Music & More
by Mark Maxwell Abushady • New York City

Never Felt the Sun
by Julie Lavender
One of the advantages of reviewing music submissions for Creations is that, often, song lyrics are very thoughtful and express more complex emotions than most of the standard fare. Julie Lavender’s Never Felt the Sun is amongst those submissions. Her smooth alto jazz vocals are enjoyable on their own, but are even more winning because of the thoughts and feelings expressed. Backed by a fine group of jazz musicians, including Hugh Martin on piano, the bulk of her offerings are composed by this talented singer herself. A great, relaxing, mood setter.

Eagle River
by Dean Evenson and Soundings Ensemble
www.soundings.com
This CD is a standout in the Native American-inspired genre. Offered as “a musical prayer for the health and well-being of all the earth’s rivers and water systems,” the opening cut, River on the Rocks is quite beautiful, with gentle flute, guitar, and river sounds. All cuts flow, as a river, into the next. Eagle Flies High, with a lovely Native American flute duet, is introduced by the sound of eagle calls and the flowing river. A notable ensemble makes this a must have for those who turn to music for refuge, healing, and peace. Dean and Dudley Evenson, successfully translate their love of the river by their Pacific Northwest home into this incredibly beautiful musical offering. And their liner notes were an additional offering of love for this beautiful environment. Of note: the Evensons teach workshops involving the utilization of sound healing principles. The album is presented by Soundings of the Planet / Peace Through Music. Check out their website.

Shavasana – White Swan Yoga Masters Vol. 3
by Various artists
www.sacredmovement.com
The subtitle, “Music for Deep Relaxation and Peace” is apt. Selected by Max Strom, co-founder of Sacred Movement Center for Yoga & Healing, the cuts are varied, yet create, as promised, a deeply relaxing and reflective atmosphere that would be ideal for meditation, healing work, and yoga. Included among the artists are Ranier Tillman, Nada Shakti & Bruce BecVar (who offer their version of the Gayatri Mantra), Jeffrey Koepper, Benjy Wertheimer and Steve Gorn, Jonn Serrie (“Stratos” – a wonderful piece in the “ambient” style), Stellamara (a dreamy, yet Medieval Kyrie Eleison) , Craig Pruess, and Mathew Schreiber.

Nobelity: An independent film by Turk Pipkin
www.montereymedia.com
www.nobelity.org
“When you have kids, the whole world changes. By day, you protect them, by night you reassure them that everything will be okay. But is everything going to be okay? Are we going to leave a better world for future generations, or will this be the time when it all starts to unravel?” So begins Nobelity, an exploration of what are arguably the top problems/issues of our time. Film creator Pipkin goes on to interview 9 Nobel Laureates regarding the topics of global warming, healthcare, landmines, military spending, the need for global understanding, and nuclear proliferation.“They trust me to tell them the truth about the world. But who can I trust? The media? Big business? Politicians? Seems like everyone’s got an agenda. And every year my kids’ questions get harder and harder to answer. What I need is some back-up. Someone who really gets the big picture. And I DO mean big picture.” The film may not be as sensational as those of Michael Moore, nor is there any partisanship here, but precisely because of this, one can hope it will be heard by a larger audience. The common thread here is common sense, and one hears of issues that would be more comfortable to ignore, but which the inner self of most viewers will realize must be hurdled in order for us all to grow, nay survive, as a human family.

Time Passages – Astrology Software Program
Developed by Henry Seltzer
www.astrograph.com

Software creator Henry Seltzer cites his reason for developing this program as a call to provide an inexpensive way for the person interested in astrology to explore the discipline through the creation of charts based on birth data. My approach to reviewing this software included trying to find an answer to the question “Why purchase this software when one can get a free birth chart, along with a basic interpretation, off the internet?” As an educational tool, I believe this software does achieve Mr. Seltzer’s goal. An instruction manual is included, which contains a glossary of most common astrological terms and “meanings” of the planets and houses. One is a bit teased though, by the drop down menus which list many features of interest that are only available in the more complete Standard and Advanced versions. The most valuable program feature is the ability to display current or past transits in an outer wheel, as well as in the side grid, and an explanation of each (though not progressions – these are possible only with the more advanced editions). I feel the value of this software lies both in its functioning as an interactive dictionary of astrological terms, and in the ability for the user to become acquainted with a type of software that is generally expensive, and potentially very idiosyncratic (and thus possibly not to one’s liking), at an affordable price.

Mark Maxwell Abushady is an actor, singer, designer and photographer based in New York City.