R. Carlos Nakai on Moving People with His Music

Ray: Given your wide playing range of so many mu­si­cal styles, what informs your choic­es when it comes down to re­cord­ing any particular album? R. Carlos: Oh, that’s an easy one. Much of what I do is playing not from my disciplined, schooled background — say that I can play a series of 60 fourth notes…

R. Carlos Nakai on Not Speaking for All Natives

[Writer’s note: I conducted this interview in person just after I started at New Age Retailer magazine in 1998. I was a big fan, and the marriage of my new role (as assistant editor) and a surprise opportunity (R. Carlos was touring with the R. Carlos Nakai Quartet and coming through Bellingham, Washington, just then)…