Meet the modern counterpart to Kokopelli,
the mythical flute-player of the Southwest



By Danica Tutush
Photography by Lee Stanley

Robert Mirabal takes the stage dressed in a buckskin shirt and leggings, a headband, and a feather in his hair. He tilts his head back and gingerly lifts one of his hand-crafted flutes to his lips. Waves of long dark hair fall softly around his face. The gentle strains of Native American flute fill the room. A hushed audience is captivated.

A set later, he bursts forth--an exotic, modern Kokopelli dancing to drums, electric guitar, cello, and didgeridoo. Beautiful Native dancers, one with an elaborate shawl, another with bells sewn to her gown, join him on the stage. Later, most of the audience does, too.

Mirabal admits he is conscious of a sense of presence during his performances. "That's where the power lies. There has to be balance between the people and the band. That's when people can enter into your world," he explains.

"Do you want entertainment, or do you want someone preaching politics? Do you want real sweat or someone complaining about another culture?" says Mirabal. "When I go to a concert, I want a flaming guitar player. I want lyrics that are poignant. I want to be taken to another level."

Indeed, when he achieves this, it is visual and audio candy; sometimes soulfully bittersweet, other times flavorfully rich beyond description. Imagine the timeless voice of a single Native American flute. Then, sprinkle it with rock, folk, hip-hop, world beat, and techno. From the serene to the explosive, it is a journey between cultures and genres, perhaps best described by Mirabal himself: "Alter-Native."

Born in Taos Pueblo in New Mexico and raised speaking the Tiwa language, Mirabal began carving flutes at 18 and learned drumming early in his life. Today, some of flutes are on display at the Smithsonian Institution, and he is a multi-talented musician and performer.

Taos and his heritage are personal, spiritual, and artistic anchors for the 31-year-old flautist, composer, singer, dancer, actor, and writer.

Mirabal's early works are reminiscent of the traditional cedar flute music of R. Carlos Nakai. However, after signing on with Warner Western, Mirabal developed his present sound, best illustrated in his third, self-titled CD Mirabal.

Rock songs like "The Dance" and "Medicine Man," and world-beat pumped "Cyberspace Warrior" from the Mirabal album have received high acclaim from Billboard and the San Francisco Examiner, cinching him a spot on mainstream airwaves.

Mirabal recently collaborated with John Tesh for his PBS "One World" TV special. The program's theme was to combine musical varieties of the world. The logistics were a challenge--musicians, dancers in traditional Native dress, plus a grand piano, string instruments, and drums--were hauled via helicopter to a remote mesa among the russet spires of Monument Valley. The stark contrast musically and visually, however, steals the show.

Another film, Spirit--A Journey in Dance, Drum, and Song, that included commentary by Mirabal, was aired nationally on PBS.

Currently, Mirabal is working on projects for Silver Ware Records, and begins his next U.S. tour in August 1999. He is also promoting his newly-founded Middle Road Foundation, a non-profit aimed at bridging the transition for Native youth between the Native and outside worlds. Like his music, Mirabal is heartfelt about it.

"Usually, when people walk in two worlds, they tend to find destruction rather than beauty," says Mirabal. "Through the music I've done, I have found a certain sense of destruction, but really I have found more beauty--a beauty where people want to come and walk down the middle road."

In a world where cynicism runs rampant and authenticity feels rare, the lyrics to "The Dance" summarize Mirabal's gifts best:

Where there is doubt there is hope.
Where there is fear there is love
Where there is hate there is peace
Where there is suffering there is the dance.