Forest Rain

Dean Evenson's love for nature is embodied in his musical work which blends natural sounds with his free-form compositions. His vision is ""to create peaceful, joyous environments for people on this planet to live in ...bringing nature, music, and humanity together in harmony."" The natural sounds of Forest Rain trace a journey following the rivers and streams up the mountain to the very heart of the old growth forest. Lush music reflects the depth and multi-layered richness of the ancient grove. Towering, moss draped cedars are home to a multitude of species. Trees of many ages live in a communion of natural systems, creating a context for the intricate web of life to play out its magic dance.

A warm, reflective paean to North American temperate rainforests, Forest Rain from flautist-keyboardist Dean Evenson stands as one musician's interpretive soundtrack of the moods, subtleties, and cycles inherent in the few remaining stands of such forests. Recorded in 1993, a few of Evenson's synthesizer textures may sound faintly dated (appearing a bit too shiny in places), but this is a minor distraction in an otherwise well-executed recording notable for its sense of calm and its elevated degree of musicianship. More than tree-huggers playing simplistic melodies, Evenson and company (d'Rachel and wife Dudley Evenson on harp, Jonathan Kramer on cello) create gentle atmospheres (some with keyboards, some without) that eschew overt melodicism in favor of evocative soundscapes that capture the quiet majesty of grand trees. Highlights: Evenson's softly searching flute passages in the 10-minute "Deep Forest"; the glowing, Suzanne Ciani-like "Branching Out"; and the closer, "Prayer for the Ancient Trees," featuring the drumming and chants of a Lummi Nation member. The disc's attractive packaging includes an educational insert outlining the benefits humans derive from a healthy temperate rainforest. --Terry Wood