Music For Reflexology and Massage

Claude Challe
Buddha-Bar

One of my staples for Reflex, this 2 CD set offers Buddha-Dinner and Buddha-Party, both are done exceptionally well, the former however, is the one most appropriate for bodywork - kind of relaxed and groovy - taking you to different lands with interesting tempo changes that are timed perfectly to move from one song into another - all the things you want in a mellow, ambient CD but interesting. Not at all like some of the other more mindless drivel that is produced out there for massage.

The Party is great too, but more for the purpose that its name states, or for gardening - I like to drive the neighbors crazy with this when I am puttering around the back yard.

Ali Farka Toure and Ry Cooder
Talking Timbuktu

Take two world class guitar players from opposite ends of the world, mix in several more accomplished musicians playing congas, bongos, and calabash, blend them into some gorgeous African rhythms and wonderfully repetitive western blues all at once, and you have an incredible creation that is both soulful and absolutely lovely to massage to. This won’t be for every client, you will definitely want to preview it first. Some of the songs are bit more up tempo than some clients might enjoy during a massage. However, the rhythm you get into when your working to this is very powerful, and it will always be one of my all time favorite collaborations to move to in any way ones body is moved to move.

Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra
Solo Para Ti

Both delicate and intense, this CD showcases Ottmar at his best. He is a fabulous guitarist with a spot on band, and these delicious pop flamenco arrangements are perfect for listening to, or to have on as an exquisite back drop for practically any activity you wish to engage in. For massage, I like it very much, but again, preview it first, as it may not be a suitable match for every client. It is for the most part very mellow, but some of the guitar arrangements are very fast, which might be a bit unsettling during a Swedish style/relaxation massage just by virtue of the tempo. A couple of the songs are quite romantic. One of those songs sung in English, is called Deep In Your Heart, and although it is a very beautiful song, it might be a bit uncomfortable, or even inappropriate when working on someone in a professional setting. For example, if it is a new client, you may want to play them something safe like Enya, or something purely instrumental over playing them this.
Just a consideration.

World Music

Anoushka Shankar and Karsh Kale
Breathing Under Water
This is an amazing collaborative work between Shankar and Kale (not to mention a quite impressive gathering of guest arrangers, musicians and vocalists), that combines classical Indian music, electronica, rock, and some fabulous percussive elements to create a musical experience that is at once transportive and grounding. Anoushka’s sitar playing is exquisite, intricate, and both traditional and right on the edge, while the percussive arrangements of Karsh Kale are mesmerizing, and potentially trance inducing.

I think I would have omitted the 4th track, Sea Dreamer, featuring Sting, as the vocals seem incoherent and distract one from the lovely instrumental flow that they had created with the first 3 songs. I love Sting, but this song sounds like it belongs on a Sting album. It doesn’t seem to be in harmony with the rest of the more original sounding cuts. Maybe they could have placed it somewhere else in the lineup and it would have made a difference.

On Easy with the elegant vocals of Nora Jones, you don’t experience that disconnected feeling. Her sultry, sweet voice becomes another instrument in the orchestra, melding perfectly.

I would have to say my favorite is Little Glass Folk - it is such a happy classical piece. However, all of the other 12 tracks are great, and each is quite different from the other, so you find yourself gliding effortlessly from one song to the next as if riding a gentle wave - wondering where you will journey next.