This original fusion of jazz, native traditional, pop and new age is a forerunner for much of today’s native music and is the birthplace of both Joan’s later band Noyeh-Ongeh, Mother Earth and Dennis’ group The Hawk Project. Features the beautiful Tsalagi Prayer. Joan Henry, Dennis Yerry, Gus Mancini, Kenny Lovelett, Perry Robinson, David Richards, Robert Walking Tall Rosario, Izzy & Darryl Zephier. Spider Barbour of the Woodstock Times had this to say when the album was released in 1992: In eight tunes, Henry and Yerry, ably aided by seven other musicians known collectively as Noyeh-Ongeh (Mother Earth), explore and expand the possibilities of this unusual cultural blend. The surprise is not just that it works, but that it works so well. Granted, Henry's ancestry is Cherokee/Apache and Yerry's Seneca/Oneida, but the key to their success here is their exceptional musicianship. Right from the get-go, they strike deep. The opening title song hits with Tsalagi (Cherokee) lyrics over a melody reminiscent of Chico Hamilton, and closes with a narration about the coming of the Thunder Beings recited over atmospheric ceremonial whoops, drums and flutes. We start off maybe in a jazz club, wondering what the language is, and wind up with the chiefs out on the windy plain without quite knowing how we got there. The way Henry, Yerry and the band shift scenes and scenery is the most astounding thing about this recording. This is most mystically and masterfully accomplished on "Earthman," a tribute to Yerry's father, Marshall (a.k.a. Ginseng John). Ensemble segments interlock with solo bass and drum passages, ethereal vocal harmonies, and best of all, an amazing shift from the jazz head into a native drum-driven, free-blowing rave-up. In several gorgeous melodies, especially "The Hawk and the Rabbit" and "TsaIagi Prayer", the writers match the spiritual elegance of Christmas carols and the haunting beauty of Irish ballads. The Henry/Yerry composing team is exceptionally generous, but never throws in too much; every tune holds together, no matter how many odd turns it takes. The musicianship is impeccable -- Henry's singing is both inviting and challenging, as if she wants to share something special, but expects the listener to work for it. Yerry's playing is facile and sure. Four percussionists (Ken Lovelett, Robert J. Walking Tall Rosario, and Darrel & Izzy Zephler) show fine chops and community spirit. David Richards is an upright bass player of exceptional feeling and time. Reed players Gus Mancini and Perry Robinson blow breezy or brash, always right. This recording sounds very good, very clean and crisp, a lot of presence. The true test of any recording is how it holds up over repeated listenings. I'm listening to Siga/One Day for about the sixth time. I still love it, and I still keep hearing new things in it. That's unusual. —Spider Barbour for the Woodstock Times, 1-30-92