Reviews of the music of Scott August
Read reviews and
listener comments about
Distant Spirits, Sacred Dreams and New Fire.
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"On
Distant Spirits, August utilizes his lifetime
fascination with the American Southwest...to create
a delicious musical soundscape. August, a superbly
gifted multi-instrumentalist performs all the music
on Distant Spirits. Beautiful cedar flute is
featured or included on eight of the ten tracks.
Soft guitars, quiet piano, pulsing world-beat
percussion, indigenous instruments from around the
world, and the sounds of the Southwest are expertly
woven together by August. "Emergence", the first
track, opens with the sounds of thunder and and
birdcalls, an exotic introduction to August's
entrancing flute work. Distant Spirits provides an
excellent accompaniment for meditation or yoga, and
it is transporting music for simple relaxation and
quiet listening. Fans of the Southwest sound should
get a kick out of this gorgeous album." |
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"Distant
Spirits is one of the freshest and best sounding
Native Heart recordings that I've heard. The sound
quality and compositions are excellent. …this
is an exceptional recording." |
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"Fans
of earthy Native American flute music ala R. Carlos
Nakai or Douglas Spotted Eagle have a new name to
add to that list of performers &endash; Scott
August. This trek through the canyon of the
American southwest marks the debut of the stellar
multi-instrumentalist. …August's
tranquil… melodies providing a breathtaking
glimpse of the ancient Southwest spiritlands." |
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"Distant
Spirits" is an excellent CD and August's playing is
excellent throughout." |
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"Fans
of R. Carlos Nakai and Steve Roach will surely
appreciate this journey of cedar flute, guitar and
percussion with electronic textures. Scott August
beautifully melds the sounds of the Desert
Southwest..." |
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"August
does a masterful job of setting a mood and
transporting the listener to a place we become
familiar with even if we have never been there. The
American Southwest is a magical and mysterious
place and August captures the ambiance of this
place perfectly. [Sacred Dreams] is an
outstanding CD..." |
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"August
takes his collection of Native flutes and deploys
them over digital atmospheres of the desert
southwest with recordings from Canyon de Chelly and
environments of the imagination." |
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"August
continues to explore the vividly hued vistas of the
Native Southwest with his second [CD]
Sacred Dreams. The subtle sounds of lonely flutes,
earthy percussion, kalimba and voice call to mind
the panoramic landscapes of the region... nature
sounds [add] a living, breathing feel. If
you enjoy...Native flute music [Sacred
Dreams] is sure to please." |
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"Sacred
Dreams is the perfect CD to listen to when you want
to be reminded that life consist of more than just
the mundane. Scott August has created a soundscape
that allows the mind to travel to it's own sacred
places...be they on the rim of a canyon or in the
heart of an old memory. With each listen I am
continually amazed at where I end up. From the
first note, right through to the last, August has
created music that echoes the heart of life's
journey. For anyone who wants to reconnect, who
wishes to catch flight on an echoing memory, who
understands the journeys we all take--"Sacred
Dreams" is music that will transport and transform
you." |
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"Once
again, August has been able to transport the
listener to places unknown and only imagined.
Mystical voices, and the sounds of beautiful
haunting flutes form a tapistry of textures in
sound that have given this work of art, a soul all
of it's own. Am must have for quiet moments,
reflection and meditation." |
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"When
people enter our store, and "Distant Spirits" is
playing, they instantly ask who is the artist and
do we have the CD for sale." |
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"Distant
Spirits is truly a mainstream recording that
integrates the use of the contemporary Native
American styled flute with other world instruments
into a tapestry of a very enjoyable musical journey
for the listener."...the mood of the recording is
one of a journey of relaxation, and meditation
while at the same time stimulating one's inner
soul... There is a wide variety of melodies,
tempos, rhythms, dynamics, and textures designed to
evoke emotions out of the listener…" |
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"…August
beautifully creates an
evocative…haunting…terrific album." |
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"This
is very tranquil and meditative music, and if you
allow it to, it can transport you to somewhere safe
and beautiful." |
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"Close
your eyes and allow yourself to drift to the land
of Distant Spirits. Listen to the gentle, soft
sounds of the wind, the streams, the night call of
the coyotes. The blending of guitar, flute and drum
are relaxing and soothing. If you enjoy Native
American meditations or simply enjoy the warm sound
of their music, this will be a nice addition to
your musical medicine bag." |
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"August
has a special gift to capture the essence of the
southwest. Dare to close your eyes and be whisked
away by a myriad of sounds that take you through
canyons and valleys that dazzle the imagination
while the soul is transported to it's Creator. This
collection of music has become one of my favorites
and I look forward to future projects by this
talented artist." |
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"…probably
the most beautiful [music] that I have ever
heard. It truly takes me to a place I have never
been with its spiritual and natural beauty." |
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"Distant
Spirits has become one of my favorites to reach for
when in the space for some relaxing music. One
problem though, Jeff [Calavan, flute maker]
has confiscated it and taken it to his work shop.
It has become one of his favorite work shop
CD'S." |
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I
like [Distant Spirits]. Nice combinations
of flute, percussion and eclectic instruments. |
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"Scott
August's Distant Spirits captured my heart the very
first moment I heard this music. Distant Spirits
transports me to another time and place. I love to
start my day listening to 'Distant Spirits'." |
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"...Distant
Spirits has a unique flavor. Well done..." |
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"It's
a pleasure to work with fine music like
August's." |
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"August
does a masterful job of setting a mood and
transporting the listener to a place we become
familiar with even if we have never been there. The
American Southwest is a magical and mysterious
place and August captures the ambience of this
place perfectly. [Sacred Dreams] is an
outstanding CD..." |
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"August
continues to explore the vividly hued vistas of the
Native Southwest with his second [CD]
Sacred Dreams. The subtle sounds of lonely flutes,
earthy percussion, kalimba and voice call to mind
the panoramic landscapes of the region... nature
sounds [add] a living, breathing feel. If
you enjoy...Native flute music [Sacred
Dreams] is sure to please." |
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"Sacred
Dreams' is the perfect CD to listen to when you
want to be reminded that life consits of more than
just the mundane. Scott August has created a
soundscape that allows the mind to travel to it's
own sacred places...be they on the rim of a canyon
or in the heart of an old memory. With each listen
I am continually amazed at where I end up. From the
first note, right through to the last, August has
created music that echoes the heart of life's
journey. |
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"[Sacred
Dreams] is a wonderful CD." |
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"I
love the CD's, the reviews were not exaggerating,
they are great, your music, composition, &
playing terrific." |
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Thank
you for the new CD. Another job well done! |
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"Scott
we love your CD, we play when we go to bed and it
gives us a wonderful intro to our dreams." |
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"Once
again, Scott has been able to transport the
listener to places unknown and only imagined.
Mystical voices, and the sounds of beautiful
haunting flutes form a trapistry of textures in
sound that have given this work of art, a soul all
it's own. A must have for quiet moments, reflection
and meditation. " |
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"This
is August's best work to date. This is saying a
great deal when considering the high level of his
previous works that have garnered so much acclaim.
...all lovers of Native Flute music will find New
Fire enthralling from the opening measure to the
final flute flourish. ...engaging, rhythmic, and
often mystical moments that captivate and mesmerize
the listener. August has a style that is all his
own that continues to evolve and grow over time. He
has certainly become one of the finest composers
for the Native flute on the scene today. |
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"Inspired
composing [by] multi-instrumentalist Scott
August. __...a
colorful collage of elements from both Native
American tradition (flute, drums) and beyond
(African kalimba, Latin American instrumentation,
piano, synthesizers). The music is drenched with
Southwestern ambiance, captivating the listener
with images of lonely canyons, desert landscapes
and seemingly endless horizons. The Native
flute...provides a haunting, tranquil voice in the
midst of a sea of flowing synthesizer atmosphere
and low-tempo drum beats. |
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"New
Fire represents Scott August's best work to
date. With an ear for compelling melodies and
rhythms he has produced an original work.
August continues to amaze, and New Fire is sure to
be one of the best Native Heart recordings of
2005." |
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I
got [New Fire]...and I love it!!! I think
it is your best work to date. I have been listening
to it every day. I like the upbeat nature of this
CD! Good job!" |
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"My
family and I absolutely love New Fire. It is simply
exquisite! I thought it would be hard to top Scotts
other two cds - Sacred Deams & Distant Spirit..
It would be difficult for me to say which one I
like best but this new one is wonderful! This CD is
another magnificent work of art by Scott August.
Anyone who loves native american flute music will
love New Fire" |
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"New
Fire is magical! It is for those moments when you
want music that both uplifts and balances you at
the same time. As a teacher of spirituality and
meditation, I use August's music because it
resonates so deeply, that it speaks right to the
core of your being. When you're feeling frazzled,
take blissful refuge in this gorgeously rendered
music rich with subtleties that will call you to
listen again and again. New Fire is a gem." |
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"Thank
you for NEW FIRE, we love it!!! Truly well done,
and congratulations on the award for Sacred Dreams!
From the moment I brought your [other] two
CD's...we have loved them!! They are among our
favorites." |
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"The
CDs arrived on Friday so I had the pleasure of
listening to New Fire a number of times over the
weekend. I am delighted with your new CD! I have
enjoyed listening to it and will continue to do so.
Distant Spirits (and now New Fire) has been my
favorite CD to listen to while I journal, and I
happen to do a lot of journaling. Thank you again
for sharing your passion and I am so excited for
you that you are enjoying acclaim for your work, as
well as appreciation by your listeners " |
Ancient
Light "With his
'Ancient Light' DVD, Scott August has given us the
fullest expression of his exquisite creative powers
to date. Treating the sacred and spirit-drenched
landscapes of the American Southwest with the
respect and reverence they evoke and deserve,
August seamlessly blends his award-winning Native
American-inspired music with outstanding images
from his personal pilgrimages throughout the
region. A multi-media travelogue of one man's
ongoing love affair with the heart of the Grand
Circle. "I
was captivated! The photos were outstanding. I sat
there mesmerized and did not take my eyes off of
the TV screen throughout the entire DVD. Having
spent over 50 years in Arizona, I have come to
really appreciate our Southwest. August's
photos have truely captured what it is all about.
The combination of August's music and photos has
set the bar. Job well done. "As
a professional nature photographer, the images that
Scott has captured with a point and shoot camera
are magnificent. His artistic sense of composition
and sensitivity to light shows me that the same
creativity that flows through his flute also flows
through his camera"
A beautiful, inspiring, timeless work of art and
essential viewing for all who've been touched by
the Ancient Light of these sacred lands. Highest
recommendation!"
-Darrell Koerner, Chelsea Green Publishing,
Boulder, CO
-Keith Stanford, CherryCows Flutes, Tucson,
AZ
Top
of page
-Tom Vezo, Wildlife & Nature Photography,
AZ
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"August
has always been a cut or two above most native
flute players...he's taken it a step further on
Lost Canyons. He layers guitars, keyboards and all
kinds of percussion into his compositions, moving
from world fusion to airy ambiences. |
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It alarms me that an artist of Scott August's caliber managed to release five recordings (his sixth is coming very soon) and I have only now heard his music. Guess I'm not such an icon in the industry after all, am I? I named this to my best of 2007 list, but it's even better than that. I'd place it in my top ten for Native-influenced fusion music, period. Yeah, high praise, but after playing this album at least ten times prior to writing this review, I'm sure it belongs there. August plays way too many specific instruments to recount here, but among them are flutes (primarily the Anasazi flute which this recording seems to pay tribute to), piano, percussion, guitars, ethnic instruments such as the kalimba gamelan, and "textures" which I take to mean the application of synthesizers in assorted permutations. In this last aspect, August should give lessons to others as his dexterous superb blending of synths adds just the right amount to any song on which it's featured. Never too over the top yet also not so subtle as to make the listener question whether anything has been added at all. He's also an amazing percussionist across the full spectrum of the drums and other instruments which he uses on the CD. Variety is the catch word here, as Lost Canyons contains everything from the plaintive beauty of the opening "Morning Star" (Anasazi flute, alabaster chimes and textures, the latter two coming into play later in the song) to the lively "Raven Dance" which intermixes percussion from just about every continent with guitar, piano and Tiger Maple flute. And those are just the first two songs on the album! Not often is a Native flute player so adept at other instruments that he/she can even craft great music without using his/her principle instrument, but August does that on that ambient-esque "Desert Skies" (atmospheric guitar, gamelan, kalimba, Thunder drum and textures). "Where Spirits Dwell" marries tribal beats with Balinese gamelan and the cross-culture fusion is a celebration of the way music bridges disparate cultures. "Swallows & Nighthawks" is the only solo flute song on the CD (although three others feature Anasazi flute with synth textures the only accompaniment), another distinguishing aspect of Lost Canyons from many other releases in this sub-genre (Native flute and Native-influenced fusion). I could go on describing the other eight selections in detail but my word limit means I have to keep it short. So, I'll just hit on a few more highlights, such as the eight-and-a-half minute title track (meant to convey the viewing of long lost desert native people's dwellings, perhaps along the lines of Arizona's Montezuma's Castle, which I had the pleasure of viewing several months ago). The song showcases August's prodigious talent at balancing all his instruments (in this case, Anasazi flute, kalimba, udu, tabla, guitars, piano, rainstick) fusing them into not just a cohesive musical statement but a unique artistic expression in a subgenre where it's not always easy to stand out. Showing that he can dial up the energy and infuse some more modern touches into his fusion music, "Chasing the Sun" bounces along with kinetic energy, propelled by no less than seven different types of drum/percussion instruments and ambient-like electric guitar flourishes. The two closing tracks, "Twilight Canyon" and "Evening Star" are great conclusions to the album, the former featuring Curly Redwood Bass flute, piano, guitar, textures and "incidental crickets" and the latter only the soothing sounds of Anasazi flute and subtle synthesizer brushings, conveying the fading of daylight in the desert as stars pop out in an orange-then-violet and finally pitch black night sky. It's a perfect ending to the rare perfect recording. No criticisms from me whatsoever on this one. I only wish I had heard of Scott August sooner. Fantastic album - buy it! Rating: Excellent -Bill Binkelman, New Age Reporter |
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Another
masterpiece for this genre of music, Scott delivers
one of the most soothing and inspiring CD's I've
heard in quite sometime. Take a trip to the
southwestern U.S. and venture through nature and
the spirits of the tribes that dominated the area
for thousands of years, the Pueblos, Navaho, Hopi
and many others. |
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"Lost
Canyons is captivating, engaging and exhilarating.
It nourishes your spirit and is a balm for the
soul. ...brilliantly conceived." |
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"Wow!
Just when you think Scott August can't make a
better recording, he releases "Lost Canyons" - his
best work to date. Deeply sublime, deep ambient,
atmospheric world music of the highest order.
Grounded by Scott's exquisite performances on the
Anasazi flute, this CD is outstanding! Scott August
is a compositional genius. "Lost Canyons" belongs
in any world and native american music lover's
collection, and has to be one of the best world
music recordings of the year.... Buy the CD, take
the journey and discover the amazing artistry of
Scott August" |
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"Lost
Canyons demonstrates Scott August's
multi-instumental talents as well as his artistic
flute stylings. "Morning Star's"
inspired solo flute, transports one to a high
place looking down over vast canyon expanse at
sunrise, a magical experience. Raven's Dance
showcases Scott's ability to blend complex textures
utilizing western instruments which he plays
flawlessly. His best work yet, listen and let
your spirit soar." |
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"The
new CD [Lost Canyons] is fabulous,
especially the strong opening flute solo that so
resonates with me and my love of the rivers and
canyons of the Southwest." |
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"This
latest recording by Scott August follows in his
tradition of deftly joining Native American themes
with a unique world instrument tonal texture to
give his music a panache rarely found in any other
recording artists. He deserves all the accolades he
has received. I believe that this newest CD will
also become another honor winner." |