Compassionate & Wise

products/20352 Join Cyprian and John for an exotic musical journey from the tropical coasts of Africa and Brazil to the heights and depths of the soul. Featuring a playful, richly layered world-music sound, Compassionate and Wise offers 12 new, original songs that explore mystical poetry from around the globe.

Songs exploring mystical poetry from around the world
At turns whimsical and philosophical, surreal and profound, the texts reflect a range of cultures and spiritual traditions, from Hindu to Christian. Poets include St. Thomas Aquinas, Maya Angelou, Frederico García Lorca and the Chinese Buddhist Metta Sutta. Three of the most enchanting songs are set to poems by Hafiz, the great Sufi mystic.

Texts from a variety of cultures and spiritual traditions
The Day Sky presents a striking image of humility, asking Let us be like/ Two falling stars in the day sky/  As we hold hands with God/ And burn. The title track touches on the healing power of unity: Because our hearts are one/ this world of pain turns into paradise./ May all become compassionate and wise.

The latest collaboration by Cyprian and John
Good friends and great musicians, Cyprian and John have worked together on six previous recordings, including Awakening and The Song of Luke. This collaboration features Cyprian on acoustic guitar, lead vocals and, on some tracks, the lute-like tambura. Bassist Bryan Kuban, vocalists John Mareineke and Shannon Frediani, and violinist Mikylah Myers McTeer provide accompaniment.

Features a mind-boggling array of percussion instruments
A percussion virtuoso, John plays a mind-boggling array of instruments here, from finger cymbals to bodhram (Celtic frame drum), from maracas to glockenspiel. Others include the riqq (like a tambourine, used in Arabic music), mbira (a wooden board with staggered metal keys, from Africa), cajón (a box drum, from Peru), crotales (antique cymbals), vibraphone, marimba, and wind chimes. Each adds its distinct voice, rhythm and musical color to the songs.

Toying with mysteries that have puzzled seekers from every age, the music of Compassionate and Wise leads listeners to a serene, otherworldly place, far from the mundane.