Courtesy of Silver Wave Records

Robert Mirabal: "There's always a flute player in every tribe. I never would have guessed it at the time, but I've become that flute player." The tribe is the Taos Pueblo. The time was when Robert was 18 and he encountered for the first time, the Native American flute. Now, his handcrafted flutes are in the Smithsonian National Museum.

From the pow-wow auction where he saw that first flute, to Japan, England and all the world, Robert plays with the noble purpose of honoring the land, his family, his ancestors and his tribe who have occupied the same area of Northern New Mexico for over a thousand years. While deeply aware of his heritage, Robert looks at the responsibility universally: "I offer my work as a healing for the human spirit and a remembrance of why we are all here together."

In addition to the music and instruments he creates, Robert is also a celebrated painter, poet and playwright. He is the author of A Skeleton of a Bridge, a book of poetry, prose and short stories. He has lent his words and insights to several educational and documentary films, including two narrated by Robert Redford, "Silent Witness" and "Sacred Sites." He is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts award and the New York Dance and Performer's "Bessie" Award for composition.

Robert's 2001 live album,Music from a Painted Cave, is also the title of a TV special of the same name that was broadcast by PBS.

Robert Mirabal can be called a Native American "Renaissance man"- musician, composer, master craftsman, poet, actor and screenwriter - but he always stays true to his roots. In song, chant and music, Robert Mirabal tells stories of the land known as Taos, New Mexico.

Mirabal's band is called Rare Tribal Mob:

Robert Mirabal - vocals, flute, ocarina, percussion, didjeridu

Reynaldo Luján - tribal rhythms, vocals

Michael Kott - cello

Stev Castillo - guitars

Kenny Aronoff - drums, percussion

Star Nayea - vocals, percussion

Robin Peffer - bass

Patrick Mirabal - vocals, flutes, percussion

Official Web Site: www.mirabal.com

Song Carrier (MTI 295/Silverwave, 1995)

Warrior Magician (MTI 296/Silverwave SD 922, 1996)

Land, Native Suite (Warner Western, 1997)

Mirabal (Warner Western, 1997)

Taos Tales (Silverwave SD 922, 1999)

Music from a Painted Cave (Silverwave SD 927, 2001)

Indians Indians (Silverwave SD 935, 2003)