ALBUMS BY
MICHAEL MANDRELL
ARE LISTED
BELOW | Michael's guitar playing is extraordinary. His tunes are lyrical—the stuff fairy tales are made of. They are slightly jazzy, seductively smooth and consistently beautiful. Deborah Ensor, The Taos News The first time I saw Michael Mandrell playing live, I thought,"how does he do that?" It sounded for all the world as if there were two or three instruments besides his guitar, but it was just Michael. And the melodies just carried you away. Marilyn Rea Beyer, Music Director and Host of Acoustic Images, 91.9 FM (WUMB-FM) Boston, MA Michael Mandrell's music is peaceful, melodic, and sophisticated, the kind of music I love to listen to. His tape is on "permanent rotation" in our home. Eliza Gilkyson He is the most versatile guitar player I've ever encountered and he deserves great success. I have seen him play his unique blend of jazz, folk and classic for hardcore country audiences...what else can I say? Michael Martin Murphey The kind of music that the sun sets to after a busy day...not to be missed. Steve Ryals, New Age Retailer Magazine A nearly tight as air weave of contemporary jazz pieces. Music Design In Review Jazz and world beat sounds to break out of a musical rut. David Steinberg, Albuquerque Journal Michael's blend of Celtic, jazz and New Age music will show you just what a six and twelve string guitar can do in the hands of a real master of the craft. Jenny Bird The music he makes is a wholly instrumental melange that draws its inspiration from any number of disciplines. Folk, Classical, Celtic and New Age elements all find their way into this eclectic contemporary mix. David Prince, The Santa Fe New Mexican
Born and raised in Houston, Michael Mandrell began playing guitar in his early teens. While in high school, he started listening to James Taylor and Dan Fogelberg, and later, Leo Kottke. Today he mentions John Renbourn, Richard Thompson and, most especially, Pierre Bensusan, whose open DADGAD tuning is Mandrell's preferred string setting, also. "I got into performing in a big way after I'd returned to Houston from college in East Texas," he said. "I did a lot of playing at a club called the Anderson Fair, and wound up opening for Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Kate Wolf and John Gorka. I came to New Mexico in 1990 because I felt I needed a change from the city." Much of Mandrell's time at present is taken up with touring as a solo, both in Northern New Mexico and his home state. His current plans call for trips to either coast in the near future.
Michael Mandrell has appeared with: Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Bill Miller, John Gorka, Kate Wolf, Dave Swarbrick/Simon Nichol, Johnny Cunningham, Spyro Gyra, Carl Struck, California Guitar Trio, William Ackerman, Christine Lavine, Robert Mirabal, Shadowfax, Townes Van Zandt and Steve Fromholz. Michael Mandrell plays guitar on Jenny Bird's "Eternal Flight" and Angel's Gift", Eliza Gilkyson's "Through the Looking Glass" and "Taos - The Deepening Edge."
Michael's Guitars:
Custom Padauk 12-String built by Stephen Owsley Smith, Taos, NM
"Picasso" Rosewood Cutaway 6-String and "New Yorker" Rosewood OO 6-String built by Tom Cornett, Bullfrog Mountain Guitars, Nacogdoches, TX.
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 | ANJALI
Instrumental Meditations for Yoga and the Healing Arts In Sanskrit, one of the ancient languages of India, Anjali refers to the gesture of joining the palms in a prayerful position in front of the heart, where inward offerings flow forth into expression. In this same way, music is born. From the deep journey inward to the place where the spark is ignited, music manifests through the musician’s hands into spontaneous expression. Most of this music is created in the moment and recorded live. May it support all who hear it in accessing their inner illumination and offering its beauty to the world. In the spirit of Anjali we offer this music to support the practice of yoga in its full expression of devotion, power, beauty, dynamic stillness and deep relaxation. We are deeply grateful to John Friend and Anusara Yoga for initiating the momentum of this project. Selections
Awakening
Priya (Beloved)
Satya (Truthfulness)
Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)
Eye of the Tiger
The Breath Inside the Breath
Chandra (The Moon)
Chandrika (Moonlight)
The Mystery
Santosa (Contentment)
All selections ©2002 Wolf Cub Music (ASCAP)
Michael Mandrell – 6 and 12 string guitars
Benjy Werthheimer – Esraj, tabla, percussion, vocals, tamboura, keyboards
Michael Stirling – Tamboura
Sarahjoy Marsh – Tamboura
Heather Werthheimer – Vocals
Produced in 2002 by Benjy Werthheimer and Michael Mandrell
Recorded mixed and engineered by Benjy Werthheimer and Michael Mandrell at Wolf Cub Studios, Portland, Oregon.
Mastered by Ryan Foster at Freq Mastering, Portland, Oregon
Manufactured by Riddle Press, Beaverton, Oregon
Front Cover Artwork by Linda Davis Coghill.
Graphic Design by Douglas Byers
Michael Mandrell uses Elixir Strings |
