james newtonPoll-winning flutist James Newton stands in the forefront of a contemporary musical movement which continues to gather momentum on an international scale. Along with several others around the world, he leads the way in breaking down divisive categorical barriers while simultaneously creating a new and inclusive universal music.Echo Canyon (13012-2), was entirely improvised on solo flute, recorded live, at night, outdoors, beneath a full moon, in the mountains northeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Over the years, Newton has completely assimilated music from America, Europe, Japan, India, Africa, South America, and elsewhere. On Echo Canyon, he spontaneously processed them through his personal psyche and transformed them. The whole of Echo Canyon constitutes an original world music, rhythmically free and lovingly connected with healing nature, that contains a near–perfect balance between intellect, spirit, passion, and form. Says Newton from his home in San Pedro, California:
Newton's musical/cultural odyssey began at an early
age. He was born in Los Angeles on May 1, 1953. His
father was a career army man, and James traveled with
his family throughout the world. He listened to the
urban blues, R & B, and gospel recordings his
parents played. At the age of ten, he began listening
to the During his junior year at San Pedro High, Newton became interested in the flute. At eighteen, he entered nearby Mount San Antonio Junior College, and within two years he was playing European classical music eight hours a day. From 1973 to 1976, he played in a group that included
jazz greats At Cal State (1975-1977), Newton continued his
studies of European classical music while playing
jazz at night. In 1978, he moved to New York, where
he lived intermittently until 1981, playing jazz with
giants such as discography |