Old Town Center for the Arts ~ Cottonwood, AZ

The Old Town Center for the Arts ~ Cottonwood, AZ

Canyon Records presents Native American Music

Aaron White, Anthony Wakeman
& Andy Gonzales

Saturday, February 13, 7:30 PM
$12 Advance, $15 Door, $12 Seniors

Native American recording label, Canyon Records, will sponsor two upcoming concerts at Old Town Center for the Arts in February and March to showcase three of the leading Native American musicians in Arizona and the world. On Saturday, February 13th, at 7:30 PM Canyon Records brings together guitarist Aaron White and flutist Anthony Wakeman, who will be joined by percussionist Andy Gonzales. On March 13th and 14th Canyon Records will feature the premier Native American flutist in the world, R. Carlos Nakai, who will be joined by harp guitarist William Eaton and percussionist Will Clipman for a special CD release event.

The ‘Noveau Southwest’ collaboration of Aaron White, Anthony Wakeman and Andy Gonzales brings diverse talent and musical exploration to form a synthesis of tradition and modern music. Aaron’s fiery acoustic guitar passages provide the bedrock for Anthony’s soaring flute lines, all grounded by Andy’s solid drum and rhythm patterns. Their style defies description, but offers the listener a lyrical, instrumental, and sonic interpretation of the beautiful vistas and geography of the Southwest. Envisioning this new trio sound is best explained by reviewing the artist’s past and current musical adventures.

Aaron White is a singer, songwriter, composer, musician, and a man of contrasts. His music has found expression in many forms-in the bands he has lead, such as Burning Sky, Skychasers, and Super Chief, and in solo performances at venues like Tusayan’s Grand Hotel and in recorded media. His heritage and his flutes tether to the ancient Navajo and Ute cultures, but he grew up in urban California so he plays a mean guitar. He has played everywhere from a presidential inaugural ball to a benefit concert at Arizona’s San Francisco Peaks.

Aaron has shared the stage with Jackson Brown, John Densmore of the Doors, Shawn Colvin, Lyle Lovett, Taj Mahal, Chaka Khan, Michael Nerad Walden, Jefferson Starship’s Greg Chiquiso, Redbone, Bruce Cockburn and many others throughout his career.

Aaron’s group, Burning Sky received a Grammy nomination in 2004 for “Spirits in the Wind” in the Best Native American Music category. The group also won Group of the Year at the 2003 Native American Music Awards (NAMMYS).

Anthony Wakeman, of the Gunlake Band of Pottawatomi/Oglala Lakota, has been playing the Native American flute for twelve years. Originally from Missoula, Montana, Anthony moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1994 and began an apprenticeship with his uncle David A. Montour, noted artist, musician and flutemaker. Throughput his musical life, Anthony has also collaborated with some of the most respected traditional and contemporary Native American musicians of today. In 2005, Anthony released his first album with Canyon Records entitled Butterfly Dreams. Inspired by the playfulness of his four-year old daughter dancing about, this album contains songs that inspire, tell a story, and illustrate the beauty of the solo flute. The album was a finalist for New Age Retailer’s 2005 Narcissus Award.

Andy Gonzales is an all around musician. While he plays percussion instruments in the White, Wakeman, Gonzales ensemble, he is perhaps most well known for his bass playing and Latino Band work in the Phoenix area. Since the early 70’s when he was working with Chuy Castro in the La Raza band, he has played with the best. Arizona Blues Hall of Famer, Hans Olson says of Gonzales, “Andy is absolutely one of the finest Bass players on the Phoenix, Arizona music scene. His ability as a band leader is one of his greatest assets. His work as band leader with Francine Reed in the 1980’s produced what was widely regarded as the best band in Phoenix.”

Doors open for this special Canyon Records presentation at 7:00, show begins at 7:30 PM. A multi-media slide presentation will compliment the live performance, featuring ruin sites, cliff dwellings, Monument Valley and more.

Tickets for the show are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and $12 for seniors. Tickets are available online at showtix4u.com, in Cottonwood at: La Bella Café (right next to OTCA), Jerona Java Café, Desert Dancer, and in Sedona at: Crystal Magic, and Golden Word Bookstore.

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Aaron White

Anthony Wakeman

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