Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
New for 2024! I've just published the "Under The Stars Songbook", containing complete song transcriptions for all 12 tracks on the album (plus 2 from "Under The Stars, too!) and made it available as a digital download PDF file (compatible with music score readers). The updated price includes BOTH the Album and the SONGBOOK!
Purchasable with gift card
$20USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Beautifully designed album art - cover photo by Jasper Johal, and on-location photos by Nik Arkimovich. Signed by the artist. Also available separately (new for 2024) a print edition Under The Stars Songbook containing full song transcriptions for all 12 tracks on the album (see the Merch link for details and pricing).
Includes unlimited streaming of Under The Stars - Album plus Songbook
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 3 days
$10USDor more
Sheet Music
Complete song transcriptions for all 12 tracks on my 2015 album "Under The Stars", for Solo Native American Style Flute, plus the two most popular songs from the follow-up digital EP "Under The Stars, Too!". The 84 page, professionally printed, spiral-bound book also includes album credits, song descriptions, performance notes, and a couple of bonus arrangements - a duet version of "Moon Dances with New Star" and an Alto flute/Irish whistle transcription of "Spirits of the Long-Eyes". Everything has been notated in NakaiTAB for Native American flute (also playable by classical flute, or any other woodwind based in C) and typeset in Finale.
Bonus Edition! I have added the official "Under The Stars Songbook" (Digital Edition) for this album, new for 2024! This digital PDF songbook (compatible with any score reading program) contains complete transcriptions of all 12 tracks from the album, plus 2 tracks from "Under The Stars, Too!" in NakaiTab notation, typeset in Finale, 84 pages (yes, some of the songs are really, really long!).
About the album: Recorded live on location November 2, 2014 in the 100-inch Hooker telescope dome at Mount Wilson Observatory (Pasadena, California), the album follows in the path of Paul Horn’s famous 1969 album Inside The Taj Mahal. In a similar fashion, I wanted to capture a completely improvised, live musical experience that was specific to the place, the time, and the amazing acoustical properties of the building itself. For this project, I decided that the musical themes for the improvisations would be based on or inspired by the night sky, in particular on the star legends of various Native North American tribes.
The album cover was shot on a separate trip a few months later, in January 2015. We decided to use the 60-inch dome for the photo, because it is smaller and made the flute-player (me) appear larger and more recognizable. Jaspar Johal - a long-time friend, commercial fashion photographer and astronomy aficionado, shot the amazing time-lapse scene with a fish-eye lens. Timing the shoot to happen just after twilight, we were able to capture Orion (and the Pleiades) in the observatory dome opening.
A classically trained flutist, I was always interested in flutes from other cultures, and over the years had collected an assortment of bamboo, wood and ceramic flutes from around the world. When I saw my first Native American flute in a gift shop in Boulder Colorado, back in the early 90’s, I didn’t even know what it was – but I picked it up, played a few notes on it and was immediately hooked. My husband Nik & I were on a camping trip at the time, and I would sit by the fire each evening with this new flute, learning its voice and key. Soon I worked out a plaintive melody that I simply called “the sunset song” and would often go out to a ridge-top, away from the campground, and play the song for the setting sun. Occasionally, people would wander up from the campsite, seeking out the source of the mysterious twilight music. Fast forward to 2014 – by this time I’ve collected dozens of Native American flutes, in different keys and materials, each with its own unique voice. I’ve become more well-known for my world-flute playing, and am starting to draw a following of fans & students asking me when I will have my own CD. A chance meeting at a housewarming party, combined with support and encouragement from some key people, followed up with a few audio test samples that I made especially to illustrate the dome’s recording potential, laid the groundwork for a historic recording.
I am extremely grateful to all the people who supported this project and made it happen in such a short time- my husband Nik, who always invited me to play my Native American flutes in the observatory domes during observing sessions, and encouraged me to move ahead with the album; Tom Meneghini, the Director of the Mount Wilson Observatories, who supported the project completely and gave us the go-ahead for recording; MWO engineer Ken Evans, who prepared the dome for recording (note the radiant space heater in the behind-the scenes shots) and helped out with the logistics; Philip Mantione, who produced the album, obtained the support of the Art Institute- Inland Empire, and put together an amazing on-location recording crew including Ian Vargo, Lead Audio Engineer, plus two AI students - Alex Cho and Brad Delorenzo as assistant Audio Engineers. Within a couple of months of our first discussion, we found ourselves together on the mountaintop on a very cold, starry night in early November, hoping to capture magic in a digital audio file….
credits
released February 19, 2015
Album credits for "Under The Stars" -
Special thanks to the Mount Wilson Observatory and the Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. This project would not have been possible without their generous support.
Hugs and kisses to MWO’s Tom Meneghini, Ken Evans and Nik Arkimovich for managing the logistics and for their invaluable assistance during the recording session.
Undying gratitude to the on-location recording crew from Art Institute - you guys rock!
Producer: Philip Mantione
Lead Recording & Mix Engineer: Ian Vargo
Assistant Audio Engineers: Alex Cho and Brad Delorenzo
All tracks recorded live on location, with no added studio effects. All music composed by Joanne Lazzaro, except track # 10 Amazing Grace, and track # 11 Zuni Sunrise, which are improvised arrangements of traditional songs.
For more information, please visit my website, www.kokopelli.la
Joanne Lazzaro is a versatile world-flutist based in Los Angeles, California. She’s released four award-winning albums: two
solo Native American flute improvisations and two world-premiere recordings of classical-crossover flute chamber music. she's Principal Flute of the Beach Cities Symphony, Los Angeles Flute Orchestra, sought-after studio session player and flute workshop clinician....more
The Australian pianist offers a meditative collective of gentle instrumental compositions meant to soothe a fraying world. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 13, 2020
An intimate (and instrumental) improvised solo guitar meditation on the vastness of the unknown, from the Appalachian mountains. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 23, 2021
