Our Pick: Story of cycle of life, death, birth

Page 15

Artist-Santee Smith

Album-Kaha:wi

Song-Konnoronhkwa

Label-Independent

Producer-Bob Doidge and Santee Smith

Kaha:wi is a traditional Mohawk name that translates as She Carries. It was the name of Santee Smith's grandmother Rita Vyse and was passed on to Smith's daughter. It is also the name Smith chose for the dance production she created and performed for the first time in Toronto this past summer and the CD featuring music from that production.

Through the dance production Kaha:wi, Santee, a Mohawk artist from Six Nations of the Grand River whose talents include dancer, singer, choreographer and pottery maker, attempted to fuse traditional and contemporary Iroquoian song and dance without affecting the cultural or artistic integrity of either. That goal carries over to the CD Kaha:wi, the songs that formed the musical backdrop for the live performance.

The CD features 14 tracks and the work of more than 35 singers, musicians and songwriters from Smith's home community. Among those joining Smith to perform on the CD are Faron Johns, ElizaBeth Hill, Sadie Buck, Cheri Maracle, Mavis Callihoo and Smith's daughter, Semiah Kaha:wi. All the songs are performed in Iroquoian languages, with English translations included in the liner notes.

The origins of the songs as part of a stage production are evident throughout the CD, where music, sound effects and the human voice combine to create not just songs, but dramatic soundscapes. Even without benefit of the visual portions of Smith's production, these songs tell a story of the continuing cycle of life, death and rebirth.