Being of Cherokee and Japanese ancestry and living in Vallejo, California, Kevin Village Stone - Kiwamura performs and records original instrumental compositions of Native American and Ecuadorian flutes over modern and traditional instruments. His work also includes the renowned "Whispering Light" series of meditation music CDs that have been gaining widespread popularity not only among the spiritually practicing public, but also among Yoga and Tai-Chi instructors, psychotherapists, Reiki practitioners, massage therapists, recovery groups, and other healthcare/well-being professionals.
A unique flavor of Kevin's music is that he writes and arranges it all and plays every instrument on the recordings. His main instruments of study are native flutes, bass guitars, keyboards, and piano following a twelve year career on jazz and classical trumpet. In concert, he has been known to play multiple instruments simultaneously.
"I do not consider myself to be a 'traditional' Native flute player although I know many traditional songs (inipi olowan, wocekiye olowan, and multi-tribal traditionals) that I play for myself and ceremony." says Kevin. "I leave that for those who are experts and have the historical background. The music I play is what comes from inside me and uses every musical element I have learned and experienced. I am merely expressing what is in my soul and heart and hopefully others will join me in the journey. As with the Cherokee story of Sale Gugi Usti the turtle, I can only be what the Great Spirit has made me to be and to manufacture myself into something else would be a dishonor to all that conspires to love me everyday".
Kevin also performs native flute demonstrations, conducts Native American cultural education presentations, and performs multi-tribal traditional storytelling to children at Loma Vista Farm in Vallejo, California, for public schools of Northern California, and for various charities. In addition, he is currently a sweatlodge and firepit medicine wheel keeper and maintains a Native American cultural display at Loma Vista Farm.
Traditional Native American origin story of the flute:
A young brave was walking in the forest when the heard the tap-tap of a woodpecker. As he came upon it, it seemed to beckon to him. As the brave came to the tree he noticed the woodpecker had pecked five holes into a hollow branch and then flew away. The young brave broke off the hollow limb and noticed that when he held it to the wind, it played music. He thought, "surely this is a sacred happening".
He took it to a holy man and explained what happened and asked, "What does this mean?". The holy man said, "This is a gift from the Great Spirit. Go, play it, and win the heart of the woman who truly hears it."
To this day, a native "courting" flute has the head of a woodpecker carved upon it.Nigaha! ("The End" in Cherokee)
Due to demand, Kevin currently accepts only a limited amount of bookings for concerts, weddings, art shows, wineries, restaurants, in-store promotions, events, and private parties. For more information, click here.
Kevin also creates an artwork called "Kanjiwood" based on an ancient Japanese artform of burning Japanese Kanji calligraphy characters into natural driftwood.
His artwork and music can be found at various retailers and galleries in the North San Francisco Bay Area. For more info and images of his work, click on the "Art" or "CD/Discography" links above.
Check back often as the site is still under development and we will continue to add free full-length MP3 downloads, images of the flutes he affectionately calls "The Children", favorite quotes of indigenous wisdom, and much more. Thank you!
“It is no longer good enough to cry peace.
We must act peace, live peace, and live in peace”.
Shenandoah proverb
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