Under Desert Skies by John Huling Music...the latest CD

The response to Under Desert Skies has been overwhelming. It has become our #1 bestselling release to date. Thank you!
It took a while but after nearly 10 years I have finally returned to the "Desert Plateaus", "Spiritlands" sound that I started back in 1990. This new album Under Desert Skies is available directly from johnhuling.com the official and only personal web site for John Huling Music.
Audio samples, purchasing info, photos, a Bio and all kinds of stuff will be on the site. I will add to this blog as the days go by more info about 3 new titles due out by late 2007 early 2008. Don't forget to check out Ancestral Waters also.
My mother and father (both of whom have since passed away recently) first brought me to the Desert Southwest in 1958. (actually 1955 but I don't remember much!) We lived on the edge of the De Anza Borrego Indian Reservation as it was called then in Southern California. It was a fairly remote place at that time compared to present day. I spent many days with my father and mother out in the desert exploring abandoned prehistoric dwelling sites. We drove around on sandy dirt roads, an adventure in and of itself, in an old metallic green Hudson Jet. That was a car in those days for those who think it might of been an actual "jet". We had the official required "Oasis" canvas water bag hanging off the front bumper. Just there for looks really. Everyone had one who traveled through the desert. I doubt there was enough water in it for any thing useful. But it made us feel more secure just the same. We would have some water in case our "green bomb" got stuck.
I remember my father playing and singing "age old songs" out there at night Under Desert Skies. My sister and I would listen and dream... to be continued...pictures etc. will be here in 2007.
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John Huling Composer of Spiritlands-3 new CD's by late December 2007

The first of 3 new albums reminiscent of Spiritlands should be available before the end of 2007. Two other CD's soon there after. Check the John Huling Website often for news about these releases.
SPIRITLANDS was the landmark release after the enormously succesful 1991 Desert Plateaus release. Hundreds of thousands of CD's of SPIRITLANDS CD's have been sold since it's release in early 1994. As one very generous reviewer put it...

"John Huling's fluid musical style has become one of the most emulated, if not outright copied Desert Southwest Native American Indian Flute Music in the world." Many try to sound like John Huling but fall woefully short!" Native American Music Review

SPIRITLANDS followed his 1991 release of DESERT PLATEAUS which is also a bestseller.
Along with Spiritlands, Return to Spiritlands, Desert Plateaus, Canyon Spirit, In the Land of Dreams, Mesa Sunrise and Under Desert Skies Huling has 3 new cd releases scheduled for 2007. The new CD releases are all part of his Musical Visions of the Southwest series that began back in early 1990. More about these new albums and the story of the SPIRITLANDS album soon. Don't be fooled...by other "sound alikes". Get the original.
Thanks to the fans for their support for John Huling's music for more than 20 years!

JOHN HULING Return to: John Huling Music

Spiritlands CD- John Huling Reviews

Many people have requested some reviews. Here are just a few for Spiritlands...

"John Huling's music is the best Native American Flute music to come across my desk ... it is the most original!"
-Forest/Musical Startstreams nationally syndicated radio program.

"John Huling's music has been our #1 bestseller for the last four years!"
P. Brotzman, CEO, Four Winds Trading Company

Both beautiful and inspirational, these "Musical Visions of the Southwest" as Huling calls them,
are based upon ancient Native American stories and legends from the southwestern United
States. A real bonus is Huling's self authored liner notes. With each unique song
progressively calming the spirit, you will be drawn into a restful world of peace and
tranquility. Features a variety of Native American flutes, ceremonial Indian drums, ancient
pan flutes and a host of other instruments. My father purchased this John Huling album, one for me and one for himself, several years ago back. I am to this day increasingly grateful for
this purchase. Though I have combed through my CD collection several times throughout the
years and sold many of my older albums, this one will forever remain on my shelves. To this day I pull out this CD when in dire need of some rest and relaxation.
The soundscapes encountered herein are no less than gorgeous, relaxing, and inspiring. Huling
seamlessly and beautifully intertwines ceremonial drums and pan flutes with sounds inspired
and derived from nature, such as the howling of wolves, the tinkling of rain and the clapping
of thunder. The melodies and beats are at once uplifting and soothing. Each song is a trip through different aspects of tranquility, as is the album as a whole, conjuring visions
of nature in all it's unbridled beauty. Though each ensemble is deserving of recognition, my
favorites would have to be Lost Canyons, with it's infectiously haunting melody, and Final
Journey, with the hypnotic drum beats and soft pattering of rain in the background. All of the music on this CD is great! I can listen to this while I'm working on the computer
to help keep me relaxed, or during meditation. The gentle nature sounds mixed in with the
soft drum beats and heart-felt flute playing...I just can't say enough. It's fabulous and has
a definite Native American feel and sound.
The first track, "Breath of the Mountain" starts out slow, and then when the drum beats kick
in combined with the flute, it makes me want to go outside amongst the trees with my arms up
in the air and dance around. This track is one of my favorites.
I've always loved the way the rainstick sounds, and track 2, "Gathering Spirits" combines
that with the flute, some silent pauses, then, the drumming starts and the sound of a birds. This song is uplifting.
Track 3, "Lost Canyons" is light and mellow all the way through. This is a great song for
meditation. If you have six and half minutes for a short meditation, put this song on, and
let it take you away.
Who doesn't love the sound of a thunderstorm? Track 4, "Final Journey" combines the soft
pattering of rain with thunder, soft drums and light flute. Like track 3, it is mellow all
the way through, is also about six and a half minutes, and is great for meditating or
relaxation.
Track 5, "Ghost Dancers" starts out with upbeat drumming and rattles. It brings to mind
people dancing around a fire, in trance, lost in the moment, letting their body be one with
the beats of the drums. Like all of the tracks, there is also beautiful flute combined with
the other instruments.
"Into the Memory," track 6, is very mellow and light. Great for relaxing.
Track 7, "Spiritlands" starts out with birds chirping, bringing to mind the dawn of a new
day, waking up to fresh morning dew. I imagine waking up, stretching, and hearing these
sounds as my body wakes. It also brings to mind the feeling of coming out of trance, bringing
your spirit back into your body.
Lastly, track 8, "Ascension" starts out with sounds of a storm. The flute and keyboard
combine to form a feeling of hope. The storm is breaking, the gray turning to brightness as
the sun comes out of hiding. It ends with light pattering and sounds of nightfall, signaling
the end of the day, and the CD. This is a fine album. The selections vary in their effects on my psyche. Some are quiet and relaxing--good for meditation. Others are uplifting and help your spirit soar. My favorite "cut" is #2, "Gathering Spirits" which is one of the "uplifting" ones .

Reviewer: Peter Martin Muzyka (Madison, Georgia United States)
I first heard John Huling's Spiritlands while visiting Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania a few years ago. Instantly my mind was transported to a land beyond the confines of modern society.
I am an artist and whenever I need to be reinspired while painting I put on Spiritlands and become re-energyzed. Since buying this CD I have become the proud owner of all of John's wonderous compositions.
Visit John Huling 's personal website with the only complete library of all John Huling music.

John Huling Ancestral Waters CD

Ancestral Waters was somewhat of a departure for me from my Musical Visions of the Southwest Series. After my fathers passing in 2001, I revisited some of my families "old haunts" around the country. I visited Jackson Hole Wyoming where my mother (who passed in 2005) later told me I was conceived. I also went to the east where 350 years ago or so my ancestors had inter-married and lived with various tribes of the Iroqouis, Narrangansett, Mohawk, Abenakai and others. I visited the Old Huling Cemetary where many of my great grand parents are buried. The leader of the Narragansett tribe kindly showed be around and shared many stories of our Ancestral roots.
I wanted to get inspiration for this new album. I did. More than I could have imagined. Ancestral Waters far exceeded my musical expectations. I wanted to do something slightly different with the native american flute than I had in my earlier music such as Spiritlands , Desert Plateaus, Return to Spiritlands a.k.a. Ancient Canyons, Canyon Spirit and other titles.
flute music and nature sounds. It was not to be then. But that same year I met up with Will A friend of mine, Michael Hedges, had passed away in 1997. Before his passing we had talked about how acoustic guitar could work as the background instrument with my native americanAckerman.
Now I have know some amazing people in my life. I helped John Wayne build his darkroom in 1975 in Newport Beach California. I became close friends with photographer Ansel Adams and his wife Virginia. That's another story I will have to tell someday. I would add Will Ackerman, who started the Windhamhill record label, to that list. His help was generous. Both my wife's and my father had passed away with in 3 weeks of each other. It was a rough time.
Will provided much of the guidence needed to finish recording this album in 2003.
It is inspired from my own multi-cultural background and experiences. The Native American Indian culture, my family has been a part of for nearly 400 years as well as other geographic areas around the country including the Southwest, Northwest and Northeast.
The cover photo is from the Grand Tetons, Wyoming near Jenny Lake. The photo on the back, taken by me in 1967, is from Niagara Falls, New York (Grand Isalnd) where my family built the first permanent dwelling around 1838. The other photo is Joni (my wife) and I recording shoreside at Lake Powell, Arizona around 1990-92. More to come soon...

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John Huling's 3 New CD's Due out 2007 or early 2008

Sorry for the delay...but due to illness it will be just a couple more months hopefully before the first of 3 new albums should be available. They will be a continuation of the best selling Musical Visions of the Southwest series. 2 more CD's will follow shortly after. They should be ready for release by the end of 2007 or early 2008.
The music is Native American Flute influenced and inspired by experiences and life in the Southwest. The titles will only be announced when they are released.
I finished another project for the Smithsonian Native American Museum. It was the music from the CD Ancestral Waters. This music is featured throughout various exhibits in the Native American portion of the museum. It is an honor to have been apart of this project.
More to come soon on the...
John Huling Music Official Website

What is JELLY MUSIC anyway?

Jelly Music? Music of the Jellies?


What is Jelly Music or Music of the Jellies any way? I get asked this question so often I decided I needed to explain.
Jelly Music (as it's come to be known) is a collection of music using Pan Flutes and the sound of gentle ocean waves, distant whale songs and coastal tidal pools as the background sound. As with most of my music, the background ends up being an integral part of the composition. I use a few other instruments as well in some of these pieces that were composed over a 4 year period.
It all started with the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey California around 1986. Julie Packard, daughter of David Packard from the "Hewlett-Packard Company", started the Aquarium. They needed some sound effects for a new upcoming exhibit for Jelly Fish. I suggested that it might be possible to use music and real sound instead of effects. The first song used was entitled Pacific Winds from the album Open Spaces (not released until 1988).The second was Blue Canyons from my album Blue Canyons (released in 1989).

No one had really used music and sound effects with an exhibit like this before.
Well the rest is history as they say. The music became so popular that it ended up being used in not only the Monterey Bay Aquarium but also in just about every major Jelly Fish exhibit around the world including Australia, Japan, England and China. Years later I took these various compositions and put them together on one album under the suggestion from a friend Michelle McKenzie. I really did not have a title for it. I had just been referring to it has the Jelly Music album. When I jokingly said to Michelle the buyer at Monterey Bay Aquarium at the time, she said "Hey! What a great title!" so it stuck.
Income from each album sold is and continues to be donated to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary to preserve the coastal areas off of California. It is the largest Ocean preserve in North America and I am proud to have been involved in it's preservation. To date more than $150,000 has been raised from the sale of the Jelly Music album.
Hundreds of thousands of Jelly Music albums have been sold world wide. (yes I still call them albums...a collection of works like a photo album)
Of course it was been heard in the USA also at the Aquarium of the Americas, Boston Aquarium, Long Beach Aquarium, Atlanta Aquarium and many others around the country.
In particular, the Aurelia Jelly Fish or "Moon Jellies" were some of my favorite sources of inspiration. I had become familar with them while scuba diving in the mid 60's. These are the ones that look like parachutes floating in the deep blue water with their dangling tentacles. (See photo of album cover) I also really liked the undulating Comb Jellies. If you have ever been to an Aquarium exhibit almost any where in the world, then you have most likely heard "Jelly Music".
As far as I know, I was lucky enough to be the first composer to create a musical composition for these incredibly beautiful sea creatures almost 20 years ago. To hear some samples of Jelly Music go to http://www.johnhuling.com/JellyMusic.htm or Return to: John Huling Music