Barbara Markay

Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

Mostly instrumental New Age/world fusion

Status:

Most recent release, Heaven and Earth (2008)

See also:

Barbara Markay's site

Comparisons:

Lori Hawk, Lucia Hwong, Mary-Kathryn, Maya & Sage, Nijole Sparkis

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

Dreamy, lovely music you can just imagine a belly dancer moving to. The instrumentation is crisp and flowing in just the right proportions. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)

Recommended first album:

Shambhala Dance is the first we've heard

Recordings:

• Sophisticated High (1989)
• Change To Come (1999)
• Heart Like A Song (2000)
• The Great Invocations (single, 2002)
• Shambhala Dance (2005)
• Heaven and Earth (2008)

Shambhala Dance

Release info:

2005—My Thing Music—MYM 22

Availability:

See Barbara Markay's site

Ecto priority:

Recommended for fans of New Age/World Fusion Music

Group members:

Barbara Markay—vocals, backing vocals

Guest artists:

Eric Gorfain—violin
Tim May—electric guitar
Alberto de Almar—flamenco guitar, electric guitar
Joseph Lecuona—backing vocals, flamenco vocal improvisation
Stacy Rasfeld, Aaron Loo—backing vocals
Sathya Sai Baba—vocals (7)

Produced by:

Barbara Markay

Comments:

Instrumental, with four vocal tracks, one of which is wordless. The album sets up a wonderful lively but also thoughtful mood. There is only one mis-step for my tastes: "Your Fire", one of the vocal tracks and in the very center of the album, doesn't really fit with the rest of the album—the vocals are front and center like any pop song, with clichéd lyrics and vocal harmonies, breaking the meditative, dancy mood. "Common Ground" follows, but here the vocals are more a part of the construction of the song and the lyrics blend in better with the instrumentation, making it a far better fit with the album that surrounds it. Overall, an album that most fans of New Age/world fusion music will love. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)

Thanks to Sophia Gurley for work on this entry.