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Eagle’s
Jump
Testing
it’s
wings one last time...
the young Eagle gives itself
to the Wind… |
NEWS FLASH! Arlie Neskahi & Eagle's Jump win the
Contemporary Music Award
First Annual West Coast Native American Music Awards
For the song, Why
Eagle's
Jump's music features the Native vocal majestics and flute playing
of Arlie Neskahi--whose style has been
honed to perfection with over 35 years of performing and studying
traditional Native music. His performance is complimented
by the stellar keyboard work of Mark Cardenas which
ranges from warm synth washes to acid jazz, rock and funk. Danny Godinez brings his blessed guitar to make the air sparkle with joy and pain. And Ben Smith, "Chief High Hat" adds
just the right amount of rhythmic texture, or... rockin, funkin'
drive to our grooves.
This
is the cutting edge of a new genre that has as it's intent to
explore the world of Native American music. Eagle's Jump strives
to deliver a sound that allows the Native compositions to breathe
without always being constrained to Western time and meter. Little
of this has ever been done, rather, Native music is usually chopped
and stretched to fit the Western time or groove. Their music
features native vocal stylings and time, and also merges and
soars with contemporary flavors! |
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Arlie, Mark, and Ben have
worked together on numerous projects, most notably the landmark
release, Dreaming
in Color, by The Songcatchers on A&M Records,
1994. www.rainbowwalker.net/songcatchers
Danny later was a touring member of the band
adding his touch to the legacy.
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| The music of Eagle's
Jump is
a unique merging of the old and the new, the dance of the Musical
expressions
of many
cultures... Just only now, beginning to know one another's Song after
5 centuries...
It is an exciting musical adventure, take the leap
with Eagle's Jump... |
EJ Concert at Andrew Morrison's Murals, photo Jack Storm |
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Eagle's
Jump can play...
- a small warm room
with an acoustic duo,
- a midsize room/club
with a duo/trio,
- or a fullhouse banquet
or hall with a four or five piece group.
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SOUNDBITES
Live mp3's from a recent show at the Univ of
Washington
Cherry
Blossomz song of awakening spirits...
Wind Song gift from
the Wind...
Why lost love, healing
heart...
Vocal Jam native vocal improv...
Last Kiss 49'er, missing you...
Broken Treaty Bluez broken promises/broken heart...
Some other Eagle's Jump Flavors
Skinnin'
Thru Town flute/vocal
funk groove
Song
of the Flute flute/synth/drums
Frybread Frunk funky
native vocals/flute
Take me Back forty-nine love song
Voices Native Vocal and Guitar, two worlds sing together...
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To
contact us for bookings...
Eagle's
Jump
Arlie Neskahi
206-781-3855 business voice mail
email: neskahi@earthlink.net |
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THE BAND
Arlie Neskahi
 ...is
Dine' (Navajo), born within the Dine' Nation of New Mexico. His
Dine' name is Hataali Chee,"Red Singer", and his vocal
and native flute music is noted for it's melodic and soulful
style. Currently living in Seattle, Washington, he is well known
throughout the Indian Nations for his performance, composition
and knowledge of traditional music. In addition, he is an excellent
storyteller and lecturer on Native American culture and spirituality.
Arlie has won many awards and has numerous song commissions from
the Gathering of Nations Song to the Mayor’s Honor Song
of Seattle. His band, Songcatchers, album, Dreaming in Color
was awarded the First Americans in the Arts; Outstanding Musical
Achievement for 1994. His composition and performance, Round
Dance, was featured on the 1995 Grammy Award winning Prayer for
the Wild Things; by Paul Winter and the Earth Band.
In
2002, Arlie completed a commissioned song for
the Office of the Mayor of Seattle. Then in 2003,
he was appointed to the Seattle Arts Commission
by Mayor Greg Nichols. The Mayor Song’s
documentary was chosen for screening at the NAFTA
filmfest in LA, Nov. 2002, and won first place
in it’s category at the National Association
of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Awards,
2003. He wrote "Kinji's Suite" for
the Third Angle ensemble of the Oregon Symphony,
which was debuted in November 1999 and performed
again in February 2001. His music has been featured
on four Spirit Mountain Casino ads promoting
the Grand Ronde’s Tribe’s community
fund. In 1999, Two Rivers, a native flute/electric
guitar duo, was released on Sounds of Portland.
This CD, produced by KXL FM 95.5, and the Portland
Visitor's Association, featured some of the finest
of Portland's musicians. His native singing group
the White Eagle Singers are known throughout
North America as one of the finest "powwow
drums" today. They are winners of numerous
singing competitions in both the US and Canada.
He toured internationally
with the American Indian Dance Theatre as lead singer and Musical
Director to Japan, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and 2 US
tours of the West and East Coasts. His other
current musical projects include working on producing Native Music
concerts with Painted Sky www.paintedsky.org, in the Pacific
NW. Lead singer for the White Eagle Singers and being contracted
to compose for theatre, video, and film.
Arlie's full
music bio can be found here. www.rainbowwalker.net/arlie
About his bandmates, Arlie writes...
Mark
Cardenas
 Mark Cardenas, keyboardist, one of the hottest cats in Seattle, Mark is one of my grand partners in the Native musical scene. He is a master of composition and musical arrangement. When he speaks EVERYBODY listens as they know he can guide the music to the right places. Mark is a person whose accompaniment to Native music is unparalleled He is one of the original members of the Songcatchers and his work with this band in the mid-90's set the bar for Native musical collaboration.
Born
and raised in Los Angeles, Mark began studying piano at the early
age of four and moved on to guitar at 11. In his early teens he
studied classical piano at the USC Prepatory School of Music. Studies
at LA Harbor College and Sonoma State University introduced him
to jazz and funk. He toured extensively around the East Coast for
the next several years. In 1983 Mark relocated to Minneapolis where
he soon landed a position as multi-keyboardist in Prince’s
funk alter ego group, The Time. Mark recorded on the multi-platinum
album Ice Cream Castles and appeared in the Warner Bros. box office
hit Purple Rain. In 1985 Cardenas recorded tracks for Janet Jackson’s
critically acclaimed debut album Control. Mark presently resides
in Seattle as one of the most sought-after live performance
keyboardists and session players. He has taught vocal and instrumental
music full-time for 4 years in the Everett Public Schools. He has
shared the stage with such artists as Peter Gabriel, George Clinton,
The Neville Brothers, Heart, Chris Barron (Spin Doctors), Pigeonhed
and Phat Sidy Smokehouse and numerous other artists and productions.
Mark recently has composed several soundtracks for Microsoft Video and Multimedia..
Danny Godinez
 Danny Godinez, guitarist, a masterful musician and former touring member of the Songcatchers. Danny is a master in many styles from classical to funk to rock, he is a joy to play with and lends his style and virtuosity to the Eagle's Jump experience. His group, The Danny Godinez Band has toured extensively the past two years.
Danny Godinez has been playing guitar for over 20 years. He is currently singing and playing guitar for the Danny Godinez Band who has performed over 200 shows this past year and a half. They have played a number of festivals throughout Washington, including the Tacoma Blues Festival, where a representative from Tacoma Guitars described them as "mesmerizing....". The band tours throughout the Northwest, Midwest, East Coast, and Alaska. Danny performed on a Bob Dylan tribute record for Red House Records entitled "A Nod to Bob". Danny has toured the United States as guitarist for the Lara Lavi Band. Lara has written with Chris Isaak, Suzanne Vega, and The Neville Brothers. In 2000, Danny placed first in the State of Washington in a guitar competition sponsored by VH-1 and Fender Guitars. Danny enjoys teaching guitar immensely and has taught guitar for over twelve years. Danny is a founding member of Rock School and taught for us at BEST High School and Northstar Junior High prior to becoming a staff member at Rock School. http://www.dannyband.com/
Ben Smith
 Ben Smith, drums/percussion, is another exciting person with whom I love to make music. Ben's work blending and following the lead of the Native vocables and rhythmic textures is amazing. As a powerhouse drummer his respect and love for Native music comes through as he flies with the music. And in return, he is able to drive some masterful grooves on Eagle's Jump's funky and rockin' pieces! Ben is also one of the original members of the Songcatchers.
Ben is the talented drummer behind Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. He hooked up with Ann and Nancy in Seattle when they were looking for a drummer for their band “The HeartMongers.” They must have liked what he had to offer, because he has been with Heart on and off now for a decade. Ben has performed and recorded with an impressive and diverse roster of artists, including: Heart, Kenny G, Taj Mahal, Lovemongers, Deniece Williams, P.F. Sloan (legendary producer and writer of "Eve of Destruction" and "Secret Agent Man"), Cornelius Bumpus, Cyndi Lauper, jazz artists Nancy Wilson, Ernestine Anderson and Randy Brecker, Fatback Band, Phoebe Snow, Tingstas and Rumbel, Southside Johnny, The Songcatchers featuring Charles Neville, Tony Gable and 206 (top of the charts Contemporary Jazz group) and Mercury Records new artist Laura Love; as well as the many other talented artists Ben works with live and in the studio, in New York, Los Angeles and Seattle.
Versatile. Solid. Precise. Dependable. On disk and on stage, Ben Smith earns his reputation night in and night out as a premiere, first-call player. http://www.bensmithdrummer.com/
   
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Scheduled performances
- Saturday May 24th, NW Folklife Festival, Seattle Center Mural Ampitheatre, 210pm
Some
highlighted performances
- Jan 10th, 2007, 12pm, Eagle's Jump at North Seattle Community College, Seattle WA
- Jan 4th, 2007, 12pm, Seattle Presents, Showcase Concert at City Hall, Seattle, WA
- Nov 15th, 2006 Eagle's Jump at University of Washington/Bothell Campus, Seattle WA
- Aug 2006 Eagle's Jump Benefit Concert, Green Bean Coffee, Seattle, WA
- June 2006 Eagle's Jump returns to Lewis/Clark College, Lewiston, ID
- May 2006 Eagle's Jump at University District Community School, Seattle, WA
- Mar 2006 Eagle's Jump at Edmonds Community College, Edmonds, WA
- Nov 2005 Eagle's Jump at University of Washington, Seattle WA
- June 2005 Eagle's Jump at Lewis/Clark College, Lewiston, ID
- May
2005 Eagle's Jump Duet; Edmonds Comm College Fundraising Dinner
- July
2004, Arlie Neskahi & Eagle's Jump performed closing concert
for the LaConner Summer Water Music Festival in LaConner, WA.
Featuring native traditional to funky native fusion as well as
an arrangement of Kinji's Suite.
- November
2003, Eagle's Jump in concert, University of Washington Native
American Week, Seattle, WA.
- February
2003, Eagle's Jump in concert, American Bar Assocation, Spirit
of Excellence Awards, Seattle, WA
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