Music and the message: Grammy Award-winner Robert Mirabal continues winter performances in Taos
Grammy Award-winning musician Robert Mirabal will perform in Taos for two days as part of his annual winter shows.
Robert Mirabal lets the music speak to him.
The Grammy Award-winning musician has spent a lifetime as a conduit for music.
鈥淚鈥檓 changing gears this time of year,鈥� the Taos Pueblo member says. 鈥淧erformances are in full swing and I鈥檓 trying to keep up.鈥�
Mirabal will perform two shows on Friday, Dec, 1, and Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Taos Center for the Arts.
The performances are part of Mirabal鈥檚 return to his winter shows.
He will be joined on stage by The Mirabal Sisters, Hail Creek Drummer and the Sky House Dancers.
鈥淚 always want to put on a full performance each time I do these shows,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he days seem to slow down, and I want audiences to experience an immersive culture.鈥�
Aside from performing flute music, Mirabal has been busy traveling across the country.
He鈥檚 been to Wyoming, Washington, D.C., and Arizona in the last two weeks.
鈥淚鈥檓 doing the music for a docuseries that will come out on Hulu next year,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 also got cast in this pretty cool independent film in Arizona. I balance all that with tribal life and family life and being a grandpa.鈥�
Over the course of more than four decades in music, Mirabal continues to learn each day 鈥� especially as the music business changes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all a puzzle and you have to find the right pieces to put in place,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檝e been working with Tom Frouge from Avokado Artists for more than a year and it鈥檚 been a great collaboration.鈥�
Mirabal says the event is focused on respect for family, culture, heritage and the land.
He鈥檚 been described as a Native American Renaissance man 鈥� because he鈥檚 a musician, composer, painter, master craftsman, poet, actor, screenwriter, author, horseman and farmer.
鈥淭he pandemic slowed down the winter performances for a while,鈥� he says. 鈥淏eing able to put the performances back on stage has been a huge blessing. I鈥檝e tried these winter shows in Santa Fe at El Farol and they never seemed to take off. I鈥檝e kept them in Taos for nearly 30 years now, and people continue to show support for not only the music, but the message.鈥�
Mirabal has focused on collaboration for the majority of his career. His productions have evolved into a more holistic approach because it encompasses who he is.
鈥淢y message is about social consciousness,鈥� he says. 鈥淎s a musician, I spread the seeds and let it grow.鈥�
