Native Healing
The fifth installment in the Sound Healing Series from  Soundings of the Planet,Native Healinglinks label iconDean Evenson(flute, digital horn, keyboard) with Cha-das-ska-dum Which-ta-lum, a  now-deceased spiritual elder of the Lummi Nation in the Pacific  Northwest. Cha-das-ska-dum's chanting, delivered in an earnest  baritone, is the 62-minute disc's most prominent feature, givingNative Healingits unmistakable tribal flavor. Cha-das-ska-dum  adorns his Native American chants with modest ceremonial drumming and a  few embellishments from his wife Marguerite and daughter April (native  flute, voicings). Evenson, aided by guitaristScott Huckabayand  violinist Swil Kanim, frames these elements within serene sound fields,  evoking moods of rumination and relaxation. The formula works best when  Cha-das-ska-dum's voice assumes a more egalitarian role with Evenson,  Huckabay, and Kanim, as occurs on the mystical "Lost Tracks" and the  disc's two concluding selections. Evenson also shines on "Cedar Flute  Love Song," a hushed solo piece that slowly articulates the beauty of  dawn's early light.Native Healinghas a relaxed flowing quality  to it that should appeal to fans of both atmospheric and native music.--Terry Wood