The Magical Journeys of Andreas Vollenweider
A pioneer in the world of harp performance, Andreas Vollenweider is a world musician in the truest sense of the word.  Blending elements from the classical, jazz, Eastern, world, and new age music genres, this self-described storyteller utilizes a modified harp and original, often highly improvisational music to communicate with listeners not only on an artistic level, but on emotional and intuitive levels; striving to inspire a thoughtfulness that will impact a listener's very perception of themselves and the larger world.  The PBS programThe Magical Journeys of Andreas Vollenweiderfeatures 25 years of live concert performances by Andreas Vollenweider from such far-reaching places as Switzerland, Tokyo, Montreux, Poland, New York and Germany.  Showcasing his talent on harp as well as piano, vocals, gu-cheng, kora, and clay flute, Vollenweider is equally effective whether backed by a small jazz combo, a Chinese orchestra, or a full symphonic orchestra and in venues as diverse as outdoor amphitheatres, intimate indoor theatres, or full size concert halls.  Guest artists abound featuring everything from pop singer Carly Simon, to Armenian duduk player Djivan Gasparyan and jazz piano great Abdullah Ibrahim.   What remains consistent through every performance is the intense expressiveness of Vollenweider's music.  A man of many musical images and few words, the bonus documentary features Andreas Vollenweider's story of what music means to him, of his approach to musical storytelling and a history of how his musical journey has been influenced by family, musicians from other cultures, poetry, emotion, intuition, and a desire to communicate across social and cultural boundaries.  Other bonus features include three music videos and over 100-minutes of concert specials including the 1987Down to the Moonin Tokyo Japan, 2001The Cosmopoly Projectin Basle Switzerland, 1999Wolkensteinin Zurich Switzerland, and 2001Tales of Kira Kutanin Warsaw Poland.--Tami Horiuchi