Music
Press
“Dedicated to the vision and reverence for all life inspired by St. Francis of Assisi,” BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON is a collection of positive, life-affirming songs, some prayer-like in quality, led by Buddy Comfort’s warm, gentle baritone in mostly classic folk style, accompanied on keyboard (Warren Dennis Kahn), violin (Alasdair Fraser), cello (David Darling), Celtic harp (Margie Butler), soprano sax (Marcia Miget), and English hand bells (Kathie Fink).
Opening songs composed by Donovan Leitch, are accessible, and uplifting. ‘St. Francis and the Eagle’, one of several original compositions, is one of a number of jewels on this album, with beautiful heartfelt words and music, beautifully set. ‘Love is the Night’, is one of the most tender love songs you will ever hear – it gave me chills! A Tibetan monk chant-like setting of a Shaker hymn ‘What Wondrous Love is This’ is absolutely entrancing. A talented songwriter, I look forward to hearing more from this artist.
Mark Maxwell Abushady
- Creations Magazine, NY Jan 2010
This gentle, sweet music brings to mind scenes from the movie of the same title. Inspired by the life of St. Francis of Assisi, the movie was beautifully embellished with a soundtrack sung and composed by Donovan. On This Lovely Day, Stone By Stone and the title song are beautifully reborn here with Comfort's honey-warm, eloquently expressive voice. The theme of the spirit of St. Francis permeates thealbum in a very universal way, appropriate to our times when the need for spiritual revival through reunification with nature is obvious.
"Brother Sun, Sister Moon/ I now do see you/ I can hear your tune/ So much in love with all that I survey." A traditional Shaker hymn, What Wondrous Love is This, gets new life with cosmic elongated echoes and deep slow notes, the vocal sounds suggestive of a large cave.
Comfort's own compositions are excellent and on par with his righteous selections. Love Is The Night and I Love My Life are melodic mantras beckoning to be sung as a prayer for transformation, and powerful in their essential affirmative nature. The more complex St. Francis and the Eagle inspired by Comfort's trip to Assisi, Italy, resonates with a universal spirit of oneness with all; "I am imprisoned here in earthbound flesh and bone/ Have no wings to follow you/ Must remain here alone." It's difficult to over praise Comfort's warm, expressive flowing voice, always easy to understand, always conveying with nuance of phrase and intonation a powerful connection, a great caring; it's the kind of singing that includes the listener in a loving universe. It can bring a catharsis of emotion, a great desire to sing along, to know the reality of transcendent love. Great for relaxing, singing along (lyrics included), lullaby time for the whole family. Recommended
Acacia - Heartsong Review
Intimate Balance - Music that lifts our hearts is a touchstone for intimacy with ourselves, gifting us with self-knowledge that can be shared with others
Humankind is torn between the need for love, fellowship,and intimacy and the fear of rejection, commitment, and loss. Being open and intimate with another, as well as with ourselves, is the bravest thing we can do. Finding the strength to recognize and appreciate one's inner being, then sharing this joyful discovery with others, leads to reciprocity and true companionship. Music is a tool that can help us develop this intimacy.
Music invites us to close our eyes, relax, and spend some quality time with ourselves. At worst, we will receiveabout an hour's worth of entertainment; at best, we will get to journey deep within our souls, permitting the music to touch buried emotions and liberate both fantasy and memory. Music that lifts our hearts is a touchstone for intimacy with ourselves, gifting us with self-knowledge that can be shared with others.
I heartily encourage you to listen to the music reviewed
here with your lover, spouse, children, friends, family, or
even a stranger. Sit comfortably and let the sounds and
sights guide you to the commonality that all life shares,
found inside your own heart, and recognize the other as
yourself.
Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Buddy Comfort is one of the best new age vocal albums released, both in intent and performance.
Guitarist/vocalist Comfort is committed to the use of song as a vehicle for world peace.
His soothing voice and simple arrangements encourage participation, particularly on the
three instantly recognizable (and still appealing) Donovan songs from the unforgettably beautiful Zefferelli film of the same name. Comfort's original compositions are just as memorable; their gentle spirituality and reverent warmth have universal appeal.
By P J Birosek
- Yoga Journal
Years ago, Buddy Comfort was one of the leading voices of New Age songwriter. His tapes were heard on Music From the Hearts of Space. Now 10+ years later, his classic title, "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" is finally on CD. Buddy's soothing, gorgeous voice and depth of his expression ring through with as much impact as a decade ago. Taking as its inspiration three songs from the movie of the same name (whose soundtrack was never released or viable), these songs, originally written and sung by Donovan, are more timely and appropriate than ever. Also on the CD is "Prayer of St. Francis", and original songs like "Love is the Night: and "St. Francis and the Eagle." The title song includes the rich cello of David Darling plus Scottish fidler, Alasdair Fraser. The message is universal in its appeal and "focuses on the love reflected through the beauty of nature and human beings who dwell upon the earth seeking a relationship with their creator".
By Lloyd Barde
Heartbeats Catalog and Backroads Music
- Common Ground Spring 2002
A man with a gorgeous voice and musical talent. - Pacific Sun - Marin, CA
The only way we can hope to describe Buddy is to wax somewhat poetic. He is a paradox...an alchemical balladeer whose voice glows with the golden warmth of the sun and silver serenity of moonlight. His vision embraces the majesty of the Earth and the mystery of the Cosmos. He weaves inner and outer space into a tapestry of unity. With the magic of mythical Merlin he heralds the dawn of a new age, touching and healing body, mind, and spirit with love and reverence for all creation. With sublime lyrical sound he reminds us of that which we truly know in the depths of silence.
Wil Noffke - New Horizons Radio, Shared Visions Berkeley, CA
Beautiful, touching songs I've been seeking out for ages!
I saw the movie "Brother Sun Sister Moon" when I was much younger and while I vaguely remembered the film; the music haunted me for ages after. But it was to no avail that I could find it until cdbaby! These songs are fantastic; transending the categories of New Age or folk or soft vocals or even Spiritual music. There is a purity to these songs that just makes you feel calm and better about being alive. I am utterly thrilled to find this music again and can only say it would be a mistake you'll ever regret if you don't get a copy of this!
Jackie, DE
- CD Baby - reviews
Discography
MYTHICAL BEAUTY Hearts of Space 1981
(temporarily out of print)
Galadriel
Any Tree (With a Bird in It)
Everybody Loves the Sky
Angels in Embryo
If I Were a Bird
Spring Song...
BROTHER SUN SISTER MOON Tellurian Records 1991 (features songs from the Zeffirelli film.)
Brother Sun Sister Moon
On this Lovely Day
Stone by Stone
Prayer of St. Francis
What Wondrous Love is This
I Love My Life
St. Francis and the Eagle
Love is the Night
Available on iTunes, most digital download sites, and CD Baby.
Photos
Bio
Considered a fusion of influences by Donovan, Justin Haywood, the Beatles, John Michael Talbot, Leonard Cohen and Corelli.
He walks the Beauty Way and is committed to the use of song to inspire peace within each individual and collectively the world.
His last release of "Brother Sun Sister Moon" on Tellurian Records, is receiving notable acclaim in the company of Enya and Loreena McKennitt. it was inspired by a pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy in the provence of Umbria.
He is known as a performing artist in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Background and conversations with Buddy Comfort:
"My whole life has been about the discovery of what sound has to offer our spirits"
He has long been described as “one of the foremost practitioners of healing music”, by some as “an alchemical balladeer”, and by others as a “cosmic folk artist”. It doesn’t seem to matter who is describing him, for they always seem to create a category that belongs to him alone.
In describing his own music: “Can you remember a time when cares and troubles dropped from you like gentle spring rain? in my music it is my hope that you can experience such a time again.” Musician, composer Julian St. George has described Buddy’s music in this way; “At times it seems his voice washes away everything but the moment in which you experience peace with the Universe and Yourself.”
Buddy remembers one of his teachers stating, “Music is a positive expression of beauty, and beauty itself is a universal medicine.”
Comfort’s music has always been known for it’s rare and rich blend of poetry and mythical images and love of nature. It truly does seem as if it carries the very echoes of the soul. It is as if it were meant to provide “wings for the spirit”. The warm and nurturing melodies are accompanied by an equally fascinating array of instruments including guitar, piano, hurdy gurdy, zither, tamboura, harmonica, Native American drum, and electronic keyboards.
He considers long contemplative walks in nature a “necessity of life”. He also enjoys photography, films, writing and gardening.
Comfort’s formal music training began at the age of six with studies in classical piano at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia. “My parents were always strong supporters of my artistic talents. They saw to it that I had music and art lessons. I developed a deep love for music and a sense of beauty from a very early age. Music also gave me a place to go as a child, and throughout my life a place to go in troubled times.”
Buddy graduated from the University of Akron in Ohio where he majored in Psychology. He also studied at the Firestone Conservatory of Music. His explorations there in music theory, music history, classical guitar, and acapella choral singing were “one of the most beloved times of my life”.
He’s always had a love for ancient sounds from sources such as nature’s symphony, drones, overtone chanting, indigenous poly-rhythms, early sacred choral music, Celtic melodies, and music from the renaissance and baroque periods. Perhaps this is why his music seems to have its own unique niche as it has become a weaving or a rare blend of some of the richest and most exquisite music throughout all ages that transcends time.
Comfort seems a quiet and gentle man, though he has had strong feelings for many years around issues involving the environment. He expresses great delight that the early efforts of what seemed to be from only a few in the vanguard are now becoming stronger and more widespread on the planet. He grieves for the many human and environmental tragedies, but chooses to remain hopeful. He states, “As greed, shortsightedness, selfishness and duplicity run amok, we all have to keep focused and clear and stay committed to our vision. The vision of a renewed, sustainable, peaceful, harmonious, natural, sane and healed planet. To walk in the Beauty Way.”
He goes on to say “Each one of us has talents that we can use to bring about positive change. I’ve been involved in music all my life, all kinds of music - classical, folk, rock, jazz, world, experimental. I was always drawn to the ‘effects’ of music and sound. This became more and more the focus of my own work. I had always felt there was a side of man that needed food for his spirit through music. I’ve spoken out strongly for the benefit of becoming aware of the noise pollution in our environment and the need to consciously surround ourselves with sounds that soothe, nurture, and allow us to steady ourselves - to quiet our hearts and recharge our inner resources. Sometimes that means being in silence. Music can take you on many, many wonderful journeys and paths, and no one can argue against the magical effects of the sounds of delighted laughter!”
Buddy Comfort had made his home in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years. His current home is nestled in the hills of the Central California coast. He says he is fortunate to have always lived in beautiful places.
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