BlackRaven
Sedona, Arizona, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Quick update;
BlackRaven percussionist Will Clipman has just received a Grammy nomination in the "New Age" category for the 51st Grammy Awards 2009! Pathfinder is Will's debut solo release and this is Will's 5Th Grammy nod in 4 years, way cool...
Charles Button (producer and member of BlackRaven) and company took home the "Producer of the Year" award at the Native American Music Awards 2008 for The Red Corn Band - Still No Good... Both Charles and I are members of The Red Corn Band and fronted by Jonathan Joss (voice of John Redcorn on FOX’s King Of The Hill, Comanche Moon, Into The West, Almost Heroes). Also in the band fellow actor Tim Sampson (Member of The Tony Award Winning Cast of The Broadway Stage version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Black Cloud, War Party, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia)
We are starting a "plan of action" to record our 2ND release in early 2009. The core of BlackRaven; me, Charles Button & Will Clipman will be at the helm once again to try to capture the magic for our next album. Accompanied by a stellar cast of musicians to back us up, can't wait...
We are extremely happy and proud of what became of BlackRaven's debut release "First Flight", with 2 nominations at the Native American Music Awards 2007 and 1 nomination at the La Music Awards 2008 and Daniel Hicks performing live at the LA Music Awards on Nov. 20Th was a highlight for us in 2008. With critical national acclaim that we've received, we couldn't of asked for more! Thank You!
- BlackRaven Music
Audio Review: by Gene M. Bates
'First Flight': Blackraven
Category: Contemporary/ New Age/ Instrumental
Buttonhooks Music CD/Copyright 2007
One of the best contemporary flute CD's of 2007, Blackraven's debut is dazzling! A clever confection of contemporary instrumentation and Native American flute, Blackraven's music is full of color and light. Dan Hicks' flute sails above each alluring track, drawing us into the lush musical landscapes painted with each and every note. The playing is clean, the songwriting impeccable, and the accompaniment balanced and restrained.
A well-deserved nod should be given to producer/ engineer Charles Button as well as special guests, world percussionist, Will Clipman and guitarist extraordinaire, Aaron White (of 'Burning Sky' fame) for their contributions.
What an amazing album! Favorites 'cuts' include,"Running Horse", a marvelous track entitled, "My Love"and the colorful Button/Hicks composition,"The Irish in Me". A marvelous mix of 'today and traditional', Blackraven's, "First Flight" is 'first rate'!
- Whispering Wind Magazine 11/27/07
On its debut CD First Flight, Blackraven (the Native American Music Award® nominated duo of Daniel Hicks and Charles Button) takes the unique sound of the Native American flute in imaginative new directions, weaving its evocative melodic voice as the unifying thread into a fresh sonic fabric that embraces elements of folk, rock, and world music. The highly personal flute stylings of Daniel Hicks blend seamlessly with the guitar, bass, and keyboard textures of co-composer and producer Charles Button, ably accompanied by multiple Grammy® Nominees Will Clipman on pan-global percussion and Aaron White on guitar, along with a stellar cast of supporting players. As Gene M. Bates of Whispering Wind Magazine writes: “First Flight is first rate!”
Will Clipman/Copyright 2007
- Will Clipman/Copyright 2007
From: Kinifm <kinifm@gwtc.net>
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 11:06:26 -0600
To: <melanie@blueearthrecords.com>
Subject: Black Raven
Hello Melanie,
We are KINI out of St. Francis, South Dakota. We serve south central South Dakota and north central Nebraska
First of all, thanks for the media kit. It was very well put together. The shirt was cool. I wish more labels were more creative in that aspect. I had a chance to listen to Black Raven- First Flight and was impressed. We feature Native American music, both traditional and contemporary at least four hours a day as part of the variety of genre's we feature here at our station.
I've added 'First Flight', 'My Love', 'The Irish In Me', and 'Spirit Love' to our rotation. I enjoyed the musicianship and appreciate how there are more and more instruments and styles being added in to contemporary music. Give the group our best and thanks for the complimentary music. We'll continue to support indigenous artists.
Sincerely
Roger
- BlackRavenMusic, Sacred Mountain Records & Blue Earth Records
Discography
BlackRaven - First Flight - 2007 Sacred Mountain Records
Photos
Bio
One beautiful Sedona Arizona afternoon, Dan Hicks, son of Pat Hicks (the founder of the Musicians Institute of Technology in Los Angeles) arrived at Sacred Mountain Studio. The studio was located at the top of a private mesa, at the end of a dead end road. The studio belonged to recording artist/producer Charles Button. Charles has a long history in the music business, working with such eclectic artists as Atlantic Records artist Madeline Peyroux, Animal Logic's Michael Thompson, and the Who's Nicky Hopkins.
In a frenzy of creative output they knocked out 14 new compositions. Performances by GRAMMY nominees Will Clipman and Aaron White were included, and guitarist Mark Thomas added his skills.
This album is dedicated to Charles beloved mother, who passed on in the same time frame as this album was created, which may possibly have added to it's emotional depth.
Blackraven was born when Charles and Daniel decided to perform together live. They have performed a the Zion Flute festival, the Thunder in the Desert Festival in Tucson, Arizona, at nutritional pioneer Dr. Gabriel Cousins' Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Patagonia, Arizona, and recorded a live DVD at the Canyon Moon Theater in Sedona, Arizona.
When Blackraven performed at the WESTERN DAYS celebration atop Airport Mesa in Sedona this summer, the outdoor festival was abruptly stopped by a huge rainstorm. When the bigtop tent was suddenly flooded by incoming water from all sides, all power was promptly disconnected to prevent death and destruction. Undaunted, the duo jumped off the front of the stage and continued to perform, albeit unplugged, on Native American flute and 12 string acoustic guitar to an appreciative and enthralled crowd. They later received a thank you letter for their efforts from Sedona Mayor Pud Colquitt.
EPK BlackRaven - First Flight - Spring 2008
BLACKRAVEN'S Debut Release "FIRST FLIGHT" - Contemporary Indigenous Flute Music
Featuring Daniel Hicks & Charles Button. With special appearances by Will Clipman from The R.Carlos Nakai Quartet & Aaron White from Burning Sky and Blue Stone Project, both are Grammy nominees and Native American Music Award winners. A note about Will Clipman - musician • poet • performing & recording artist • maskmaker • storyteller • educator • 5-time GRAMMY® Nominee
• 2-time Native American Music Award® & Winner • New Age Reporter Lifestyle Music Award® Winner
Dynamic melodies on Native American flutes & backdrops of guitars, bass, keyboards, drums & percussion. Ranging from contemporary ballads to traditionally inspired songs.
A beautiful & esoteric flute album that rocks! Blackraven's "FIRST FLIGHT" will send you on a deep journey. No more "New Age Sleepytime Flute Music". This album has a balance of beauty & power that is sure to please!
NOMINATIONS 2007
Two Native American Music Award Nominations in 2007
Nominated For "Debut Group Of The Year" at the Native American Music Awards 2007
Nominated for "Native Heart" at the Native American Music Awards 2007
Charles Button (producer and co-founder of BlackRaven) and company took home the "Producer of the Year" award at the Native American Music Awards 2008 for The Red Corn Band - Still No Good
LA Music Awards 2008 - Nominated for "Producers Choice - Instrumintal Album of the Year"
REVIEWS 2007
Whispering Wind Magazine 11/27/07
Audio Review: by Gene M. Bates
'First Flight': Blackraven
Category: Contemporary/ New Age/ Instrumental
Buttonhooks Music CD/Copyright 2007
One of the best contemporary flute CD's of 2007, Blackraven's debut is dazzling! A clever confection of contemporary instrumentation and Native American flute, Blackraven's music is full of color and light. Dan Hicks' flute sails above each alluring track, drawing us into the lush musical landscapes painted with each and every note. The playing is clean, the songwriting impeccable, and the accompaniment balanced and restrained.
A well-deserved nod should be given to producer/ engineer Charles Button as well as special guests, world percussionist, Will Clipman and guitarist extraordinaire, Aaron White (of 'Burning Sky' fame) for their contributions.
What an amazing album! Favorites 'cuts' include,"Running Horse", a marvelous track entitled, "My Love"and the colorful Button/Hicks composition,"The Irish in Me". A marvelous mix of 'today and traditional', Blackraven's, "First Flight" is 'first rate'!
----------------------------------------
On its debut CD First Flight, Blackraven (the Native American Music Award® nominated duo of Daniel Hicks and Charles Button) takes the unique sound of the Native American flute in imaginative new directions, weaving its evocative melodic voice as the unifying thread into a fresh sonic fabric that embraces elements of folk, rock, and world music. The highly personal flute stylings of Daniel Hicks blend seamlessly with the guitar, bass, and keyboard textures of co-composer and producer Charles B
Links
