Full Moon Session

Phoenix-based Canyon Records has specialized in the recording and distribution of Native American music for over 50 years, and has another gem in this "session," which artfully and melodically blends acoustic guitar and flute to convey the expansive landscape. Many listeners new to the Native flute experience have a hard time getting into projects like these because many feature the flute solo without rhythm or accompaniment. That only happens a few times here, most notably on the haunting "People of the Sun" (which features Tommy Lee — not that one — on triple flute and Aaron White on bass flute) and "Prayer for the Holy People," with White on double walnut flute. The more engaging tracks have a folk-rock vibe, blending the artful fingerstyling of White and Lee's wistful wind musings. White also has a few amiable solo guitar numbers that convey the essence of a lonesome night in the desert under a full moon. Given this type of mixing and matching, plus a wider variety of moods and some otherworldly percussion textures (dig those wild rattles on "Journey Across Turtle Island"), Full Moon Session is an experience that will appeal to more than simply hardcore Native American flute enthusiasts.