Product Description

Released originally on the Higher Octave Music label in 1999, and reissued by Essence Records, Dancing With The Muse has been extremely popular instrumental recording worldwide. This is a CD that is not only exceptionally creative and dynamic but best described as intricate World Fusion with strong Middle Eastern influences. Strong acoustic elements with samples, loops and chants. There are nine enchanting tracks. Magaya from Dancing With The Muse was selected and played during the evening gown performance and again during the finale of the Miss Universe Pageant in 2000.

Track Listing

1. Magaya
2. Dancing With the Muse
3. Joy of This Longing
4. Marionette
5. New West
6. Shahzada
7. Remain in Motion
8. Invisible Hands

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #177890 in Music
• Released on: 2005-03-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Customer Reviews

Mediterranean Cruise
I have all of Chris's CDs and huge fan of his style, music, words and beauty. I would rate this CD, his best effort. This is not to say all of his other CDs are lesser. I'm only implying, I tend to reach for this CD more when there are house guests, for road trips and skiing. His ability to inspire and imagine with this CD, is at new heights in his career. Imagine traveling from port to port in the Mediterranean Sea, from Barcelon to Nice to Naples to Athens to Beirut to Alexandria and back to Tangier with many island stops in between. What a journey, Chris has created in "Dancing with the Muse".

Superb Compositions
Although the album is seven years old the various compositions seem timeless. The range of instruments used evoke sounds from the many lands and cannot fail to entertain. I first heard Magaya being played in a Piazza in Lugao on a warm Summer's evening and it took me by storm. Thoroughly recommended.

Musing with the Dance, Dancing with the Muse
I love Chris Spheeris and his music, so don't get me wrong. When I rate this four stars, it's only because some of his other albums are worth 5 stars! This is a bit more laid back, a bit more repitive, and although lovely, and soulful, my soul gets full a bit sooner here than with other albums he has done. Perhaps with more thematic transitions, a broader overall vision for the album, focused on a stronger central theme, these could have elevated it to a 5. Of course, then the title would have needed to be different...somthing like...Dream Visions of the Pita Baker Lost Off the Rocky Cliffs of Crete. We could then have had a lot of ocean sounds, surf and splashing, sea birds and the ancient curses of an old embittered Pita Baker as he rows futiley against a strong headwind, dangerously close to jagged rocks, whilst the sea birds ruin his hat, his Pita bread and his dreams of long lost youth. The Pathos!