Lone Pine Canyon

Although the term "new age" has become slightly passé as a strictly defined genre of music, there's still a strong market for the kind of graceful, lushly textured meditational music created by this flutist and five-time NAMMY nominee. This innovative master of the Native American flute created this deeply contemplative collection — which finds him collaborating with acoustic guitars, pianos, and the brilliant, romantic violin harmonies of Charlie Bisharat — amid the beauty of the Angeles National Forest. His liner notes feature little vignettes to enhance the musical images, but they seem largely unnecessary as the listener digs in. The title track, featuring piano, violin, and cello, is a moody, mystical entry passage that grows more sacred with the small choir accompanying flute and the crisp acoustic guitar lines of "Cerro Noroeste." Golaná composed most of the songs with the exception of two classic Rachmaninoff pieces (the slightly melancholy yet still dream-inspiring Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and the dramatic, orchestrally enhanced Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 18 and the traditional piece "Just as I Am," performed entirely by flutes (including those of Judy Goldwater) and choir voices. Every fan of this type of music will enjoy Golaná's music, but for flute lovers, it's a must.