Extended Liner Notes & Track List

  1. Awakening
    • The band BushTic. Song written and composed by Jeff Sollohub. Playing in this band was for Dave the fulfillment of a childhood dream. These guys really are Rock Stars with a sizeable Denver fan base!
      Here's the link to their website BushTic and their CD Nowhere / Now Here
      Recorded summer of 2001 at Jeremy Lawton studio in Denver. Re-mixed and mastered by Darren Skanson at CCM in Denver summer 2002.
      • Agave Al Shockley "D" Dreampipe Didjeridu - Dave Crowder
      • Sitar - Jeff Sollohub
      • Chapman Stick - Chris Pederson
      • Drums - Zach West
      • Bass - Joe Sollohub
      • Sax - Pete Wall
      • Percussion toys - John Albright

  2. YinYang
    • This song's original inspiration comes from the amazing yidaki master Jeremy Cloake and his song "Standing Wave". The name of the song comes from the design on the didjeridu being played - a Ben Hicks "F" split Maple.

      In this song the spectrum of didjeridu notes is stretched because this didj has the unusual quality of playing 3 partials above the fundamental and two bass notes below. Mixed in is a "Petro" Haitian inspired rhythm. Ron Holmes, who also does vocal harmonic toning on "Windhorse", plays the 4/4 part - along with Eric Walker playing a 5/4 polyrhythm. Recorded and mastered by Darren Skanson at CCM in Denver summer 2002.

  3. Cricket Dance
    • Recorded in 1996 in Murphy Jackson's little Gold Hill mountain cottage with a Sony DAT Walkman. Though the recording quality leaves a bit to be desired, the rhythm of the two didjeridus was just too incredibly polyrhythmic to leave out! This rhythm was at the time Murphy's signature piece. The incredible synchronization of the two didjeridus in this song represents a stroke of pure beginner's luck. Dave had only been playing for a year, and Murphy only three years. Mastered by Darren Skanson at CCM in Denver summer 2002.
      • Rob Thomas Agave "C#" Didjeridu and Bilma - Murphy Jackson
      • Australian Eucalyptus blank "C#" Didjeridu, Crickets - Dave Crowder

  4. Mastika Kashlama
    • This is a 9/8 (kashlama rhythm) song about the Egyptian drink - Mastika. Sort of a "Wasting Away in Margaritaville" Egyptian style. It starts and ends in B, but shifts to D and quickens in the interlude. Cameron Powers, who plays the Oud, composed the instrumental sections and verse. His musky low voice and soft velvety Oud notes are uniquely relaxing. Meagan Chandler (Leila) sings in the interlude in her hauntingly enchanting mid-eastern style. Kathleen McLellan (Zahara) plays Darabukka (dumbek) with the special flare of a true master. Recorded and mastered by Darren Skanson at CCM in Denver summer 2002.

  5. Windhorse
    • The didjeridu allows certain harmonics to stand out above the fundamental note. By shaping the throat, mouth, and tongue in certain ways, similar didjeridu-like harmonic dynamics can be produced. These are vocal harmonics, sometimes called throat singing. Five or Six years ago, Dave met Ron Holmes a fellow who was on a similar path to his own self discovery with his instrument. For Ron, it was the voice. Both Ron and Dave were entranced by the sounds of Hun Hur Tu, David Hykes, and other harmonic vocalists. They have shared harmonic toning at the Didjeridu Solstice Gatherings, PennyLane Coffee House, and in various reflective spaces in Boulder such as the Galleria Walkway. The song Windhorse combines the vocal harmonics of Ron and Dave with the chimes from Dave's porch and singing bowls provided by their friends Per & Eileen Hultquist. The song title Windhorse is a Tibetan Buddhist term for one's path through life; the golden path where perfection or right action is realized. We are constantly being bucked off the "bronco" of life though we are quite aware of that perfect path. We can even ride it and notice its magnificent purity albeit briefly. Harmonic singing is quite like that - beautiful, but nearly impossible to capture. Recorded and mastered by Darren Skanson at CCM in Denver summer 2002.

  6. Turtle Cricket
      The song title comes from the name of a eucalyptus Beswik didjeridu Dave acquired in '96. In that same year, Dave had a waking dream where the rhythm came to him through breath. This is the rhythm throughout the song. The Appalachian Blue Grass hoedown flavor probably has something to do with his Tennessee roots. The percussion is just clapping hands. The idea came from Dave's habit of having the audience hand clap the easy 4/4 when he plays this tune in public. There are only four people clapping, but the four original tracks are each duplicated four times to make the clapping seem like a room full of people. Recorded and mastered by Darren Skanson at CCM in Denver summer 2002.

  7. Seven
    • This 7/8 rhythm came in a waking dream shortly after Turtle Cricket. Since the average drummer could not figure out the beat, Dave searched for percussionists who could play odd meter. About a year later, he heard Sharafè playing this rhythm in some of their Klezmer tunes. Upon collaborating with Cameron, who plays Oud, and asking his advice on instrumentation, the Sitarist Justin Bruen came highly recommended. Kathleen plays her favorite drum the Darabukka, and Cameron also plays Nay (Egyptian Bamboo Flute) towards the end of the song. The song's tempo steadily increases to a fever pitch emulating Belly Dance tempo changes. Recorded and mastered by Darren Skanson at CCM in Denver summer 2002.

  8. Animal Dreams
    • This song - the title track - was previously recorded and engineered for Darren Skanson's World Meditations CD. Dave plays his favorite Jungawanga didjeridu in a slow meditative manner, while Tom Capek plays synth keyboards. Dave's dog barking is done in the didjeridu only on this song, and the other background samples are provided by CCM. Recorded and mastered by Darren Skanson at CCM in Denver summer 2000.
      • Jungawanga "Eb" Didjeridu, Dog Barks - Dave Crowder
      • Keyboards - Tom Capek

  9. Sheba
    • A 6/8 waltz rhythm played in the key of E. Cameron plays Oud and Nay, Kathleen the Darabukka, along with the lovely voice of Meagan. She begins singing in the interlude when the beat shifts to the unlikely count of 13/8. This shows off one of Dave's favorite rhythms which he learned from Geoff Brown on a trip to CA. The didjeridu is a John Madill blank euc import, painted by Ron Sill of AZ in a Space motif.

      The song title "Sheba" is derived from the Elephant companion of Tarzan. Recorded and mastered by Darren Skanson at CCM in Denver summer 2002.

  10. Zazen Pentad
    • This is the only real didjeridu solo on the CD. Zazen is the form of sitting meditation with which most are familiar, and a pentad is something in five. The rhythm is a 5/8, and is nested within a meditational droning style, thus the song title. To add to the meditational quality, some of Dave's Western Overtone vocal harmonics are added at the beginning and end. Recorded and mastered by Darren Skanson at CCM in Denver summer 2002.
      • Jungawanga "Eb" Didjeridu, Vocal Harmonics, Dog Barks - Dave Crowder

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