Instrumental Acoustic Review: Raphael Groten-Star Lullaby

Release Date: June 1, 2019

Label: Indie

Website

I first heard an album from Raphael Groten in 2015 covering Journey Home. So now with 4 years between albums, we have a double-disc set to make up for the lost time. The new release is titled Star Lullaby. 29 tracks comprise his latest recording. 

Star Lullaby on disc 1 is all original solo guitar music produced at Imaginary Road Studios with Will Ackerman and Tom Eaton. Disc 2 includes the same songs but with featured musicians Michael Manring, Eugene Friesen, Ron Korb, Charlie Bisharat, Jeff Haynes, Noah Wilding, and Will Ackerman.  This will provide each individual listener the opportunity to hear all tracks as they were meant to be heard with the guitar and then another opportunity to hear it all with instruments added. You will have the chance to compare and contrast each song, but most of all come to appreciate what a true artisan Raphael is with his six-string.

The picking and plucking of the acoustic guitar can create many soundscapes, textures, colors, and images. This is where the artist succeeds in seemingly effortless fashion. Certainly, it sounds very smooth as he transitions from one song to the next but surely this is not an easy thing to accomplish. Making your guitar the only instrument, then filling in all the spaces with the right tones and rhythms, must be a task. And then thinking of adding many other instruments and where to put them properly in a composition is another challenge. What you never have is a window into the process and obstacles one can run into on such an ambitious undertaking. That must have been more of a challenge from a production point than cutting the first disc with just guitar.

On the second disc, Raphael was very smart and made sure his guitar remained the main instrument. This does not take away from the added instrumentation. The artist commented: To be clear, the tracklist is the same for both discs, except Disc 2 which has a 15th track: “Star Lullaby” (vocals). (Which by the way, is very good).

Truly, my inspiration for the double CD came early on in production. As I began to overdub the featured musicians (which was thrilling!), I realized that while I expanded the sound for my fans, I also wanted to maintain their capacity to be able to listen to just the solo guitar. 

 I think that puts it all into proper perspective for the artist and for the listeners.

With that said, I found the additional instruments a benefit to the tracks, particularly with Michael Manring's distinctive bass style and tone.  The natural partnership of bass and six-string guitars are very evident when listening to these tracks. I also think because the guitar is acoustic, it allows the other instruments to shine and accompany Raphael in the most complimentary way possible. The beauty and simplicity of the first disc are very enjoyable and will be appreciated by guitar fans and those of easy listening or relaxation music. The same applies to the second disc but what you get is more layers of sound without any compromise from any one instrument, it all blends together beautifully.

There is just so much to enjoy on Star Lullaby that it would seem unfair to site any one track as a standout because they all are, it’s as simple as that. This is quite a treat for the ears and senses and the contrasts and variety are superb.


Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

June 1, 2019

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Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Tracks:

Disc 1: Solo Guitar 
1.  dawn
2.  waking
3.  mindfulness
4.  guidance
5.  levity
6.  star lullaby
7.  gratitude
8.  meditation
9.  compassion
10. opening
11. fledgling
12. eclipse
13. trust
14. prayer

Disc 2: Featured Musicians 
1.  dawn
2.  waking
3.  mindfulness
4.  guidance
5.  levity
6.  star lullaby
7.  gratitude
8.  meditation
9.  compassion
10. opening
11. fledgling
12. eclipse
13. trust
14. prayer
15. star lullaby (vocals)

 

Instrumental New Age Reviews:Raphael Groten-Journey Home

Release Date: July, 17, 2015

Label: Silent Wing Records

Website

Raphael Groten takes the six string acoustic guitar and turns it into a magic wand on his recent release Journey Home. 

The first track I had the pleasure hearing from this talented man was “Sweetness,” which is included here and it was also a featured track on our Rate The Tracks site.

This album gets in touch with our natural surroundings and with the most important element, the giver of life and water. “Black River,” “Waves” and “Ebb and Flow” (the ebb and flow of life?) are three that will push you in the right direction or downstream if you will. Music, water, all-encompassing nature, this is life and everything in existence.

Groten has complete command of his instrument. As he becomes one with nature so he does with his guitar. This music soothes the soul and calms the frazzled nerves. It is so simplistic and straightforward that it becomes easy to assimilate and picture each title in your mind’s eye. One has to be quiet internally to meditate and center and this music serves the same purpose if you let it.

Also the four sequential “Journey” tracks serve a higher purpose. As you take in nature and all its beauty it is a journey with facets and twists and turns like the imaginary river you are walking along or just sitting peacefully by. The first is “Journey Home: Awakening” followed by Breath, Echoes and then Arrival to the destination you seek.

It all makes perfect sense and is pieced together with logic and purpose. If you really listen to the singularity of Groten’s guitar it will all come together for you. It certainly did for me and when I listened and looked at all the track titles and how they progressed it was like putting on a perfect set of new shoes. 

I really enjoyed every track on this recording, however I listed the key tracks for their significance in title, besides the fact that they were all stellar compositions of beauty and grace.

Raphael Groten chose the right people to work with that would understand his music. Will Ackerman is a fine guitar player and producer himself so it is not hard to imagine why this project turned out so well.

Journey Home can hold different meanings for everyone but I know one thing for certain, if you like solo acoustic guitar music you will love this album! It is perfect just the way it is.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Sweetness, Journey Home: Awakening, Ebb & Flow

Tracks: 
01. Sweetness
02. Black River
03. Waves
04. Journey Home: Awakening
05. Journey Home: Breath
06. Journey Home: Echoes
07. Journey Home: Arrival
08. Ebb & Flow
09. Grandpa's Hands
10. Rest
12. Truth
13. Be
14. Sweetness Reprise

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck- New Age Music Reviews Founder

January 14, 2016

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Featured Stream: Raphael Groten-Sweetness

Raphael Groten has a new release out titled Journey Home. Our focus track is the beautiful and delicate "Sweetness." 

Groten takes his acoustic guitar and turns it into a tool to soothe and caress the human mind, body and spirit. With the video provided you will also see what the message is in addition to hearing it.

What I enjoyed is the simplicity and directness of the track. "Sweetness" can come in many different ways and in this case it is being with a loved one and enjoying the splendor of nature and all its gifts.

Groten delivers to the listener and an audio visual treat to help you to realize that the simple things in life are what are most important. Look around you and take it all in and enjoy your life and everything it brings to you on a daily basis. One man, one guitar and music of solitude and gratitude is what I hear. I like the way the video ends with Groten creating a totem on a tree with his guitar and bird feathers. Our Native American father's would be proud!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck



More About Raphael Groten:

http://raphaelgroten.com

Acoustic guitarist Raphael Groten exhibited amazing patience in waiting until now to release his first solo recording, seeing as he has been playing the instrument for thirty years (and loving every minute of it). His story involves perseverance, happenstance, and coincidence, and even though the seeds of what germinated for years have finally sprouted with the release of 2015's Journey Home, getting there involved some diversions as well as the development of a deep-rooted belief in a world of personal spiritual growth and commitment to using his talent for the betterment of others.

Raphael Groten was born in Philadelphia forty-two years ago on Christmas Day, 1973, into a true music-loving environment. From happy times as the family sang during long car trips to the sizable jazz and classical vinyl collection in the house (with a particular emphasis on bossa nova and Latin-influenced jazz) to the ubiquitous presence of multiple guitars during holiday gatherings, there seemed to be something musical going on at all times. Despite there being a piano available, Raphael first picked up the saxophone as his chosen instrument, beginning with alto sax in the 4th grade and graduating to tenor from grades 7 to 10. He moved on to guitar when he turned 13 and, as they say, the rest is history. First acquiring some informal music training from his mother and sister, Raphael then moved on to formal studies at the University of Vermont, where he majored in Philosophy and minored in Music. While still in high school, he became immersed in folk music and by the end of his Freshman year of college he had composed over 100 songs, collaborating with friends when it came time to write lyrics. After his diploma, he launched his own ten-piece Latin/jazz/funk ensemble, Saudade. The group performed extensively during the late '90s in Burlington, Vermont, and released two albums of Raphael's own compositions.

Even as he was experiencing success with his band, something stirred inside him, some part of him wanted to affect positive change in the world. In 1993, while taking a holistic health class, he met his first shamanic teacher, Susan Grimaldi. In 2001, she would reenter his life at a pivotal moment when he sought personal healing after his four and a half month old son was involved in a near fatal accident. That first night in intensive care he played guitar for his son, while the following day a therapeutic harpist paid them a visit in his son's room, performing for them. It was at this moment when an epiphany dawned for Raphael—his life calling was to compose, perform, and eventually record intentional healing music for people in need. Shortly thereafter, he began shamanic studies, first with Grimaldi and then with Zacciah Blackburn in the field of Sound Healing. He graduated to being a practitioner himself, which he does to this date, offering Sound Circles, individual sessions, group work and apprenticeships, using voice, medicine drum, crystal bowl, flutes and more.

In addition to his work in the Sound Healing field, Raphael also teaches children folk music, and uses singing, dancing, clapping, music theory and song-writing as part of his teaching repertoire. In addition, he also holds private lessons for both guitar and ukulele. As if that wasn't enough to keep him busy,  he is also a contractor, carpenter, and furniture maker, with his own company, Barnoire Furniture and Cabinetry (started in 2001).

It was while sitting in one of his daily meditations in nature (he currently lives in a log cabin atop a mountain in Starksboro, Vermont) that yet another turning point occurred in Raphael's life. He was moved, purely through intuition, to email one of his guitar tracks ("Black River") to Will Ackerman, Windham Hill label founder and owner of Imaginary Road Studios, also in Vermont. In his email, he also requested a meeting to discuss the possibility of Will producing Raphael's first solo recording, featuring fingerstyle acoustic guitar. Fate smiled on him and Will responded the next day. A scant two months later, Groten's debut, Journey Home, was recorded in just two days at Imaginary Road. The experience left a huge impact on Raphael, as he states "I would be remiss in not mentioning the enormous influence and presence of Will Ackerman in my life... I now see, first hand, how Will champions music of this nature."

When asked about his goal for his music, Raphael replies with rock-solid conviction: "To me, being a musician involves offering an uplifting, contemplative, and ultimately healing experience to each listener. As I play each concert and as I write and record each song, I imbue my music with mindful intention for the well-being and healing of all life."