulling no punches as they rail against the oppression that Native Americans have suffered. Again, this collection isn't meant to be the last word on Native American music (for example, it contains nothing by Kevin Locke, an adventurous flute player from North Dakota). The collection only scratches the surface, and that surface is a very inviting one. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist:
1 Chester Mahooty – Zuni Sunrise Song 2:25
Written-By – Mahooty
2 Walela – Cherokee Morning Song 4:31
Arranged By – Laura Satterfield, Priscilla Coolidge, Rita Coolidge
3 Sharon Burch – Sacred Wind 5:05
Written-By – Burch
4 Primeaux & Mike – Healing Song 3:23
Written-By – Primeaux/Mike
5 Southern Scratch – Cuatro Vidas Polka 4:09
Written-By – Southern Scratch
6 Judy Trejo – Doazi Tumbi 2:00
Arranged By – Trejo
Written-By – Trad Shoshone
7 The Garcia Brothers – Basket Dance 6:34
Written-By – The Garcia Brothers
8 R. Carlos Nakai – Cleft In The Sky 3:02
Written-By – R Carlos Nakai
9 Robert Tree Cody & Rob Wallace W. Will Clipman – White Buffalo 4:42
Written-By – Rob Wallace (4), Robert Tree Cody, Will Clipman
10 Without Rezervation – Are You Ready For W.O.R.? 3:46
Music By – Chris LaMarr
Words By – Nick Peace
11 Cornel Pewewardy & The Alliance West Singers – Kiowa Hymn 2:16
Written-By – Cornel Pewewardy
12 Joanne Shenandoah – Tekanatsyaslitha 4:00
Arranged By – Joanne Shenandoah, Tom Wasinger
13 Blackstone Singers – Victory Song 2:42
Arranged By – Blackstone Singers
Written-By – Trad Cree
14 Black Lodge Singers – Mickey Mouse 3:46
Written-By – Elgin Scabby Robe, Kenny Scabby Robe
15 R. Carlos Nakai & William Eaton W. Black Lodge Singers – Many Flags 4:50
Written-By – R Carlos Nakai, Robert Doyle, William Eaton
16 Burning Sky – Native Funk 4:12
Written-By – Aaron White, Kelvin Bizahaloni, Michael Bannister
17 Ed Lee Natay – Sacred Mask Dance 3:02
Arranged By – Ed Lee Natay
Written-By – Trad Keres
18 Bill Miller – Wind Spirit 2:53
