Album Review: Connections by Sherry Finzer

Review by Lissette Cascante

Phoenix-based, classically trained flutist Sherry Finzer has received many accolades and awards for her musical contributions primarily in the relaxation/meditation genre. Her branding encompasses the use of a collection of low flutes, including alto, bass, and contrabass flutes, as well as a variety of Native American-style and world flutes. Often wind instruments are mixed with sacred chants, ethereal sounds, natural and other ethnic arrangements to create her soundscapes. Sherry has recorded, toured, and performed with a variety of accomplished artists whose collaboration has also influenced her unique sound and style. She has released over twenty-seven solo and collaborative albums and numerous singles.

Sherry’s latest solo release, Connections, was inspired by the legendary American flautist Paul Horn who was a pioneer of world and contemporary instrumental music as well as a practitioner of transcendental meditation. Sherry is a firm believer in the power of music to aid in the healing process. Connections is a fitting title for this album given the uncertainty of the current times we are living in; many have suffered isolation, illness or tragedy and are yearning for the support and strength which comes from being able to share and connect with others.

After starting to livestream on the Insight Timer Meditation App in 2020, Sherry began connecting with thousands of fans and followers who shared testimonies of just how much her previous recordings, and her livestreams, were helping them through the grieving process, letting go of stress, improve sleep, or aided in lessening their physical pain. She wanted to share her gratitude and have this recording be about her listeners. All songs on the album were either created in memory of loved ones who have passed, or for someone who currently uses Sherry's music as part of their daily therapy or healing regimen. The flutes used were selected by the participants – each person selecting the flute that resonated with them most.

The album’s seventeen tracks take the listener through a continuum of healing sound and light. The first track “Resilience” serves as the impetus to elevate us to that higher place above our cares, and concerns. The song titles speak to us of familiar comforts like nature, water, new days, blessings, peace, journeying, coming home, connecting, and communing with Spirit. With each subsequent song one can cast off all encumbrances, negative energies, and unhealthy emotions.

Caught up in the gentle whirlwind of her flute sounds and melodies, one feels a sense of release and weightlessness, like a boundless floating experience. The experience is so blissful, like the end of a massage therapy or stretch/cool-down session, you’ll wish, as I did, to remain in that state indefinitely. Perhaps why some listeners say they listen to Sherry’s music 24/7. How wonderful that Sherry chooses to use and to share her musical talents with the world as a channel to bring comfort, relief, and much needed healing.

Connections is the third solo flute release in Sherry Finzer's "Naked Flute" series recorded at The Tank. Her music can be heard under her name as well as her groups Majestica and Evenfall on various international radio programming, international airlines, and overhead music channels.

Besides composing and recording, Sherry is the founder and CEO of the Heart Dance Records label featuring musicians from around the world with a mission of creating music for peace and wellness. She is also founder of the Higher Level Media promotions company, as well as one of the three founding members of the Mindful Music Association. Sherry live streams weekly on the Insight Timer meditation app.

~Lissette Cascante for Aural Awakenings

For more information please visit Sherry Finzer's website. Connections is also available at Bandcamp, Amazon, and more.

An Interview with Darin Mahoney at the Heart Dance Records Summit in Phoenix, AZ

Here’s an interview with guitarist Darin Mahoney who describes his style as “heart and soul music”, which was conducted at the recent Heart Dance Records Summit in Phoenix, Arizona. In this segment, we talk about his musical roots, collaborative projects and a major life challenge that ignited a renewed artistic vision for him.

Music from the albums Transformation and Trialogue can be heard throughout this interview.

Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Sherry Finzer

We’re excited to debut our first audio interview with renowned flutist, composer and Heart Dance Records label founder, Sherry Finzer. A versatile musician who currently resides in Anthem, Arizona, she’s released several solo and collaborative albums that can be heard regularly on both Journeyscapes and Aural Awakenings, with her signature style spanning ambient, world, new age and contemporary instrumental musical genres. In this enjoyable segment, we’ll learn more about Sherry Finzer, as we delve into her musical background, discuss current projects and various collaborations, as well as play some of her music!

Album Review: Auriga to Orion by Majestica

Majestica is an Arizona-based, collaborative duo of multi-instrumentalist Cass Anawaty and flutist Sherry Finzer. Following up their fantastic debut album, In the Midst of Stars, the duo’s highly-anticipated sophomore release, Auriga to Orion, is a seven-track album that further expounds on their innovative blend of spacey electronics and earthy acoustics. Decidedly groove-centric throughout, the music is often imbued with sexy ‘chill-rock’ motifs, which makes it equally conducive to both dancing and stargazing.

“Alpha Orionis” beautifully opens the album with a shimmery ‘Tangerine Dream meets Steve Roach’ kind of keyboard pattern. Sherry’s sultry flute-playing enters along with a gentle rhythm pattern, until Cass’ cleanly strummed electric guitar follows as a seeming answer to the call of the flute. The second track, “Kesil’s Light”, starts off as a mysterious and slightly dark space-music piece with Sherry’s flute emitting light among the vastness. Pulsating sequencer and rhythm figures come forward along with more of Cass’ excellent guitar-playing, as the piece aptly conveys a notion of observing celestial movements in the Arizona sky. “Monte Alban” features intriguing old-school analog synth that eventually introduces guitar and flute – injecting an uplifting vibe into the song. The gorgeous title piece, “Auriga to Orion”, employs classic synth textures and percussion tracks, as Sherry’s flute mesmerizingly soars above like the wind while Cass’ cascading guitar riff encircles it. The piece eventually concludes with a fantastic guitar solo before returning to its original analog synth motif. “Dark Years Away” opens with synthesized rhythmic bells before giving way to Sherry’s melodic flute and Cass’ strummed guitar chords. “Chasing the Leonids” ensues with a sensual tempo, as flute notes majestically soar for awhile before diving into a provocative electric guitar solo that’s heavily rock-influenced. The closing track, “Flaming Star”, starts off somewhat solemn and reverent-sounding with spacious chords enshrouding the listening space. This stunningly beautiful piece is all about atmosphere, with ethereal flute notes mysteriously weaving in and out of the encompassing synth-fog.

An outstanding follow-up to Majestica’s debut release, Auriga to Orion is destined to be among my favorite albums this year. Naturally influenced by the surrounding, magnificent Arizona environment – which is known to be especially conducive to creative inspiration – it’s easy to envision the many magical landmarks amid night constellations while listening. Furthermore, I highly recommend playing both Majestica albums back-to-back for a doubly rewarding listening experience! ~Candice Michelle

For more information please visit the artist's website. This album is also available on Bandcamp, Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play.

Spotlight: Let There Be Light by Tom Moore & Sherry Finzer

Let There Be Light is the second collaborative release by multi-instrumentalist Tom Moore and international flutist Sherry Finzer. Continuing along the musical path of their phenomenal debut album entitled Whispers from Silence, the talented pair create sublime ethno-ambient passages on their fantastic follow-up release. Comprised of nine compositions spanning fifty-five minutes, Let There Be Light is a sonic exploration of nature’s most omnipresent element, as the duo weave electronic and organic instrumentation into a musical mandala of seemingly Zen-like mysticism and transcendent tranquility. Despite the album’s title, the pair elegantly contrast the light with shadow by blending in darker shades of mystery throughout – thereby imparting a perfectly balanced semblance of yin and yang.

“The Way of the White Clouds” opens the album with earthy drones, distant waves and acoustic textures that soon introduce a deeply resonating flute melody over subtle shamanic percussion. “First Light” ensues with an enduring drone and singing birds, as wispy flute notes convey an unbounded airiness in contrast to the earthy rootedness emitted from a continuous tonal humming. The next piece, “Timeless Journey”, is one of my favorites on the album – effectively bringing-to-mind that of a distant caravan crossing a desert at night. Here subtle Indian sitar is warmly merged with gently rhythmic bass tones, which is further complimented by the exotic scale played on flute.

“A Celebration of Life” is perhaps the album’s most pinnacle moment – eliciting a sensuous vibe that somewhat reminds me of Kamal’s “Shakuhaji Tales”. Similarly guided along by a hypnotic rhythm that underlies affecting chord progressions, Sherry’s flute seemingly acts as a coy seductress inviting the listener to move along in tandem with the sensual pulse. “Waves of Light” features a flute melody played in a higher scale amidst a backdrop of celestial washes, as if seemingly ascending to the heavens. Another highlight is the mysterious “Tides of Time”, which features what sounds like an African thumb piano lending itself as part of the piece’s gently sustained rhythm. Here breezy flute tones emerge from overarching ethereal layers, as one might imagine themselves standing alone by a seashore and feeling the cool breeze as waves roll in.

Sitting equally comfortably in both the space and world music genres, Let There Be Light is inherently trance-shamanic in nature. Tom Moore is simply a master at creating enveloping hypnotic atmospheres, while Sherry Finzer possesses a versatile range on the flute as her instrument essentially serves as narrator throughout. Earthy and grounding yet lofty and transcendental, Let There Be Light is another top-notch recording from this dynamite duo who always seem to ignite a spellbinding synergy whenever they collaborate! ~Candice Michelle

For more information please visit the artist's website. This album is also available to purchase at Amazon, iTunes and Google Play.

Spotlight: Whispers from Silence by Tom Moore & Sherry Finzer

Whispers from Silence is the collaborative project of multi-instrumentalist Tom Moore and international flutist Sherry Finzer. Comprised of eight compositions spanning just over an hour, the duo blend synthesizers with wind instruments to create a deeply immersive and meditative soundscape that feels ancient, sacred and enchantingly exotic, with subtle earthy rhythms underscoring several of the pieces.

“Awakening Breath” opens with the toll of a Tibetan bell followed by an exotic flute solo, evoking a spirit of reverence and solitude that sets the mood for a serenely soulful and mystical journey. “Towards the One” follows next with an opening chorus of crickets and nocturnal sounds, before transitioning into an enveloping and warmly-lit soundscape of flute, sitar and synthesizers that are soon accompanied by a flowing organic rhythm. It’s one of my favorite compositions on the album, bringing to mind images of a sacred sensual dance being performed amidst an enthralling haze of candlelight and incense smoke. “Infinite Space” is another gorgeous piece that invokes a blissful and dreamlike state, as breezy flute ethereally floats among a bed of gossamer chords like clouds passing slowly across the sky. Also particularly noteworthy is the beautifully hypnotic closing piece, “An Ancient Presence”, which effectively conveys the notion of standing in the presence of an ancient sacred temple. Here, droning chords merge with deep vocal intonations before introducing a mesmerizing flute melody, as earthy percussion subtly guides the piece along in a meditative mode that seems to fuse an eastern mystical vibe with a Native American essence.

Deeply entrancing from beginning to end, Whispers of Silence is an impeccably outstanding album of perfectly executed artistic vision as well as utmost professionalism. Grounding, earth-centered, and ceremonial in nature, its compositions beckon the listener to step into a sacred space that allows the mind and spirit to feel unrestrained by time or geographical location. Easily one of the best albums of its kind to emerge in recent memory, Whispers from Silence is especially and enthusiastically recommended for yoga, meditation and shamanic journeying! ~Candice Michelle

For more information please visit the artist's website. This album can also be purchased at Amazon, iTunes, and CD Baby.

This review was originally published on Journeyscapes Radio on 10/05/16.