Press Release - Millions have heard the Native American flute music of Kenneth Little Hawk through his recordings, films, and live performances. His Native flute sound can be heard in the award-winning films, "Lewis & Clark" and "The West," directed by the highly acclaimed director, Ken Burns. Little Hawk has performed with many world class musicians, including the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and the Westchester Philharmonic, as well as, recorded 5 albums over the past 10 years. He is a cultural treasure who spreads his message of harmony throughout the world and has performed at distinguished venues such as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the National Theatre and the American Museum of Natural History. In 1998, he was invited to meet the President at the White House for a special screening of "Lewis & Clark" and performed in the East Wing. Little Hawk performs at museums, schools, universities, nature centers, and religious events, as well as, for corporate clients such as Sony, Verizon, AT&T, the Federal Executive Board and the Department of the Army, including Veterans Affairs. He did his first Australian Tour last summer in 2006 and performed over 30 shows in Sydney, Darwin, Gulkula, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

The New York Times has this to say about Little Hawk: "This mix of reverence and humor was typical. Mr. Little Hawk would weave a spell with his words, play a haunting little melody on a bamboo flute or cast an intense look at the audience. And then he would deliberately break the mood with a modern reference, reminding people that, after all, he was not only an Indian with knowledge of the old lore but also a regular 21st-century guy."

The Talking Tree CD

The Talking Tree CD is the second time Little Hawk has collaborated with Cherokee drummer, Thunder Bear. In 1996, they recorded a world music CD, First Light, as a result of performing around New York City in a band that promoted a connection to all life through it's musical offerings. The band was called Sinhtala which is an Inuit name for spiritual energies on the surface of the Earth.

Little Hawk and Thunder Bear reunited in October 2006 to record "The Talking Tree" which is an acoustic album of original music. The project evolved into a celebration of nature, featuring the Tree, which is the source of both the flute (tree branch) and the drum (tree trunk). The result is an inspired set of 16 tunes with a bonus recording of Little Hawk telling his "Talking Tree" story of generosity and respect. The album also features carefully placed nature sounds recorded in the Waitomo forest of northern New Zealand by award-winning sound designer, Dan Dugan of Partners in Rhyme.

The CD begins with an open-hearted invitation of love, compassion and humility with a drum beat that leads into a "Beautiful and Majestic" flute melody. It is followed by another flute and drum piece, "Walk Among Them," featuring a chant that welcomes the presence of ancient wisdom. "Of Living Things," is a percussive piece dedicated to all life on the Earth with Thunder Bear soloing on drums and Little Hawk on shaker. The drum to us is like the beating of the heart, a rhythm that keeps the body and song in balance. The CD continues to lead the listener on a journey of surprise and delight with amazing synchronicity between the flute and drum.

"Music comes through us, not from us, so we can share the gifts of the spirit." Kenneth Little Hawk

Thunder Bear on his collaboration:
To be able to play with Little Hawk again is such a wonderful gift. Over ten years have passed since our last CD and it is as if we never stopped playing. We tuned in to each other immediately and the music just flowed. We have a very special musical connection, and the sound to my ears is total harmony, especially between the wooden flute and wooden drum...the music feels very natural and very inspired... thanks and may the blessings be. - Thunder Bear...2007

Little Hawk on the music:
We do hope our listeners feel our encouragement to bring love, unselfishness, humility, and compassion to all the peoples of Earth. What comes through us as musicians is that we are all connected. We are reaching out to all the hearts and minds to add the message of the Talking Tree to their daily lives.... be generous and respect all life." - Little Hawk...2007

Excerpt from "The Talking Tree" story on track 17:
"I will tell you what the apple Tree said. The Tree said 'You need to be like me!' I need to be like the Tree, Grandfather? Yes, the Tree is saying 'you need to be like me.' The Tree is saying: 'I did not ask any of those families what language they spoke; I did not ask them what color they were; I did not ask them what religion they followed; I gave freely of what I had; I was generous to all people; And the more that I have, the more that I am able to give.' That is what the Tree is saying. We need to be more like the Tree."

Several tunes on the CD serve as background music on Little Hawk's recent DVD, "The Little Hawk Show" which is available at Amazon.com.

The Talking Tree CD will also be featured on the 2008 "Care for the Earth Tour" as Little Hawk and Thunder Bear travel to the South Pacific, Asia, Europe and North America. A portion of the CD profits will go toward planting trees with the "Trees for the Future" organization as part of the United Nations "Billion Tree Campaign" to plant trees all over the world.

See Little Hawk Press Kit

"Oh Great Spirit,
come live in my heart.
Give love and contentment
to the children.
Give health and long life to our elders
so they may remain with us
for a long time.
And to all life give peace and love.
As long as the sun shines
and the water falls,
may you always be happy."

Kenneth Little Hawk