Press Reviews

"The bansuri flute is one of the most sensual and serene instruments to come out of India. Only a couple of Westerners have mastered it's intricacy and nuance......one is John Wubbenhorst..........setting the bansuri against backdrops that aren't traditional, yet are enlivened by the ancient spirit of the instrument......improvised lines unfold, revealing melodies within melodies, like a fractal design headed toward infinity "
--Billboard magazine

About the Facing Beloved CD

“Whew ! That’s really interesting. I like this concept a lot. I don’t know who it is, but I’m particularly enjoying this one. What’s nice about it is the overall sound. You really get the feeling of musicians making music together. It’s not about whose band it is or about showcasing chops or anything like that. They’re playing the music, and you can feel how relaxed and free they are doing it. It’s not tight and yet it is very tight, which is an amazing place to arrive at in music. I think this is great.” – Charnett Moffett, from Jazz Times

“The music of flutist John Wubbenhorst's Facing East is just the kind of disc that neatly fits the 'world music' groove. And a groove it is by shifting its worldly weight around the globe in areas to produce Celtic jigs, South Indian traditional ragas, and European classical themes along with American Jazz melodies. -leftoffthedial.com/JohnWubbenhorstFacingEast_Beloved.htm

"Wonderful to hear a professional group play music with ease, close to Indian classical music's feel with jazz fusion elements completely interwoven. … the CD continues to surprise. This is a skilful and inspired release with many surprises and with a mood respectful to all sources of inspiration involved, succeeding in bringing in different aspects where Indian music can take us. A recommended release."
-psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/indojazzreview.html

"When you gather talented musicians together, one of two things will inevitably happen: you'll get a lot of pointless noodling or too much showmanship as each one tries to out-perform the other, or you'll get a wonderful symbiosis of assorted instruments and artistic virtuosity, showcasing a true collaborative efforts toward a musical goal. The latter is the result on Facing Beloved." - windandwire.com/september/facing_beloved.htm

"Right out of the gate from the first track Continuous Celebration sets the overall tone and texture. But the most fascinating track is 'John Beyond', dedicated to John McLaughlin. A reverential nod to the guitarist's Mahavishnu incarnation and influence. Highlighted by Subash Chandran's South Indian 'vocal percussion', the Asian equivalent of American Jazz scatting it is the sessions pinnacle piece. Chandran's guttural loops and dips cleave to the rapid fire percussion just as would a King Pleasure vocalise mirror a James Moody sax solo. It works, and well.”
- Jazz Now

"This is a great example of what happens when musical cultures collide in perfect harmony. The musical melange that's mixed up here is absolutely breathtaking, as a wild experiment of rhythm and melody that takes the listener around the world. This one holds all the mystic rhythms of the East, while maintaining a true grip on Western musical ideas. It's a beautiful marriage of music and culture."
mashmusic.tripod.com/august03.html

"This is stuff that makes you feel glad to be alive in a world where there often isn't a lot to feel glad about ….. dazzlingly good musicians who clearly don't feel the need to spend every second showing off how dazzling they are … the fact that these guys can get away with naming a track "Infectuoso Groovatissmo" shows they're having fun and they want the fun to be catching." - worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=20030919024418369

"If the recent "Remember Shakti" tour finds you hungry for more Indian-jazz sounds, look no further; flute virtuoso John Wubbenhorst has what you hanker for." -
earball.net/spintheglobe/reviews_data/10_03.htm

"Facing East is music for the higher self. It moves the Soul to places ordinary notes cannot take you. The percussion, flute, and guitar accompaniment blends into a native trilogy of worship, if you will." - spirit-works.net/facing_east.htm

"Music from "The West" (Europe and North America) and from "The East" (in this case India) has been fused together before, but seldom with the integrity, passion, virtuosity and training that is heard on facing BELOVED" -
emol.org/music/profiles/2003summerb.html#east

"One of the tracks on the John Wubbenhorst and Facing East record is called, and I quote, "Infectuoso Groovatissimo." And it still rocks." - haibun.blogspot.com/2003_11_16_haibun_archive.html

"It is great to hear how an Irish tune slowly transforms into a raga. Another proof of the open musical mind of the musicians is title-track "facing beloved" in which an excerpt from a J.S.Bach-flute concerto is used as basic melody for a raga-performance. All the pieces are very well performed, quite nice to listen to, even if you are not fully into Indian music, and a great example of how you can blend traditions from all parts of the world." - folkworld.de/27/e/cds5.html#wubb

"Fusing elements from the most sacred of Indian music, using a plethora of indigenous musical instruments and adding layers of guitars, flute and occasional vocal percussion, the listener is treated to some very delicately written tunes that embody the true spirit of this region." - seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=1306

"It's sort of like Indian jazz, with bass guitar added to the mix for a groovy sound. Facing Beloved is original and exciting sounds in World Fusion." - insideworldmusic.com/library/blrevs101.htm

About the Bansuri Dreams CD

"I always find it amazing how any musician when focused on the spiritual or metaphysical you can actually hear a difference in the tone of their playing. They always have a more calm and serene aire about them and it is evident in their sound. The same is true with Bansuri Dreams. This is definitely music to induce blissful meditative states and great for creative relaxation. It is designed specifically to induce peaceful states of mind and body. John Wubbenhorst displays some rather extensive growth both as a musician and on his spiritual path with this timeless release." - chaindlk.org/archives/rhythmus.net/reviews/bansuridreams.php3

"Evocative selections subtly fuse contemporary Western harmonies and meditative lines with Indian raga forms.......an elated voice to the extensive Indian classical training he received at the feet of Hariprasad Chaurasia during years of study in India........an immensely appealing tapestry of sound "
--Hinduism Today, hinduismtoday.com/archives/2000/1/2000-1-15.shtml

About the Facing East CD

"A beautifully conceived and performed recording with a fresh new approach to East/West music .. John is a talent deserving wider recognition."
- Paul Horn, world-renowned flutist

"Facing East is world music of the first order. These guys are really, really fabulous musicians who are clearly having a lot of fun. Facing East is filled with an infectious joy that is nearly impossible to resist. I urge you to surrender to the deliciously sensual embrace of this wonderfully exotic album. Wildly inventive, Facing East is sure to please those looking for something out of the ordinary."
- New Age Retailer

'It's a stunning virtuoso display of the bamboo flute and the compositions and arrangements are equally impressive.
- The Washington Post

"This extraordinary first CD release by master flutist and student of World Music defies easy description. The original haunting melodies speak to the heart in ways we have rarely experienced with East-West synthesis music. The compositions are so innovative and diverse that the album never becomes repetitive."
- Access Magazine

"Driven by Burman's fine tabla playing, the album showcases Wubbenhorst's sumptuous tone and impressive chops."
- Rhythm Music Magazine

"Facing East is a one-of-a-kind flute recording ... This is a most ambitious and highly successful synthesis of musics!"
- The New Times

"The unique performance, exquisite compositions and sensitive orchestration make this CD by far the most successful merger of Indian and Western music and instrumentation to date."
- Hinduism Today

"Being equally accomplished in classical Indian and Western music styles, John takes his bansuri, combines it with various Eastern & Western instruments, and comes up with this East meets West release that is clearly the best or both worlds.. Recommended as an exceptional example of world music."
- New Age Omega Directory

"An innovative collection of original compositions that integrate Western contemporary harmonics and meditative melodic lines with Classical Indian raga forms Captivating bansuri flute solos are interwoven with North Indian tabla drums, Indian violin, sarod, jazz guitar, keyboards and Western percussion to create a beautiful, but unique sound."
- Arizona Networking News

"Facing East sends out shimmering waves of sound like a rainbow, each band beautiful in itself, yet where one color ends and the other begins is less important than the whole ... a first rate group of musicians create a delicious soundscape blending the freedom of jazz riffs with the fluid notes of the ragas."
- New Age Voice

"This fresh approach to cleverly combining timeless raga rhythms with uptempo jazz inflections and hypnotizing trance beats is unparalleled ... suitable for moving meditation, sacred dance and pure listening pleasure!"
-PJ Birosik