Fourth World

R. Carlos Nakai has become more than a leading Native American musician; these days he's virtually a brand name. And this time around, he's especially ambitious, for Fourth World is nothing less than a symphony, backed by virtually a full orchestra, while his native flute soars like an eagle over the sound, an oasis of beauty and calm. But serenity has always been a hallmark of his music — here it's simply offered in a slightly different setting, one that works magnificently, its grandeur muted, more like a pillow of sound for the flute. Throughout Nakai's work there's been a peacefulness, a serenity, and while his music is first and foremost Native American, he possesses all the qualities of a first-rate new age artist, as on the restful "Meditations on Dinetah." This work is evidence of how much he continues to grow as an artist. The calm center remains, but he keeps doing more and more with his music and the richness of sounds here offers the perfect opportunity for meditation.