Sky in the Road

"Sky in the Road: They will take us there"
"...Sky in the Road combines bluegrass, pop, singer-songwriter folk, chant, world music touches and simmering passion in all their music...utterly engaging...unusual and exquisite...contagious songs...you have a sense of an ancient Persian poem relayed through Celtic music, all of it building to remarkable crescendos that wash over the listener..."
--Bill Fisher - The Victory Review


The band's sound is uplifting, validating and positive. It's not often these days that such a loving, spiritual and earth-friendly group is presented live onstage. On the Sky in the Road website, their music is described as "folk-based pop that winds its way through bluegrass, reggae, rock, country, Celtic, world folk, jazz and blues." So many influences can be heard when you listen to them, it's hard to keep track of them all, but it comes across as totally original.
--By Ardis Hedrick - Positively Entertainment



Sky in the Road puts on a great show! The harmonium is a special treat for the audience. It's a pleasure to hear and work with these fine musicians.
--Brian Felix, Yakima Folklife Festival


Rahmana has a powerful and unforgettable voice. She brings a haunting strength and passion to the music.
--The Reedsport Courier


Warm voices and instrumentation create a beautiful setting for these sensitive, folksy songs, making this one of the best albums we've reviewed. Potent lyrics bring self-understanding and a sense of involvement, and the composition of tunes is satisfying and joyful; harmonies are pure, light, and very beautiful. Delightful. Highly recommended.
--Mary Heckler, Heartsong Review


The first time we heard Sky in the Road, our hearts flew open wide. Since that time, we have enjoyed their exceptional guitar and vocal talent and inspiring lyrics at our workshops. This deeply moving music is a blessing on this planet"
--Joyce and Barry Vissell, authors of The Shared Heart, Models of Love, and Risk to be Healed - multiple sources

By Bill Fisher

Sky in the Road is an ever-changing project, with new ideas and influences and musicians constantly thrown into the mix. But at its heart, always, is the spirit and enormous talent of Dan Rhiger and Rahmana (pronounced Rock-MAH-nah) Wiest. Nowadays, multi-instrumentalist Dean Warner is also at the core of the on-going Sky in the Road experience.

A band that is utterly engaging in live performance, their output really hasn’t been adequately documented in recordings—perhaps, until now. Dan has a number of fine early solo projects, and there are occasional EPs and the stunning self-titled CD of 1995. Except for a cassette with the witty and moving songs they created for a celebrated educational project regarding the importance of our rivers, though, there hasn’t been a major recording from Sky in about ten years.

They have recently released two CDs, though—an EP in 2003 and another in 2005— an embarrassment of riches. With so much material ready for release, they decided to put out an eleven-song recording, Where Everything is Music, under the Sky banner, having released Tahonethlaclah, Mountain of Fire, under Dean’s name, collecting some of the material he’s contributed to the band in recent years. Dean’s CD is a bit more folky, perhaps, since his superb mandolin playing is central to the instrumentation, but both CDs are essentially Sky in the Road music.

Okay, let me pause here. It’s likely that a large proportion of this article’s readers has never before heard of Sky in the Road. Why?

For one thing, this is a Portland band—though they make their way into Washington occasionally. (Far too infrequently, as far as this reviewer is concerned.) For another, their music is impossible to categorize (though I will try to describe a bit of what they’re up to), and a superficial listen might turn out to be something a guy who sets up gigs doesn’t happen to like. There are, for example, elements of “New Age”-style music woven occasionally into their music, and someone inclined to go genocidal at the sound of synth pads who gives a momentary listen to, say, the utterly moving “In the Flame of the Divine” might give the band a quick pass…into the circular file.

For yet another thing, there is a constant spiritual theme that runs through the music—but it isn’t out to convert anyone to anything. It is, above all, the laughing, sensual poetry of Rumi that animates so much of this music. “But hey,” says the guy setting up the gigs, “we don’t do spiritual stuff here.” Or “Hey, this ecological stuff is on its way out. We don’t do it here.”

As you can begin to sense, the most unusual and exquisite aspects of this band’s restless, searching, moving music can hang like an albatross around their necks. Their strengths, their lack of obvious categories, both make them great and deny them all too many hearings.

Sky in the Road combines bluegrass, pop, singer-songwriter folk, chant, world music touches and simmering passion in all their music. Dan writes contagious songs that very frequently use phrases from the Persian poet Rumi as the foundation for his lyrics. “Out Beyond,” from the 1995 CD, begins: “Out beyond ideas of right and wrong,/There is a field. I’ll meet you there,” building the musical content of the song on a traditional Scottish melody. So you have the sense of an ancient Persian poem relayed through Celtic music, all of it building to remarkable crescendos that wash over the listener with intense emotion.

Dan plays a wide variety of stringed instruments as well as piano and synths, and even the medicine whistle. His voice has a way of quietly working its way inside of you, providing just the right amount of emotion for each song. And his voice, when partnered with Rahmana’s powerful soprano, blends as if he were born to sing with her.

Rahmana plays harmonium, bringing an unexpected richness to many songs, often in unexpected places, and frequently adds percussive accents. Hers is a rich, sweet, wild, flexible and well-trained vocal instrument. If Dan has Celtic music in his soul, Rahmana is full of passionate gypsy leanings, but her voice can sound like the angel sent to awaken us or like the demon goddess sent to invite us to the earth’s ancient dances. She writes and co-authors the many of the group’s songs.

Dean Warner also contributes songs, as mentioned earlier, and is the kind of guy who can be relied on for great lead and harmony vocals and for infectious fills and solos on mandolin and guitar. He also contributes the artwork for the CDs.

Other musicians join the trio on the new CD, Where Everything is Music—which, let’s just say it, is the masterpiece fans of this group have been waiting for and the rest of the world should hurry up and get a copy of—fiddlers, bassist, drummer, sax player and players of lesser known instruments like the Turkish ney. The songs vary from the intensively acoustic-based pop of the title song to the hook-laden “Midnight Pilgrim” to the soaring, soulful “In the Flame of the Divine” to the wonderful, gentle rendering of Rumi’s “The Price of Kissing,” followed effectively but surprisingly by the joyful reggae of “I Make Music.”

You’ll find dulcimer, dumbek, pennywhistle and exotic percussion weaving through these songs. You’ll hear celebrations of the earth and all creation (“Singing Down Glory”), catchy love hymns, a choir from the Northwest Sufi Camp, superb contrapuntal vocal arrangements. It’s a constantly shifting rainbow of sound.

Any complaints? No. This reviewer isn’t keen on synths, but hey, shut up—the song featuring synths is surely one of the grandest to be found on the CD. Any suggestions? This may be lame, but I kept wondering what it would sound like to double- or triple-track Rahmana’s voice. She could create a rich, shimmering one-person choir that would knock us off our terrestrial feet.

So we turn to Dean’s CD, Tahonetlaclah. Mountain of Fire, and bring the guitar and mandolin up in the mix, add a banjo and didgeridoo (unless my ears are fooling me) and remain in a realm that is at once folkier and also clearly grounded in an environmentalist’s perspective. Dean’s music and viewpoint fold perfectly into the Sky in the Road mix.

Sadly, the CD’s liner notes are nearly non-existent, so we know little about the personnel or the genesis of the songs. Here’s what we know. The CD was released in 2003. Dean did the cover art. And the project, like the 2005 Where Everything is Music, was recorded at medicine whistle studios, which Dan Rhiger owns and runs.

Technically, Tahonetlaclah is an EP, a 6-song cycle of folk styles. “The Dance of the Trees” is a kick-drum-driven myth-making song—“We are the ancients of this world”—that personifies our trees as the wise ones of the planet. “The Ring of Truth,” with its tight harmonies and female lead, sings of the simple but crucial importance of telling the truth. In “Train Train”—yes, this set includes a train song—the tight harmonies ride over a wonderful, bouncing guitar track. “The Cost of Gold,” tied together by a seemingly familiar mandolin line, is a song that Dan Tyminski and Union Station would be at home with. A sweet guitar line opens “Pluton (Dipper Dance)” and, thankfully, keeps on keepin’ on. Here, Dean gives a delicious hint of his extraordinary ability on guitar. “A Chant for Winter” closes this set. It’s a relatively simple song with medicine whistle embellishments, backed by guitar and mandolin and a bit of very effective synth.

Tahonetlaclah is the sort of CD you’ll find yourself reaching for in the midst of road trips, on the way to folk festivals, during the morning wake-up hours. Where Everything is Music is the sort of CD you’ll want to study again and again, digesting the creative musical (and, indeed, spiritual) ideas that went into the mix. It is one of the finest CDs of the decade for this reviewer’s money.

And Sky in the Road is a band you will want to see whenever and wherever possible. There is no one quite like them. Few bands satisfy so completely.

Bill Fisher, a writer residing in Olympia with Robyn, a full-time teacher and his life- and music-partner, can be contacted at bill@cco.net. Their CDs are available at CDBaby, and bits of woefully out-of-date info can be found at www.billandrobyn.com.
- The Victory Review July, 2005

With a contemporary country sound, Oregon artists Rhiger and Rahmana spin out 10 inspirational, soul-searching songs, from the upbeat title cut with old-timey fiddle by Skip Parente to the mellow love ballad "Willing Embrace." Though their vocals are far different (Rhiger is a husky tenor and Rahmana is a lovely soprano), when melded during duets, the effect works quite well. Covered are the splendid Kate Wolf tune "Brother Warrior", with percussion by Goat Medicine Whistle, and "Secret One," written by Zuleikha (coupled with the Rhiger tune "I am singing"). Rhiger plays most of the instruments (guitar, synth, bass, etc,) while a few others add their talents, most notably Mark Bosnian, playing piano on a few cuts, and Skip Parente's fiddle. This is a smooth, melodious listen that combines country and folk stylings to great effect.
--Dirty Linen Reviews
- Dirty Linen Magazine

Sky in The Road's self-titled release is a collection of inspirational and original songs with a style best described as folk-based pop with influences as varied as Cajun, Middle Eastern, Native American, and Gypsy. Unifying it all are their voices, an exquisite blend of male and female energies, harmonies flowing in and around these shimmering, well-produced tracks. Instrumentation includes guitar, harmonium, violin, bamboo flute, percussion, and piano. Lyrics reflect a spiritual depth that is both transcendent and well grounded, drawing the listener into a transformational journey. Comfortable, challenging, meditative, danceable, soon you will be singing and moving along with Sky in the Road.
--Leading Edge Review - Leading Edge Review

By Ardis Hedrick

On Saturday, Oct. 22, The Alberta Street Public House hosted the CD release concert for the band Sky in the Road. In its current incarnation as a threesome, the trio has played together since 1998.

Sky in the Road is Dean Warner on guitar, mandolin and sometimes banjo or pedal steel guitar; Daniel Rhiger on guitar; and Rahmana Wiest, lead vocalist, percussion and harmonium. With Warner and Rhiger providing backing voices, as well as trading off on lead vocals, the harmonies created by this trio are outstanding.

On this very special evening, the group was joined by violin virtuoso Eddie Parenti, tabla player Steve Amdahl, and Lee Rice on woodwinds. The audience was in store for a real treat when these seasoned musicians joined together on stage. Wiest’s voice was clear, sweet and strong from the first note. Shades of early Judy Collins, Joan Baez and even a little Debbie Harry seemed to creep into her stylings throughout the night.

Sky in the Road opened with Before, featuring Wiest’s angelic and true voice and a violin solo by Parenti with the two guitarists totally in sync. It was obvious from this first tune that the night would be something to remember. The song speaks of unity, which is what this band exemplifies.

The band followed with Train Train, a Dean Warner tune about the Willamette Valley, which demonstrates that this band may think globally, but they are still a locally homegrown outfit. This song carries on a long tradition of train songs from Elizabeth Cotton’s Freight Train to Arlo Guthrie’s City of New Orleans. Its chugging background was defined by the tablas and overlaid with a sweet violin track and three vocals intertwined in harmony. You could almost feel the rhythm of the cars!

The band’s sound is uplifting, validating and positive. It’s not often these days that such a loving, spiritual and earth-friendly group is presented live onstage. On the Sky in the Road website, their music is described as “folk-based pop that winds its way through bluegrass, reggae, rock, country, Celtic, world folk, jazz and blues.” So many influences can be heard when you listen to them, it’s hard to keep track of them all, but it comes across as totally original.

This group has a deep rapport with their audience. The crowd was laid-back but very enthusiastic. They also contribute their talents to a program that teaches children about recycling, water quality and salmon restoration. Find out more about their music, their contributions and their previously released CDs at www.skyintheroad.com. You can even sample some of their recordings.

Rhiger’s I Make Music, in the finest bluegrass/folk tradition, had a familiar sound and got the audience’s feet to tapping. Rhiger’s voice, musical bent and even his looks remind one of John Denver, mixed with a little John Sebastian, especially on his I Swear I Can Fly. Singing Down the Glory, with mandolin by Warner, was a standout. The John Denver influence was plain on this one, as well as some Peter, Paul and Mary. In fact, the three that lead this band have excellent harmonies, reminiscent of that other fine trio who brought socially conscious folk music to the masses in the 1960s.

From the band’s first self-titled album, Water on the Stones, was melodic and peaceful. Desert Vagabond was reminiscent of Marianne Faithful’s Those Were the Days, a gypsy ballad. It was truly exquisite with the mandolin and violin parts weaving magic. The live version compares favorably to the recording, and came alive onstage!

The traditional tune The Fox had the feel of a sing-a-long or round and the audience perked up at its presentation. This was followed by a cover of the Dixie Chicks’ upbeat Long Time Gone featuring Warner’s mandolin prominently and the trio’s vocals really rocked out.

The band closed the first set with the night’s only instrumental number that carried a very heavy Eastern European influence which reminded this writer of Django Reinhart. The instrumentation was remarkable—Parenti’s soaring violin, a drop-dead mandolin solo, flying fingers guitar work and a sultry harmonium combined to recreate the gypsy mood again.

During the break, the band showed a video made by Dean Warner, who is also a filmmaker. Set the Wild One Free was made to benefit the Roaring River watershed. It’s all about layers. Part of Wiest’s vocals included some haunting wolf calls, which the audience delighted in emulating. This lady has perfect pitch!

On their return to the stage, they presented the title cut from the new CD, Where Everything Is Music. It’s a little bit jazzy, very dramatic and featured Rice on a very unusual, unnamed woodwind. Ring of Truth is a true Irish folk ditty that would please the most die-hard traditionalist. This number and Train Train appear on Dean Warner’s 2003 release, Tahonetlaclah, Mountain of Fire.

The Price of Kissing, is inspired by the writings of a 13th century Sufi poet, Rumi, and translated by Coleman Barks. Center stage was a gorgeous woodwind part by Rice and an energetic plucking style on the violin by Parenti. This one really stunned the audience! Throughout the evening, there was an ancient familiarity to the words and sounds of this group’s music. There was a sacred atmosphere created in this darkened pub. The audience was clearly enraptured by the second set.

Dean Warner’s original Tryon Creek was written about his own watershed right here in the Portland metropolitan area. Cajun and bluegrass influences were in the forefront for this crowd-pleasing number.

Out Beyond, from the new CD, was like a sea chantey, with a haunting whistle and the harmonium creating a dark and brooding mood. It seemed at times the band’s instruments and voices combined to make a sound of a new instrument unheard before on this earthly plane.

Appropriately, the evening ended with a lullaby, but in no way was this audience lulled into submission. Instead, they were engaged and enlightened by the wonderful music this evening had brought. It feels appropriate to conclude this article with a quote from one of the band’s founders that pretty well sums up the evening and the group’s philosophy in action. "Music is more than entertainment. It is a powerful tool for transformation. It can set the stage for deep healing and release. It can define the moment, creating the sacred space in which life's rites of passage are shared and honored." Daniel Rhiger
- Positively Entertainment