Title: Trance
Artist: River Guerguerian
Label: CD Baby
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 821681005029
Genre: International

'Guerguerian's composition, sensationally performed, devoted itself even more religiously to the possibilities of pure sound.' -New York Times River paul Guerguerian was born in 1967 ('the summer of love') in Montreal,Canada to Armenian/Egyptian/Syrian parents. He began playing music at the age of 8, and at 11, moved to the New York City area, studied with world-renowned masters, and began playing professionally soon after. As a multipercussionist, composer, and educator, he is devoted to the subtle and transformative power of the arts. In 1989, he received his Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music Conservatory and graduated with the school's award for 'most outstanding percussionist.' While living in NYC, he performed and/or recorded with such groups as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, New Music Consort, English Chamber Orchestra, NewBand/Harry Partch Ensemble, Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble, Talujon Percussion Ensemble (co-founder), Sophie B. Hawkins, Ziggy Marley/Gipsy Kings, and spent five years developing sounds with Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun (with whom he won a Bessie Award for 'Jo Ha Kyu'). He has been living in Asheville, NC, a center for the arts in the southern Appalachian Mountains, since 1999. He is currently performing with the ensemble of Omar Faruk Tekbilek, world-renowned master of the ney flute. River is also a well-known regional artist, performing and recording with world fusion groups, bellydance troupes, jazz ensembles, and singer/songwriters. He can be found playing frame drums, drumset, congas, Middle Eastern and African percussion, tabla, gongs, singing bowls, and various found objects. Guerguerian has performed at International Music Festivals in Berlin, NYC, Moscow, San Francisco, Edinburgh, Hong Kong, and has recorded on over thirty albums and film soundtracks, including the John Cage documentary film, 'I Have Nothing to Say and I Am Saying It'. His compositions have been commissioned and performed by chamber ensembles, universities, modern dance companies, and new music festivals throughout the U.S. In 1994, River sold all possessions, left civilization, and lived in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Himalayas where he delivered his daughter, Amba. For five years, he did not play professionally, and gathered new information from being immersed in Nature. His music has evolved using knowledge and indigenous instruments gathered from research and from travels around the planet. He conducts rhythm and sound exploration workshops throughout the country. Guerguerian enjoys sharing the deep, creative, and rhythmic space from which sound originates. 'Trance' is his first solo recording in ten years.

Tracks:
1.1 Mother's Trance
1.2 Nhmamusasa
1.3 The Courting
1.4 Moonlight
1.5 This Fire Burns
1.6 Lullaby for the Mountain