by Bret LoveNative American music has never been exceptionally successful from a commercial standpoint, but the rise in new age spirituality has seen artists like R. Carlos Nakai crossing over to the PBS crowd. By fusing ancient musical traditions with a variety of modern music forms, flutist/composer Douglas Spotted Eagle's accessible sound has broken through to a more mainstream audience, making him a leading figure on the Native American music scene. Here, he enlists the help of talented guests like bassist Michael Manring, percussionist Glen Velez, and ambient music pioneer Steve Roach to make Closer to Far Away a soothing cross-cultural collaboration.