Artist description Kings on Straw Mats perform a compelling music that is influenced by the spellbinding sounds and dances of North Africa, the Middle East, North India and Australia's North Arnheim Land, utilizing a colorful array of Percussion, Dhumbek, Moroccan Clay drums, Daif, Tabla, Harmonium, Didjeridu, Guitars (elec. and acoustic), Setar ( Iranian stringed Lute) Vocals, and Electronics. The groups vibrant musical colors echo the gold of the desert, the cry of the peacock, ancients temples, and flows with the erotic motion of creative energy. Earthy and streetwise, but with a cosmic viewpoint. The group's compositions and improvisations reach across time, evoking the immensity and patterns of the natural and supernatural worlds. They offer a rare opportunity for listeners to hear some of the world's most fascinating musical instruments weave and tangle together into an amazing display of timing and coordination. Kings on Straw Mat's excursions into spontaneous improvisations truly embodies Buchmaster Fuller's definition of the word SYNERGY: "Synergy is the behavior of whole systems unpredicated by the behavior of their parts" The soul who is seeking the path of spiritual awakening is in search of the formless God. It is music that has beauty, power, and charm, and at the same time raises the soul beyond form. Kazarat Inayat Khan

Artist History Formed during the late summer of 2000.

Group Members Mike Mahaffay - Dumbek *** Scott Steele - Guitar, Bass *** Tiffany Lee Brown - Vocals, Guitar *** Eric Hausmann - V-Guitar, Bass, Percussion *** Stan Wood - Clay Pots, Vibraband *** Michael Stirling - Didgeridoo, Harmonium, Vocals

Instruments Vocals, Guitars, Dumbek, Bass, Clay Pots, Vibraband, Didgeridoo, Harmonium

Press Reviews Ambience to tribal jazz. Ambience is sort of popular in weird way at the moment. Everyone wants there own personal soundscape to hide in like the song treefinger by radiohead off kidA, and a couple of songs on Mirwais album production. But this, I like this, cause It actually builds into something. It fills the air with something to listen to. tribal jazz towards the end in some sort of eastern way sounds cool. KrashKiT_jur - East Gosford, New South Wales, Australia --------------- Independent movie houses scream in exstacy! Wow! This is a mix of atonal Jazz, African rhythym, and ambient music with a touch of DJ thrown in. It reminds me of John Hassell's Bluescreen album. Loved the rhythym bed and the improvisational work on the Sax. Reminded me of a Soundtrack set right away. Great groove with the Drums. Nice fades between sections of the piece. Sonic quality very good. Live instruments were well recorded. If they were natural even better! Gnosis - Nashville, Tennessee --------------- the best song i've heard here! i like the beginning...is that a real didg?....nice...i like the subtle percussion. horns too! cool this sort of reminds me of some miles davis stuff - that panthalassa remix especially and maybe a little coltrane too it's also the longest song i've ever heard on here...which i like. A sort of controlled chaos. hope to hear more of this for sure. I am still listening and it is sooooo good. it just keeps building and evolving. the percussion is awesome. - this song is without a doubt totally fantastic...i would love to hear more if you have more. i can't stop listening...help...it's too good! As you can tell I'm sorta speechless. wow--it's finally done, but i think I'm gonna have to listen to it again in really soon! Thanks for a great journey Enzyme - San Francisco, California --------------- I was surprised to hear a song this good. With the free jazzy parts spinning their way through found sounds and percussive tinklings, it was engaging throughout. Loved it! Namdam - Knox, Indiana

Location Portland, OR - USA

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