Music free for all.

1) Love & War & the Sea in Between

I stumbled across Josh Garrels in a quest to find some new music to listen to at my 9-5. I went to Garrels's website and to my happy surprise found that he is offering a free download of his current album! I've only listened to it twice, but I like it already. He is a christian musician that creates music that is lyrically deep and creative, but not saccharine. I don't mean to be a hater on popular christian music...but we need more artists like him. At first listen I especially enjoy: Farther Along, Ulysses (a lovely mythological tie-in), and Beyond the Blue. 

For the download go to: http://joshgarrels.com/. 

2) Tiny Desk Concerts by NPR

Here is how it goes: NPR invites musicians to come in to their office and play a few songs, fun ensues. And bonus!, on most you can download the audio for free (or just subscribe to their live concert podcast on iTunes). 

Might I recommend a few for you to check out?

The Tallest Man on Earth (one of my favorite folk artists)

Hilary Hahn (Beautiful violin music)

James Vincent McMorrow 

David Rawlings and Gillian Welch (Especially "Sweet tooth", it may put a smile on your face like it did mine)

Collaborations.

What happens when a few musical geniuses get in a recording studio to make music? A thing of beauty.

The Goat Rodeo Sessions, a collaborative work between Yo-yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile, is a mingling of classical, folk, and bluegrass styles. It is lovely and great reading music - as  most of it is instrumental. Two of the songs do have vocals, which brings me to the reason for today's post.

The whole CD is terrific, but I've been a wee bit manic about one song in particular: Here & Heaven. Beautiful harmonies set to a cello, fiddle, and banjo — need I say more?