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The Native Rhythms Festival organizing committee is currently in the process of selecting performers for the 2010 festival. As agreement is reached with our outstanding performer cast, their photos and biographical information will be posted here. Check back often. 

Autumn's Child
featuring Mark Holland

www.autumnschild.com

Mark Holland is considered by many authorities on the Native American Flute to be among the top flutists performing and recording today. Leader and founder of Autumn’s Child, Mark Holland has been called, "the Jimi Hendrix of the Native American Flute". His unique approach and usage of the flute along with his technical skills brings about such comparisons. Holland has described his project Autumn’s Child as Global Chamber Music; a hybrid of world, jazz, classical and folk styles. Through Autumn’s Child, Holland showcases the versatility of the Native American Flute, creating a new acoustic instrumental fusion, an eclectic sound that is truly one of a kind. Mark Holland started Autumn’s Child in 1995. He began his publishing and record label, Cedar n Sage Music in 1997. He has recorded 16 CDs to date.

Holland has a B.A. in Music from the University of Missouri where he studied with two members of the Saint Louis Symphony. Mark Holland is known for his unique soulful style of "playing from the heart". Holland has been a featured artist at a number of prestigious music festivals, including:

The International Native American Flute Association (INAFA) conventions in Kent, Ohio; Taos, New Mexico; Belmont, California; and Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Musical Echoes Flute and Art Festival in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Zion Canyon Flute and Art Festival in Zion Canyon National Park, Utah
Potomac Native Flute Festival in Rockville, Maryland
Yosemite Flute Festival in Oakhurst, California
Magic Valley Flute Festival in Filer, Idaho
Native Rhythms  Flute Festival in Melbourne, Florida
Flower Mound Native Flute Retreat in Texas
Chippewa Valley Flute Retreat in Michigan
Oklahoma Native Flute Festival in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Sunwatch Flute Festival in Dayton, Ohio. 

Holland has recorded some tracks for a future PBS documentary, "Redemption Road". He appeared as a guest on Capitol recording artist Chris Ledoux’s CD, "Horsepower". 

The music of Autumn’s Child has been played on NPR, PRI, JPR and Satellite Radio stations including Sirius/XM and Hearts of Space as well as various community and internetstations. Mark's Music has also been played on Jet Blue, Frontier and Air Tran airlines.

Holland has shared the stage with such diverse artists as R. Carlos Nakai, Mary Youngblood, Bill Miller, Oregon, The Rippingtons, Acoustic Alchemy, Jesse Cook, David Lanz, Tingstad & Rumbel, among others. 

Mark also tours regularly with Peter Mayer’s "Stars & Promises" concert series in addition to other performances and recordings including Peter’s Beatles Tribute project.

Most recently, Mark was a nominee for the Indian Summer Music Award in the Native Spirit category at the 2009 Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee.

To find out more about Mark Holland, please visit http://www.autumnschild.com.

To find out more about N. Scott Robinson, please visit http://www.nscottrobinson.com.

BOOKINGS: windnfire1@gmail.com

Autumn's Child to Debut New CD at Native Rhythms

Mark Holland has notified us that Autumn's Child will debut their new CD, called Balance (see cover image above) at this year's Native Rhythms Festival. Please join us and be among the first to take home this latest achievement by Mark and his ensemble.

The Jeff Ball Band

www.jeffball.net 

The current incarnation of the Jeff Ball Band has been in the making for 15 years. The musicians knew of each other through the diverse local music scene in the Washington, D.C. area, supporting each others' endeavors in the past and crossing paths along the way in the studio, clubs, and festivals. All band members have released their own works in different genres. They formed the current band because they felt compelled to collaborate to produce a distinctive energy in blending their musical styles into a near-mystical sound. 

The band, simply deciding to use their flutist/front man's name, wanted to build a tasteful bridge between the tonal emotions and spiritual melodies projected by the Native American flute and the modern world to yield a more contemporary style. By exploring the boundaries of the flute, the group has achieved that without forsaking the haunting, stilling sound of the flute as the focus of the orchestration. 

Band personnel: Jeff Ball (Native American flute); Greg Dillon (guitar); Randy Ball (bass and synth pads); N. Scott Robinson (percussion) 

Jeff Ball

Jeff Ball was first exposed to the American Indian Flute while attending a Powwow in Baltimore, D in 1993. Though given some basic instruction from a Choctaw named Windtamer, he is largely self-taught. "I am often asked what kind of music I play, to which I respond: 'I don't know. It's music that I like. I've been told there are two kinds of music, good and bad, I try to make the former.'" Jeff was honored with a Native American Music Awards nomination for best flutist of the year in 1998, and his album Cedar Moon won it's category in 2001. The band’s most recent album “Ghost Town” is a finalist in the Indian Summer Music Award’s Native Spirit category. 

New Jeff Ball Band CD Release at Native Rhythms Reception

The Native Rhythms Festival organizing committee is excited to announce that Jeff and his band will release their new, currently unnamed, CD at our performer/vendor reception on Thursday evening, November 11th. Jeff and his guitarist Greg Dillon will be on hand to perform some numbers from the new release, and to share refreshments with our visitors. This event is open to all, so be sure to come by to meet and visit with our all of our performers and vendors, and share in the festivities. We look forward to seeing you there.

 

Michael Graham Allen

www.coyoteoldman.com

I am Michael Graham Allen. I have been a flutemaker for almost 30 years and a professional recording artist since 1986. I have been heavily involved in the re-introduction of ancient flutes since the 1970s. 

Each flute I make is performance quality, the tuning is right, the tone is beautiful, and the flutes are very playable. I use only excellent quality aromatic red cedar finely finished and detailed. This has been my art and profession for decades. I have stayed in business by treating people right. 

You should make a web search on both Coyote Oldman and on my name: Michael Graham Allen. You will find that I am well established in the world of Native American style Flutes and music. 

My web site was the first Indian Flute web site and continues to be a trusted source for flutes and music. And I still love to make flutes.

Dock Green Silverhawk

www.dockgreensilverhawk.com

www.silverhawkflutegathering.com

Dock Green Silverhawk's life with the flute began many years ago as he was being transported to life saving open-heart surgery and went into cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death. While in this state he went into the "white light", and had a near-death experience and vision. His life was forever changed.

Dock is of Creek and Cherokee blood and three months after leaving the hospital his wife Cindy took him to his first Indian powwow to learn more about his heritage. There the Lord led him to the Native American flute. A year later he began using the flute in the same hospital as a chaplain and uses the medicine of the flute and power of prayer in the Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Critical Care Unit at Tampa General Hospital. Today Silverhawk is considered a pioneer of using the flute in this manner and is requested at other hospitals as well as TGH.

His ministry has been featured on local Tampa Bay television NBC, CBS, FoxTV, PBS and national NBC NEWS. He has also been featured in the Tampa Tribune, St Pete Times, and local radio stations.

Silverhawk is the founder and spiritual leader of the American Indian Christian Circle of Thonotosassa, Fl., one of the first churches of it's kind in the country. He is a co-founder and Chairman of CONAM (Committee On Native American Ministries) of The United Methodist Conference of Florida. He is a co-founder of the annual CONAM Spiritual Gathering in Leesburg, Fl. Dock is also the founder, with Mike Knight's help, of Silverhawk Native American Flute Gathering, an annual event.

Dock has the distinction of being the first place winner of the flute playing competition of the first Musical Echoes. The second year he was asked to be the chaplain and a judge at these competitions and still serves in this capacity now. He recently had the extreme honor of being asked to represent the American Indian people of the Tampa Bay area and lead off the grand opening ceremonies with prayer and flute songs for the Tampa Bay History Center.

More recently, Dock was voted "Artist of the Year" for 2009 by the Greater Brandon Arts Council, the first Native American and the first non-visual artist to win this award.

Silverhawk also plays and speaks at numerous events and churches as well as hospitals and federal prisons.

Dock's life wish is to continue to be used by Creator and His Son to bring peace, comfort, and healing to those in great need through the power of prayer and medicine of the flute. "I pray He continues opening doors for me to serve Him, and uses me until He calls me home".

Clint Goss

www.clintgoss.com

Performing artist, Clint Goss, melds a wide array of world instruments to create organic, improvisational, "Ethnic Fusion" music. His particular blend of world instruments is a result of his early experience on the clarinet, his encounter with the Native American Flute, and extensive experience traveling and performing around the world. His performances weave rhythms and melodies from many musical heritages to create music that is deeply respectful of the cultures that created the instruments he plays.

In 2003, Clint and his wife, Vera, began facilitating music workshops for Native American Flute players. Clint earned a certificate in music facilitation from the Music for People organization, founded by cellist David Darling, and now facilitates weekend and full-week workshops.

Clint performs on the Native American Flute, Indian Bansuri, African Kalimba, Slovakian Fujara and Koncovka, Indian Shruti box, Swiss Hang Drum, and a variety of world percussion instruments including African Djembe and Udu. He has performed and recorded on five continents, both solo and in a wide range of musical ensembles. His collaborations have included artists Randy Brody and the Global Rhythm Group, Catherine Marie Charlton and the CMC Trio, Jim Parker at the famous Nashville song venue The Bluebird, Ron Kravitz of Music in the Moment, David Darling, Peter Phippen, Ash Dargan, Zambian Reggae artist Mathew Tembo, Marrakesh Gnawa musician Youssef Mestauri, Choctaw flutist Don Zimbelman, and Adelante, with members J. Jody Janetta and Paul Mimlitsch.

He has recently collaborated with renowned bluegrass artist Eric Miller and vocalist Lynn Miller to form the SpiritGrass ensemble. In 2006, the released the SpiritGrass CD on the Manifest Spirit Label.

Jan Seiden & Nelson Rios

www.janseiden.com

Join National award-winning musician Jan Seiden to experience the soulful eloquence of Native American flutes.  

A 2006 recipient of an Individual Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council and First place winner of the 2002 Musical Echoes Native American flute national competition, Seiden has performed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and many other concert stages across the U.S. both as a solo artist and sharing stages with several Grammy-winners.  

Ms. Seiden has presented at numerous federal agencies, including the Dept. of Justice and DEA, where she was keynote speaker.  Jan shares the healing power of the flute with audiences at national conferences and medical institutions and has appeared on CNN Headline News / Comcast and on Maryland Public TV for her healing work with the flute.  Her work with Washington, DC inner city youth was funded by a grant in 2005 from the National Endowment for the Arts and Washington, DC Arts Initiative.  

Immediately captivating, Jan's sweet phrases and flawless technique transport listeners to an inner tranquil state, a journey of imagination and healing that endures far beyond the performance itself.

Most recently, Jan was a nominee for the Indian Summer Music Award in the Native Spirit category at the 2009 Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee and for the 2009 Native American Music Association (NAMMY) award in the Native Heart category.

Nelson Rios is a world-music percussionist who has played back-up for Carlos Santana, as well as Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine who now backs up Jan's flutes.

Ed WindDancer

www.edwinddancer.com

Ed WindDancer, dancer, flutist and educator, is a Nanticoke Indian who was born and raised on the eastern shore of Maryland in a family and culture that has a very close and unique relationship with the land. "We hunted, fished, and grew crops for our well being and, in growing up this way, learned how to live with our animal brothers and sisters and all the wonderful creatures belonging to our Mother Earth and Father Sky. Nanticoke Elders are beautiful people who taught me the precious things of our native culture."

While a member of the U.S. Military, Ed was president of an American Indian dance group that toured the Hawaiian Islands. He has successfully performed before audiences in Europe and across the United States where his gifts as a flutist, dancer, and educator continue to keep him in demand as a presenter at schools and at cultural and civic events. "I use my gifts from Creator to educate people and have dedicated my life to this path."

A highly regarded musician and head dancer at many Pow Wows, Ed has the honor of being adopted into a Lakota family, the Medicines of Wakpala, South Dakota.

Randy Granger

www.randygranger.net

New Mexico native Randy Granger is an award-winning Native American flutist, composer, singer-songwriter, performing and recording artist who blends his multi-cultural background into a genre of music he calls “Southwest Americana.” 

He has been profiled on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered for his music on the ethereal Hang drum, a melodic steel percussion instrument from Switzerland and is in demand as a performer and session musician and is included on the INAFA Compilation CD “Clear Water Reflections.” A full-time touring artist he has played at many festivals including; The Sundance Festival, Casa Grande Ruins Festival, INAFA, Zion Canyon Flute Festival, Oklahoma Flute Festival, Musical Echoes, Gathering of Nations and is the subject of a film and numerous print and radio features. 

Randy was one of four of our 2009 Native Rhythms Festival headliners to be nominated for an Indian Summer Music Award at the last September 11-13 Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ISMAs are determined by "blind judging" and therefore are based solely on the live performance of the contestants. Randy won the award in the "Flute" category, a category that included three-time GRAMMY winner Mary Youngblood and JJ Kent, this year's Native American Music Awards (NAMMY) award winner as Flutist of the Year.

His CD “A Place Called Peace” is a nominee for “Best Native American Album” by broadcasters worldwide and NewAgeReporter.com. His music is heard on Hearts of Space, Mystic Soundscapes, NativeRadio.com and many other radio, satellite and internet programs. Randy is a Native American Music Awards nominee and winner of several New Mexico Music Commission awards. He has shared the stage with such noted musicians as R. Carlos Nakai, Michael Graham Allen, Peter Phippen, Mark Holland, Skip Healey and others. 

Randy is a “Mestizo” and claims Mayan (Chol), Athabaskan and Apache ancestry. He lives in southwestern New Mexico’s Rio Grande Valley.

We are excited to have Randy back at Native Rhythms Festival again in 2010.

 

Jonny Lipford

jonnylipford.com

What does it mean to think "flute outside the box?" Jonny Lipford takes an age old instrument and uses it to create not only the traditional sounds, but also sounds that are new and not commonly linked to the Native American style flute - a voice all his own.  In every song you hear, you'll experience the unbridled passion of an individual who has experienced far more than many people his age.  Jonny's innate sense of composition and mature understanding of melody touches the soul. Jonny's hands play out melodies that are uniquely pure, invoking a variety of emotions that will warm your heart and leave you astonished at his musical technique. Whether it be a jazzy beat, spirited tune or a heartfelt ballad that you desire, you will surely be satisfied. 

Today Jonny Lipford, who started his musical journey at the young age of 13, continues to shares his music with audiences across the United States and broadcasts world wide.  Lipford has been featured on NativeRadio.com, the worlds largest collection of broadcasted Native music, as Spotlight Artist with the debut of his first release. As a composer of his own original music, Jonny has been recognized as a two time NAMA Nominee, ISMA and JPF Nominee and NEMA Winner. Along his journey, he has shared the stage with many notable musicians including Mary Youngblood, Mark Holland, Jeff Ball, Arvel Bird and Michael DeMaria.  Most will find it hard to believe that one so young could have mastered the flute so perfectly. With a love and respect for all types of music, Jonny awakens these genres, making him a true virtuoso in this industry.

Jonny honored us in 2009 by selecting the Native Rhythms Festival to launch his third and latest CD, Turn the Page.

Mistress of Ceremony
Chante Ishta

Chante Ishta hosted Florida's own Native American cultural radio show, Two Worlds, on WMNF 88.5 FM, between 2000 and 2008.

Chante Ishta is a much sought after Mistress of Ceremony for Native American music events. Some of these events include:

Musical Echoes (Ft. Walton Beach, FL)
Silverhawk Flute Festival (Dade City, FL)
The Green Frog Moon Festival
Native Rhythms Festival (Melbourne, FL)

Chante Ishta was a presenter at the 2005 and 2006 Native American Music Awards, and was a judge and presenter at the 2006 Indian Summer Music Awards.

In addition to what she is best known for, Chante Ishta is also a singer and a songwriter. Her current CD is entitled It All Begins With a Prayer.

 

 

Featured Native Rhythms Performers

Billy Whitefox

www.billywhitefox.com

Billy Whitefox Stall is a Native American of the Southeastern Muskogee Creeks. As a tribal dancer in men's traditional dance Billy won many awards. He then began teaching tribal dance to youth and in 1985, was gifted his first flute by a student's father. It was a cedar flute given to him by Quana Parker, Jr., and of course this changed his life. With his interest now focused on tribal flute music, he sought knowledge from his Uncle Clyde concerning rivercane flutes.

He played his Native American Flute Music and made his Old-Style Rivercane Flutes for the next few years, until in 1998 he released his first professional CD, "Sacred Journey".

Billy was made Vice-Chief of the Red Heart Clan of Alabama in 2003, a significant event and great honor in his life. In 2009, Billy was asked to join the Southeastern Elders Council and was re-appointed by Governor Crist to his 3rd consecutive term as a Florida State Commissioner on Human Relations.

In 2005 Billy was awarded Flutist of the Year, winning that year's Native American Music Award or NAMA with the release of his second disk, entitled "When the Wind Sings".

Billy shares his Creek ancestry through international recordings of Native American flute music and storytelling. He enjoys touring the country sharing his music and stories of his heritage. Billy Whitefox is also a national champion Flute Maker, well known for his old-style techniques in making rivercane flutes.

Keith Davis

www.keithdavis.com

When you hear Keith play you will hear a mixture of Native  American, Blues, Gypsy, playing two flutes at one time  and more.

Keith has performed at Native Rhythms and Musical Echoes. Keith currently has two songs nominated off his CD "FOX" in the "Native Spirit"  category at Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee .  He is honored with being among  Mark Holland, Jeff Ball and Peter Phippen.

Keith also has a YOU TUBE site under the name "oldmanyow" where his videos show "How to Play" many songs like Amazing Grace, Cherokee Morning Song and more. On this site you can hear Keith play many of his "Two  Flute  Songs",  which he will perform at Native Rhythms. This site  gets over 12,000 plays per month. Keith also has a website  http://www.keithdavis.com/  where you can find out more information.

Keith was also the winner of the 2009 Flute playing contest at Musical Echoes.

 

Rae Denton

www.softwindsproductions.com

Rae Denton is a self taught musician with a passion for World Flutes and Percussion. Her discovery of the Native American Flute has opened the world to new friends, places and Spirit. As a full time Hospice Nurse, she shares the joys and peaceful spaces of the sounds of this Creator given instrument with those she cares for.

Rae has created two CD’s, the first a humble home grown production, recorded live in a variety of settings from West Texas to Sedona, AZ in collaboration with her son, Wind Speaks is the sounds of the NAF accompanied by nature.

Her second CD, Sign of Things to Come, was created in a collaboration of planned improv with Paul Warren on guitar. This CD was honored with the 2009 Native Spirit Indian Summer Music Award (ISMA).

Most recently, the song Appalachian Sunrise, from Sign of Things to Come was selected as Nominated in the top 100 of the 11th Annual Great American Songs competition for 2009 in the Acoustic category.

Both are available for purchase or download @ www.softwindsproductions.com

I grew up as the child who was selected to learn to play an instrument provided by the school but could never afford the strings for the violin or reeds for the clarinet. When we moved the instrument was left behind. In Junior High School I joined the choir because that instrument didn’t require strings or reeds and would always be mine, good bad or indifferent. Discovering the sounds of the Native American Flute has brought me more joy and peace than I ever thought possible. It is an honor to be able to share these sounds with others.

Soft Winds Blessings, Rae

Painted Raven

www.painted-raven.com

Painted Raven is a contemporary Native American and World Music duo from Harrisburg, PA.  Their first CD titled “Spirit Journey” features an exciting blend of Native American flute, acoustic guitar, keyboards, and various ethnic percussion instruments, presented in an eclectic variety of  contemporary and World music styles.

David Rose, a lifelong musician of Mexican and Native American heritage, now resides in Elizabethtown, PA. David has recorded two solo CD's entitled, "Kokopelli Songs" and "From The Spirit." Most recently, his flute music was featured on internationally acclaimed Mars Lasar's "Tahoe Spirit." Music from this CD was used in the Jeff Corwin's MSNBC documentary, "100 Heartbeats.”

As a solo performer, David has performed at weddings, art gallery openings, historical venues, libraries, public events, multi-cultural events, charity events, and educational functions. In 2008, he performed as part of the The Gatherings Concert Series in Philadelphia, PA, hosted by Chuck van Zyl, host of Stars End radio program.

David graduated from the Music Technology and Marketing program at Harrisburg Area Community College. He is a recording engineer and works from his studio, "Pandora's Studio," named to honor his beloved cat.

Annette Abbondanza, a native of central Pennsylvania, currently resides in Orlando, FL.  Previously with the band The Legend of Stone Soup, Annette focused her musical talents toward furthering the efforts of various charitable organizations such as Domestic Violence Services, The Food Bank, American Cancer Research, AIDS awareness, and many other urgent causes. 

Expanding on the experience she gained through performing for cancer, AIDS, and other critically ill patients, Annette was inspired to seek out a new direction in musical expression and healing, which resulted in the creation of Ashes to Phoenix - healing music for the mind body and spirit- www.ashes2phoenix.com.

Self-taught on guitar, keyboards, Native American flute and many other instruments, Annette has written, recorded and produced several of her own CDs, as well as many other recording projects for several other area artists and youth.  She has performed  at the Hershey Theater for the live broadcast of the PBS radio production “The Chords are Stacked” and performed at many regional arts and music festivals.  Her music has been aired on Public Radio’s “Echoes” with John DiLiberto, The River WRVV 97.3 FM, and other local broadcasts.

Annette is currently working with nature photographer and author, Mark Renz (FloridaTimeForgot.com), in the production of a Florida Wildlife series, which will feature her original compositions on Native American Flute and guitar.  Pre-released musical excerpts from the wildlife series can be found on YouTube.com.

David and Annette are currently working on their new Painted Raven CD titled “Mirage” and an accompanying music video featuring one of the new songs from the new CD.  The release date is expected to be November 2010.  Painted Raven also appears on MySpace.com and YouTube.com.

For more information about Painted Raven, please visit their website at www.painted-raven.com.

Ed Eliason

www.good2groove.com

Ed Eliason is a multi-percussionist, music educator and professional drum circle facilitator, who has lived in Brevard County since 1980. During the course of his 50+ year professional performing career, he has studied and played every facet of popular and classical music, plus jazz and world music. In recent years, he has become an increasingly popular facilitator of rhythm-based events for health and wellness, educational and therapeutic applications. Ed is extremely proud of his “Good2Groove World Rhythm Ensemble”, which involves from three to six percussionists, ranging in age from seven to seventy-eight, who play a total of 100 or more different percussion instruments.

For local visitors to Native Rhythms, Ed has been hosting a free community drum circle on the beach at Satellite Beach's Pelican Park on Hwy A1A, the third Saturday of each month between 7:00 and 9:00 PM. The evening breezes have been absolutely wonderful all summer. Beginners are always welcome.

Ed does not yet have a CD, but one is in the works and he hopes to have it available for release at Native Rhythms.

Please send questions or comments regarding this website to webmaster@nativerhythmsfestival.com.