Stock: 
Format: 
Release Date: 25-01-1995
Label: Silver Wave Records
Catalog Number: SD809
Barcode: 21585080928
Musical Style: Native American
Track Listing:
| Disc 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Messenger | 6 | Woman's Dance |
| 2 | Circle of Friendship | 7 | Dance of the North |
| 3 | When Eyes Meet | 8 | Life Blood |
| 4 | Path of Beauty | 9 | Messenger Reprise |
| 5 | Song of Union | ||
Review:
'...emerges as a Native American version of Enya...' - Billboard Magazine
Description:
The beautiful voice of Joanne Shenandoah, along with Peter Kater's exquisite grand piano and synthesizer performances are further enhanced with shakuhachi, bass, guitar and percussion.
Life Blood is a seminal recording, bridging the rich heritage of one of America's foremost Native recording artists with the genius of one of this country's leading pianists and composers. These ancient Iroquois melodies have a spine-tingling presence.
Biography:
Joanne Shenandoah is a Wolf Clan member of the Oneida Nation - Iroquois Confederacy. She is the daughter of Maisie Shenandoah, a Clanmother and the late Clifford Shenandoah, an Onondaga chief and jazz guitarist. Her parents had a deep love for music, encouraging Joanne to study voice, flute, piano, clarinet, guitar and cello. Joanne's talent combined with her beautiful, clear voice enable her to embellish the ancients' songs of the Iroquois using a blend of traditional and contemporary instrumentation. After spending 14 years as a computer programmer and consultant in Washington, DC, Shenandoah became close with the tribal elders and her extended family who reaquainted her with the stories and songs of her people, which prompted a personal artistic reawakening in 1989. Since then Joanne Shenandoah has won several musical achievement awards, most recently she received Best Female Artist at both the 1999 AND 1998 Native American Music Awards and in 1997 she was recognized as a Native American Woman of Hope.
Ms. Shenandoah has drawn upon her rich heritage in establishing a reputation as one of America's foremost native recording artists. Her music reflects the indigenous philosophy and culture which continues to have a profound effect on the world today. She has performed and recorded with many accomplished musicians in Europe and America, most recently Neil Young. From traditional chants to contemporary ballads of Native ways, her music has been described as an emotional experience, a Native American trance.
Aside from her 1994 appearance at the Woodstock Festival, Shenandoah has appeared on and created sound tracks for numerous television shows, most notably Northern Exposure. She performed recently at the White House, during a ceremony to dedicate a sculpture to the people of the United States by Apache artist Allan Houser.
Ms. Shenandoah is the co-founder and president of Round Dance Productions, a non-profit educational Native operated foundation dedicated toward the preservation of Iroquois culture. Round Dance has begun to initiate activities which will result in the creation of a Native American traditional music archive, performing arts center and recording studio.
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