Ubaka and her collaborators have simply outdone themselves on this 2006 release! It has been a long 8 years since the last recording, but fruitful ones, as you will hear the moment you begin this celebratory journey - from the first evocative blend of percussion and transcendent harp in Ear To the Ground ... to the healing baptism of Ride the Wind ... to the funky call-and-response of Dream Shift... to Paula Walowitz's She's Been Waiting featuring 26 women of the Drumsong Orchestra! 'Beyond the Wind' is a marvelous collaboration of women whose rhythm and song will move you to new understandings of yourself and the world. Listeners will be deeply satisfied by the usual myriad of percussion presented here, while fans and students of Ubaka's will note a new, rich layer of musicality in this, her 3rd recording. Evocative, generous, jazzy, spirited, deep, playful, invocative, ever to the heart - this is more of Ubaka's great music for you. Ubaka is one of the most visionary artists on the planet, and you'll want to bask in the light of her poetry, wisdom, music and rhythm. You'll feel grounded and aloft all at once. 'Come with me to the waters of forgiveness ... Let's grow and be each other's witness ... Take flight, ride the wind, and fly ... I've gotta do what I've got to do here ... I've gotta leave my hand prints on the wall.' She has named her new label is Splevine - splendid + divine - that sums it up. Very highly recommended! Ubaka Hill: Lead Vocals, Ube, Gyil, Didgeridoo, Udu, Sticks, Bells, Dundun/ Bell, Kinkini/Bell, Batajon, Cajon, Gong, Vibraslap, Windwand, Puilis, Triangle, Cabasa, Caxixi, Gourd Caru Thompson: Shekere, Ululation Judy Piazza: Riq, Tar, Bodhran, Kanjira, Log Drum, Bendir Tammi Hessen: Djembe, Steel Drum, Dundun/Bell Melinda Alcosser: Congas Leaf Miller: Berimbau, Rubboard, Surdo, Kpanlogo drum Randy Crafton: Dumbeck, Kanjira, Drum Kit, Shekere, Cymbal Valerie Naranjo: Djembe Mosa (Mimi) Baczewska: Vocals, Rhodes, Whistles, Rattle, Owl hoot Suhir Blackeagle: Vocals Aleah Long: Vocals Xtine Baczewska: Vocals Julia Haines: Celtic Harp, Accordion Marcie Francis: Electric Bass, Shekere Amy Crafton: Clarinet (with twins Julia and Avery in womb 8 days before birth) National Drumsong Orchestra on 'She Been Waiting': Allyson (Ally) Buckley, IL - djembe Authenticity Mahala, WI - djembe, shekere Barbara Fornal, NY - djembe Candice Lawrence, ONT, CAN - djembe, clave Carmen Castro, NY - djembe, shekere Comma Williams, MA - djembe, shekere Diane Goetz, WI - djembe, frog Donna Mattucci, NY - ashiko Jane Rudden, NY - djembe, castanets Karen Kading, ONT, CAN - djembe, bell Kathy Murphy, NY - djembe, shekere Kyle Wilson, VA - djembe, bell Mary Helen Looper, TN - dundun, bell Melinda Alcosser, CT - conga Nancy Carpenter, PA - dundun, clave, shekere Nancy W. Maloy, NY - Ube Pamela J. Young (Pele), MI - djembe, frog Patricia George, PA - djembe, bell Sheila Horrell, ONT, CAN - djembe, berimbau, shekere Sue Fitzgerald, MI - dundun, clave Susan Wiseheart, MO - djembe, bell Takiyah Gettys, PA - djembe, bell Tamyala Grabill, IL - djembe, clave Trena Saunders, NY - djembe Wind Vogel, NY - djembe, shaker Wondella Devers, MI - djembe, shekere Guest singers/Musicians: Paula Walowitz - Songwriter, vocal Alix Dobkin - vocal Caru Thompson - vocal, shekere, bell Dr. Bonnie Morris - vocal Fre Atlast - djembe, quica, vocal Kesii MacKaye - clave, bell Leaf Miller - surdo Lorraine Demarest - rebollo Mosa Baczewska - vocal Ruthie Staber - rattle Victoria Cristgau - vocal