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Tree of Life

Cincinnati's premier tribal world fusion duo

About Me

Richard and Patrick are founding members of Totems, nominated for "best world music" in the 2006 CityBeat Cincinnati Entertainment Awards. Tree of Life began in September 2005 and has been evolving a unique blend of acoustic tribal world fusion. Their music features Middle Eastern, African and other tribal rhythms underlying a variety of improvisational melodies played on woodwinds and ethnic wind instruments. Live shows emphasize trance and dance. They often perform with belly dancers.CDs: "Tree of Life," "Cleopatra," "Anvil of the Gods." BOOKINGSTo book Tree of Life contact Patrick at: [email protected] are available for a variety of events, including, but not limited to:.. Musical Meditations .. Educational Programs for all ages .. Spinning Classes .. Alternative Therapy sessions .. Wine Tastings .. Corporate and Retail events .. Private Parties .. Performances in Coffee Houses, Restaurants, Pubs, Taverns, Bars and FestivalsWhen you book Tree of Life, you get a partner in advertisings. We print and distribute fliers for the gig. The event is posted online in websites and on yahoo groups. Calendar sections of periodicals such as CityBeat and CinWeekly are notified.The original instrumental music of Tree of Life has many flavors and influences, including trance, ambient, Afro-beat, psychedelic, roots, jazz, Native American, belly dance, New Age, Celtic, classical and world. We are glad to tailor our musical performance to your particular needs. Email us for details. Check out videos of our live performances with belly dancers in our Blog section.

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Member Since: 11/8/2006
Band Website: myspace.com/treeoflifeworldmusic
Band Members: Richard Cisneros is an African-style hand drummer who plays djembe,darbuka,doumbek,bodhran,mounted "tombourine" and conga heads, bells, chimes, gongs, and other percussion. He is a Cincinnati native gone wild.Patrick McMahon plays wind instruments, including flutes, recorders, clarinets, saxes, harmonicas. He has been recorded on 70 different instruments over 50 albums and is best known for his work with Owen Knight's Blacklight Braille and as a founding member of Cincinnati's legendary Bitter Blood Street Theatre.
Influences: Extremely eclectic influences, including rock, jazz, blues,classical and ethnic world music. Richard is particularly inspired by Neil Peart of Rush. Patrick venerates the ancestors, including Jimi, Bird, Trane, Miles, Cannonball,Grover, Dexter, Sun Ra and George "Bullet" Williams (hc). As a kid, he was deeply moved by the work of Yusef Lateef. Carlos Santana and Gato Barbieri are major influences as well. The late Eric Dolphy holds a special place in Patrick's heart, and is a spiritual and musical mentor to him. As an ethnologist, Patrick has made a cross-cultural study of world religion and spirituality, as well as tribal art and music. The Smithsonian's collection of ethnographic field recordings has been a gold mine of inspiration and musical influence. In the realm of classical music, composers Bach and Debussy have been particularly inspiring. As a teen, Patrick had personal experiences with Amanda Ambrose, Frank Zappa, Ravi Shankar and Gwenivere which directly inspired him to become an entertainer and placed him on the path of honoring the divine gift of music. Today music is his passion ...his bliss...his life.
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Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None

My Blog

"CONGO"

Since Richard and I channel the spirit of creativity as we perform improvisationally, it is always gratifying when members of our audience respond spontaneously in a creative manner as well. In additi...
Posted by Tree of Life on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:49:00 PST

"Rain Dance" Pt. 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuTpd63BQn8 Deniz of Sandstorm improvising to a live version of "Rain Dance" by Tree of Life at the Great Midwest Hafla (2007). Part Two....
Posted by Tree of Life on Fri, 23 May 2008 09:55:00 PST

"Rain Dance" Pt. 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR_zLxpmxvs Deniz of Sandstorm improvising to a live version of "Rain Dance" by Tree of Life at the Great Midwest Hafla (2007). Part One....
Posted by Tree of Life on Fri, 23 May 2008 09:51:00 PST

Navitas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTWrOI1fXug Navitas dancing to the live drumming of Tree of Life and friends at the Great Midwest Hafla (2007)...
Posted by Tree of Life on Fri, 23 May 2008 09:46:00 PST

"Bambao"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxbkAHs6AVc Cinnamon Sisters dancing to a live version of "Bambao" by Tree of Life at the Great Midwest Hafla (2007)....
Posted by Tree of Life on Fri, 23 May 2008 09:32:00 PST

Nataj

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRUDLz2phbM Nataj improvising to a live version of "Oasis" by Tree of Life at the Great Midwest Hafla (2007)....
Posted by Tree of Life on Fri, 23 May 2008 09:27:00 PST

Jennifer Rose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzv7joI6lWs Jennifer Rose improvising to the live music of Tree of Life at the Great Midwest Hafla (2007)....
Posted by Tree of Life on Fri, 23 May 2008 09:22:00 PST

Anaya Gypsy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnFwDGMWBZ0 Anaya Gypsy Dance Company performing to a live version of "Mirage" by Tree of Life at the Great Midwest Hafla (2007)....
Posted by Tree of Life on Fri, 23 May 2008 09:17:00 PST

"Oasis"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3s9kutxU6s Jennifer Rose and Deniz of Sandstorm improvising to a live version of "Oasis" by Tree of Life in Cincinnati, OH (2007)....
Posted by Tree of Life on Tue, 06 May 2008 11:58:00 PST

Sword Routine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyQUkCRQUPc Laylia performing her sword routine to a live version of "Golden Temple" by Tree of Life at the Great Midwest Hafla (2007)...
Posted by Tree of Life on Tue, 06 May 2008 11:12:00 PST