Beyond Words is one of my all-time
favorite CD's. It soothes and uplifts me. Lenedra's stunning vocals come
together with Ralf's lush guitar virtuosity to create a simple and
spontaneous combustion that is, indeed, beyond words, beyond genre, and
beyond wonderful." ~ Gloria Steinem
Dear Lenedra, I was
very touched by your CD. The music is deeply moving, powerfull,
beautiful. You and Ralf have created a wonderful and unique group of
songs that will continue to feed my Soul, thank you for the music. ~Alice Walker
‘Beyond
Words is an amazing musical journey into the heart of Soul. Each song
leads the listener effortlessly closer to the essence of the mystery.
To listen is to be transported.’ ~ Deepak Chopra
‘What an extraordinary musical creation – I love this CD!’ ~ Eve Ensler
Dear Lenedra,
When I first heard your beautiful CD I was touched and impressed with
your music. I have played it many times since and I am always soothed
by your vocals and moved by the music. It continues to be a favorite,
thank you for creating it. ~Wilma Mankiller
Press Excerpt
Sedona guitarist, composer, and producer Ralf Illenberger joined vocalist Lenedra Carroll, for an exciting spontaneous musical project – a CD titled Beyond Words. Carroll has many notable music credits; she has sung at the Nobel Peace Awards, and for the Pope, as well as many major American television and radio performances and appearances. In addition, author and artist consultant Carroll, has 15 years experience in the music business, most notably as manager of the pop star, Jewel.
“The Beyond Words CD was a wonderful surprise that occurred this summer with Ralf,” Carroll mentioned. “We met at a music jam in Los Angeles and when Lenedra visited Sedona a few months later, we played in my studio a few days just for fun,” Illenberger added. When we later listened, we discovered magic had happened—there were 11 wonderful and completely spontaneous songs there!
“A short time later we got together again and added two songs,” Carroll said, “I put a harmony vocal on one song, Ralf added light touches of additional guitar and keyboards in a couple of places, but we chose primarily to leave the songs quite simple, as they first occurred.”
“People such as Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker, Eve Ensler, Deepak Chopra, and Barbara Marx Hubbard have contacted us saying it is their new favorite music,” Carroll mentioned. "Their response has been very heart-warming, we just didn’t expect this.”
“The CD is aptly named Beyond Words,” Gloria Steinem offered. "It is beyond genre definition too, and beyond wonderful. It’s a richly satisfying vocal and guitar feast, I can’t stop playing it.”
Illenberger is a long-time Sedona resident with a successful musical career that includes hits in Europe and the US, sales of over 400,000 Cds, and performances in more than 50 countries. He is known for his lush, unique compositions and his richly layered, masterful guitar stylings. With 15 Cds, he continues to record and tour in Europe and the US. He is currently working on a new album.
Carroll’s book The Architecture of All Abundance was released in 2001. She is writing another book, and speaks and writes on a variety of subjects. She continues to assist artists in the development of their talent and careers through her program, Artist Advance. “Artist development has been a passion most of my life,” Carroll said. “Everywhere I travel, I take time to speak with artists of all types to hear what they are doing, answer questions, take stories. I enjoy sharing and reviewing music, manuscripts, performances – artworks of all types – on my blog. The CD, Beyond Words, can be purchased at CDBaby. To visit my MySpace page click here.
Visit Lenedra's MySpace Page
This was a completely spontaneous event between Ralf and me – nothing was written ahead of time. No preparation was done other than to try not to get in the way of what flowed through us as we improvised. The songs are here as they came to us, with little alteration. I sang the melodies as they came in the moment, Ralf played the music the same way. My 'lyrics' are not words as much as communications wedded to the extemporaneous melodies. Later, additional guitar parts and vocals were added sparingly and from the same inner space. There is healing here, there is peace, there is joy and laughter, there is power. I would call it the inarticulate language.
About the CD
Since 1984, I have primarily been doing an 'ecstatic' style of extemporaneous singing--playing my zyther and creating melodies and 'lyrics' as I went. Just making it up in each moment, not recording or performing it – it was simply a musical extension of my daily periods of meditation and prayer. The few times I performed this way, it was solo because it was rarity to find musicians who worked as spontaneously as I enjoyed.
Then, in January of 2004, I met Ralf Illenberger (see Ral’s bio, below) during a music jam at my home in LA. I was thrilled to discover such a gifted composer and guitarist who could also work completely free-style. He invited me over to Sedona and, never having been there, I couldn't resist the famous red rock country and a chance to experiment further with Ralf.
A few months later I was in his home studio looking out at Thunder Mountain, watching an intense lightening and hail storm and diving deep into song. We played for three days without even stopping to listen. It was about as close to heaven as a singer can get! We weren't planning a CD; we simply wanted to work without any restraints or necessities. Ralf recorded the three days because, when you move into music in this way, its not really possible to track how you sound and we were curious to hear the result. On the fourth day, we listened and were shocked to see that we had 11 great songs...a completed CD without even trying! An accidental CD. Two months later, at my home studio in Washington state, we did two more spontaneous tracks, and I added harmony on one song. Ralf put additional guitars on a few songs, but otherwise it's pretty much as the songs found us during those three days.
People
such as Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker, Eve Ensler, Deepak Chopra, and
Barbara Marx Hubbard have contacted us saying it is their new favorite
music. Their response has been very heart-warming, we just didn’t
expect this. “The CD is aptly named Beyond Words,” Gloria Steinem said to me.
‘it is beyond genre definition too, and beyond wonderful. It’s a richly
satisfying vocal and guitar feast. I love it, and play it all the
time.”
It very satisfying and exciting, as an artist, to see
that this very personal style of music seems to communicate to others
the same rich experience we have creating it. Ralf and I are very
humbled by the sincere praise the CD seems to be receiving.
Image:
ABOUT THE CD PHOTOS
It was Gloria Steinem who introduced me to Elizabeth Sunday and suggested her for the album artwork. Elizabeth is an amazing woman and artist. I highly recommend taking a look at her website at elizabethsunday.com. She shoots her images in a special mirror she has constructed that she can ‘tune’ for the effect she wants. Her Shaman series is powerful and deeply evocative of vital wisdoms held by indeginous and other spirtual leaders around the world.
For the CD shoot, she and Ralf joined me on Lopez Island, friends helped hike the mirror and other gear to various location, Ralf and I posed as she directed, sky and earth blended in, and the album art was the result. This photo array gives a feel for Elizabeth and how she works.
Lenedra Carroll
Lenedra Carroll is an accomplished businesswoman, singer, and author who grew up on a homestead in rural Alaska in the 1950’s. Of Ms. Carroll’s achievements, three that stand out are her successes as an author, a respected music manager, and her work as a humanitarian. Lenedra’s book won NAPRA’s 2002 prestigious Nautilus Award for outstanding merit.
Ms. Carroll’s television appearances include Oprah Winfrey, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Regis & Kathy Lee, CBS This Morning, The View, and Lifetime Applause. She has also been featured in USA Weekend, Reader’s Digest, US, and People Magazine. She continues to appear on numerous television and radio talk shows and is featured in print publications on a variety of subjects. Ms. Carroll is a sought after public speaker, and consults with many music industry and business persons to assist in developing projects and talent.
Also a singer and performer, Lenedra has sung for many heads of State and leaders in business. She has sung at the State of the World Forum, at the Vatican for Pope John Paul, at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, Norway, and on many national television programs. Her CD, Beyond Words, has been heralded by the likes of Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker, and Deepak Chopra.
Ralf Illenberger
Ralf Illenberger's immensely successful career spans 30 years in 50 countries. As a recording artist with many hits and a German ‘Grammy’ nomination, he has 16 CDs with sales of over 400,000. Illenberger has had a very successful career in Europe as well as several hits in the U.S. on the Narada label and has songs on many Grammy nominated compilations. An unparalleled performer, he has extensively toured most of the world.
Ralf is known for his extremely dynamic instrumental music that is both accessible and experimental. His orchestral acoustic guitar styling creates a unique woven tapestry that places him in the category of guitarists whose sound and technical mastery form a recognizable individual genre. His unique instrumental guitar and keyboard compositions borrow from classical, jazz, folk, blues, world, and ancient traditions. A talented musician and composer, Illenberger writes, produces, arranges and records his own material and well as that of other artists.
