MUSICIAN C.S. FUQUA
By Jess Williams
Fans of the Native America flute have a new treat to enjoy.
Las Cruces-based musician C.S. Fuqua has released a new album, titled “Different Direction,” which contains 12 world jazz cuts, with native flute featured as primary instrument in more than half of the instrumentals.
He said he’s hopeful the album will draw more attention to the instrument
“As more artists produce albums featuring the native flute in modern music, the instrument will continue to expand its range,” he said, “securing its deserved place in bands of all genres, holding its own with the loudest guitars and most strident brass sections to create a multi-cultural celebration for the ears.”
Fuqua said the idea behind “Different Direction” – his seventh album – was “to blend the soulful traditions of the flute into diverse compositions of world music influenced by bluegrass, rock and jazz traditions that combine for a refreshing sound that is at once both familiar and new.”
Fuqua said he is far from the first to broaden the native flute’s range and use in music.
“The Rippingtons jazz group featured Robert Tree Cody on two cuts on their 1999 album, ‘Topaz,’” he said. “And 21 years later, that album remains one of the group’s most popular.”
Fuqua has researched and published extensively on the history, mythology, and crafting of the Native American flute, including A Comprehensive Guide ~ The Native American Flute ~ History & Craft. His first album was released in 2014. For more information, visit http://csfuqua.com.
“Different Direction” is available for streaming and/or purchase on most major music platforms, including Pandora, Deezer, Amazon, iTunes and Fuqua’s music website, http://csfuqua.bandcamp.com.