01	Voices						04:38
	02	Mountain Chant						05:47
	03	On Eagle's Wings						07:06
	04	Anasazi Visions						03:25
	05	Evensong						05:03
	06	Water Bearer						03:00
	07	White Shell Dreams						05:08
	08	Light Waves						03:24
	09	Shadow Dance						02:53
	10	Ritual I						05:56
	11	Ritual II						04:10
	12	Continuum						02:55

Sundance Season
Date of Release 1987

Sundance Season is acoustic ambience of the highest order. The CD features R. Carlos Nakai on the Native American flute and chants. Stephen Hill (of Hearts of Space fame) recorded the album at the Lindisfarne Chapel in Crestone, CO, from July 10 to July 13, 1987. The only electric devices are the recording and amplifying equipment. The acoustics of the hall provide a subtle echo that "processes" the flute and voice. Nakai is one of the leading practitioners of this style. In his hands, the flute takes on space music qualities. This disc will appeal to fans of Douglas Spotted Eagle, Robert Tree Cody, Little Wolf Band, and Coyote Oldman. - Jim Brenholts

1. Voices (Nakai) - 4:36
2. Mountain Chant (Nakai) - 5:36
3. On Eagle's Wings (Nakai) - 6:55
4. Anasazi Visions (Nakai) - 3:17
5. Evensong (Nakai) - 4:54
6. Water Bearer (Nakai) - 3:06
7. White Shell Dreams (Nakai) - 5:10
8. Light Waves (Nakai) - 3:20
9. Shadow Dance (Nakai) - 2:55
10. Ritual I (Nakai) - 5:50
11. Ritual II (Nakai) - 4:10
12. Continuum (Nakai) - 2:47

R. Carlos Nakai - Liner Notes
Stephen Hill - Producer, Engineer
John Running - Photography
Ruby McFarland - Liner Notes, Project Coordinator
Aldo Ricchiero - Design, Illustrations

CD Celestial Harmonies 13024
1992 CS Celestial Harmonies 13024
Celestial Harmonies CEZ-024



Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Nineteen eighty-seven's Sundance Season was released at the height of Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai's creative powers and is the first of two recordings done at Lindisfarne Mountain Retreat in Colorado (the other being Desert Dance). While Desert Dance is a solid representation of Nakai's diverse talents, Sundance Season emits a more inspired, alive energy, perhaps due to the Sun Dance festival that took place near Lindisfarne during recording time. Nakai's flute meditations on this collection emote relaxing, centered prayer while his chant and gentle, low drumming seamlessly blend in an added ancient dimension. Particular standouts include "White Shell Dreams" with its cleansing sounds of a fresh rain shower and the Tibetan bell on "Ritual I" and "Ritual II," uniquely bringing forth a peaceful awakening. The solo on the eagle-bone whistle mixed with Nakai's lovely baritone voice provide a pure, golden finish. One of Nakai's best. --Karen Karleski



the project
The Sun Dance ritual is the subject for R. Carlos Nakai's Sundance Season. The Sun Dance celebrates and honors man's relationship with Mother Earth. Nakai explains that tribal dancers in the ritual are encouraged to concentrate on their reasons for dancing and to meditate on the orderliness of life. Nakai's original melodies arise from the themes of the sacred traditions: On Eagle's Wings, (meditations on the scintillating flight of the golden eagle), Light Waves, (recurring phenomenon of light refracting through water droplets, manifesting as rainbow paths), and Water Bearer (reaffirming the essence of life upon this small dust speck orbiting a very small star). The inspired playing by Nakai of the wooden flute, together with vocal chanting, drumming, and the lonely sound of the eagle bone whistle, brings to life this celebration of creation.

the artist
R. Carlos Nakai has explored and developed the relationship between established and new musical ideas for the Native American wooden flute. Classically trained on the trumpet, Nakai has nevertheless always been involved in the music and culture of his Navajo people. He has become accomplished on the siyotanka, the Lakota name for the wooden flute. Nakai has studied and lived with many different Native American tribes, adapting their musical traditions to his own style. He represented the Native Americans at the Magic Flute Festival in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has performed at galleries, schools, museums, and festivals. A visual artist and teacher, Nakai works with the Arizona Commission on the Arts.



R. Carlos Nakai

Tucson-based multi-instrumentalist R. Carlos Nakai is a Native-American musician and cultural anthropologist of Navajo-Ute descent. Though he received classical training on the trumpet, his numerous recordings consist primarily of resonant solo performances of Native-American flute improvisations with a judicious use of synthesizers, chanting, and nature sounds. Nakai only occasionally features arrangements of traditional melodies from various tribes; instead, he is primarily concerned with creating original compositions that capture the essence of his heritage in highly personalized ways. In addition to his solo recordings, Nakai has had the opportunity to create new avenues of expression for the Native American flute through collaborations with various artists over the years, including the ethnic jazz band Jackalope, keyboardist Peter Kater, contemporary classical composer James DeMars, and multi-instrumentalist William Eaton. - Linda Kohanov


1983 Changes, Vol. 1 Canyon
1985 Cycles, Vol. 2 Canyon
1986 Journeys, Vol. 3 Canyon
1987 Earth Spirit Canyon
1987 Sundance Season Celestial
1988 Carry the Gift Canyon
1989 Desert Dance Celestial
1989 Canyon Trilogy, Vol. 5 Canyon
1990 Winter Dreams for Christmas Canyon
1992 Emergence, Vol. 6 Canyon
1992 Ancestral Voices Canyon
1993 Boat People Canyon
1994 Island of Bows Canyon
1995 Feather, Stone & Light Canyon
1996 Kokopelli's Cafe Canyon
1997 Two World Concerto Canyon
1997 Carlos Nakai Canyon
1998 Winds of Devotion: Earthsea Healing Series Earthsea
1998 Big Medicine Canyon
1999 Inner Voices Canyon
2000 Ancient Future Canyon
2000 In a Distant Place Canyon
2001 Edge of the Century Canyon
2002 Fourth World Canyon
2002 Enter>>Tribal Canyon Records
Emergence: Songs of the Rainbow World Canyon
Spirit Horses (Concerto for Native American... Canyon