Wichita area musicians Rik Stevenson and Trevor Stewart are holding a CD release party at Harris and Co. Frame Shop, 424 S. Commerce in Wichita, KS on November 14th 2008 from 7 to 10PM. The event includes a live performance featuring compositions from the CD, art work on display by Bryan Reynolds, and photography by Sean Granger. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the sales of CD's and art work will be donated in aid of the P.A.T. Fund (Performer's Assistance Trust) which assists Wichita area artists with medical assistance. The P.A.T. Fund was created at the request of Barb Pearce-McJimsey, the wife of late Wichita area blues musician, Pat McJimsey. Admission to the event is free.
Trevor Stewart performs at popular local venues in Wichita several times a week. His instrument of choice is the unique Chapman Stick, which allows him to play two guitars simultaneously. Stewart's music has been featured on the nationally syndicated 'Echoes' radio program and on the television documentary 'Flint Hills: Meditation's from a Kansas Prairie'. When he asked Rik Stevenson to record an album of duets featuring the Native-American flute and the Chapman Stick, neither knew the kind of journey they would soon share.
In 2006 they'd just begun to work on the new music when Stevenson was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. He underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments all while continuing to work on the album. In 2008 the cancer reoccurred and he had to face a second operation.
Rik Stevenson is an award winning singer song writer and member in good standing with the Kansas Acoustic Arts Association. He's studied the healing powers of music as used by both Native American and Australian Aboriginal cultures. Two of the flutes featured on the new CD were made from Giant Red Wood that'd been struck by lightning, deeming it sacred to Native Americans. One of the flutes was constructed by Stevenson's son under the direction of a Kiowa flute maker. After completion it was taken to a Lakota Shaman who blessed it, possessing it with the power to heal the hearts of all who would hear the music. Stevenson is the only one allowed to play the sacred flute and his performance adds a meditative power to the new album. "With all my being I wanted to convey a gift to all and when I heard the final cut I felt we had done this." Stevenson said.
The new CD entitled, 'Healing River' was completed just one day before Stevenson had to undergo his second surgery. "There is some powerful music here and I hope the listener can experience the freedom and joy we had while creating it." Stewart says who also plays the viola and percussion on the album. While recovering from a successful surgery, Stevenson and Stewart decided to donate proceeds from their upcoming CD release event to the charity that had helped him so much in the past.
For details about the P.A.T. Fund please visit http://www.wichitablues.org/pat-overview.php