Escape into your heart

Every thought becomes a prayer. Prayers of joy, prayers of gratitude - - moving beyond all negativity and doubt, replacing it with genuine love, breathing in joy, revealing the Light within.

In the CD Grace, Karen's heart-centered voice flows through contemplative piano; inspiring Native American flute and drum; soulful acoustic guitar; and the sounds of surf, wind chimes and laughter. These tranquil vignettes are layered with her prayerful and affirming meditations, promoting centered radiant calm.

The Lord’s Prayer is rendered amidst soft archaic drum beats. Karen uses the version given in George M. Lamsa’s Aramaic Bible translation.

As we begin to see the Light within ourselves and others, the world becomes a softer and gentler place.

 

Click here to listen to and/or download Grace.

Click here to buy a hard copy of the CD. 

 

Description of Tracks:
Tracks 1-4 and 6 have prayerful meditation (spoken-word),
                     with music and/or nature sounds.
Track 5 is Native American flute, rattle, and chanting.
Track 7 is a wonderful ocean vignette.
Track 8 is relaxing and gentle piano.
Track 9 is short, sweet and just plain awesome.

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Reviews

Heart-centered, joyful, uplifting, soothing; a perfect recipe for peace
Roseann Malfitano - Speech Therapist

I love the sound of [her] spoken voice; musical and resonant
Deborah Koff-Chapin - Artist, Author, and Founder of The Center for Touch Drawing

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The artists:

Karen Moussou believes that the greatest power lies in one's own connection to God and it is her desire to draw people ever closer to their Source. She believes that there is one Great Power in the Universe. God, Love, Light, Spirit, I Am, Creator - - these are all terms she uses interchangeably. 

She believes God is everything. Any darkness, chaos, destruction, or 'evil', is simply a resistance of the Goodness that is truly ours, the Light of God with which we were created.

 

Henri-Pierre Koubaka performs folk music of Senegal, Mali, Guinea, and Kongo using an acoustic guitar, percussion and vocals. When not performing solo, Henri-Pierre Koubaka leads the group Kasumai Bare (Peace in Abundance) with a dynamic percussion section contributing secular and spiritual rhythms.  This ensemble may incorporate a variety of instruments including balafon, violin, drums, saxophone or bass, and dancers.

You can reach Henri-Pierre at the following email address: koubaka@gmail.com

What people are saying about Henri-Pierre: 

"It is easy to loose oneself in the folds of Henri-Pierre Koubaka's African music. One of the Bay Area's most accomplished practitioners of the Mandingo style, Koubaka is a natural performer, able to mesmerize and energize crowds with a single strum on his acoustic guitar."
SFWeekly, Aug. 2002

"Henri-Pierre Koubaka has taken the ancient rhythms and musical styles of his native Senegal and run with them into the 21st century, creating a style all his own, combining old and new, passion and peace, dynamic energy and quiet emotional [with] the help of a stellar ensemble of Senegalese drummers together they work the intricate melodies, harmonies and polyrhythms of their homeland to unleash a dance party to remember."
Metro Santa Cruz, Nov. 2002 (Janet Blaser)

Thomas "Dancing Feather" Ebbing is an award-winning photographer, poet, workshop presenter, musician and respected Mohawk elder.  For over a decade, Dancing Feather has been writing a column, Smoke on the Wind, for the Waynedale News, Fort Wayne, IN.

 

 

Robert Nance is a multi-talented freelance musician who maintains a lively schedule serving several northeastern Indiana institutions as conductor, keyboardist, teacher, composer and arts advocate. A distinguished graduate of the DePauw University School of Music, Nance earned a Bachelor of Music degree in keyboard performance, and graduated magna cum laude. He subsequently earned a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Nance currently serves as the founding Artistic Director of the Heartland Chamber Chorale, the Director of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Chorus, Director of Music for Plymouth Congregational Church, Music Lecturer at University of Saint Francis, and the Professional Choir Director/Organist of Temple Achduth Vesholom. He also enjoys his work as a private music teacher; an instructor and clinician for area schools, colleges, and universities; and performing regularly as a keyboardist. For more information about him, log on to his website: www.MaestroNance.com

 

FeyFey Moussou speaks locally and nationally promoting the involvement of positive male role-models in the lives of young children. He is a team-builder, teacher, counselor and group motivator. He has organized camps and festivals empowering youth and celebrating culture. His dynamic and playful command of groups leaves all participants feeling energized, connected, and richer for the experience.

As a musician (drum and harmonica) and singer (bass) FeyFey brings gentle sincerity and subtleness to his performances. When he performs, you’re inspired to be the best person you can be and live each moment with joy. You’ll find audiences closing their eyes and soaking in his gentle drumming or wiping away a tear as he sensitively plays the harmonica, or even laughing as he brings up the energy of the room as an MC, dancer, drummer, singer, or rapper. All this is done with a taste of his African heritage and an appreciation for the textures of music, culture, and community from around the world. FeyFey is a member of JATA, a drumming and dance group, rooted in West-African tradition, celebrating the breadth of music from the African diaspora.

 

Descriptions of the tracks on Grace:

Track 1. The Christ Light Within - Prayerful Meditation*
    Spoken Word - Karen Moussou
    Music, piano - Bob Nance

Track 2. A Prayerful Walk on the Beach - Prayerful Meditation*
    Spoken Word - Karen Moussou
   Sound arrangement - Karen Moussou

Track 3. Grace - Prayerful Meditation*
    Spoken Word - Karen Moussou
    Music, guitar - Henri-Pierre Koubaka

Track 4. Great Spirit - Prayerful Meditation *
   Spoken Word- Karen Moussou
   Arrangement - Karen Moussou
   Drum, rattle, flute, vocal - Thomas "Dancing Feather" Ebbing

Track 5. The Elders - Instrumental
   Drum, rattle, flute, vocal - Thomas "Dancing Feather" Ebbing

Track 6. The Lord's Prayer - Prayerful Meditation **
   Spoken Word- Karen Moussou    Drumming - FeyFey Moussou

Track 7. A Walk on the Beach - Nature Sounds
   Sound arrangement - Karen Moussou

Track 8. Piano Meditation - Instrumental
   Music, piano - Bob Nance

Track 9. Grace Inspiration - Instrumental/Singing
   Music, vocals - Henri-Pierre Koubaka

* Spoken-Word Prayerful Meditation with underlying music and/or nature sounds

** The Lord's Prayer is from Matthew 6: 9-13, Holy Bible From the Ancient Eastern Text, George Mr. Lamsa's Translation From the Aramaic of the Peshitta