S M I L E ! You're on Smiling Stone Soup

joyful hearts: the name of god is a spiritually moving collection of 16 psalms performed with voice, piano and percussion. Collection includes a hauntingly beautiful version of Psalm 23, “Shepherd Me, O God”. This cd captures the sounds of a soul which travels the world, reaches for it, takes from it, and lassos its journey into music. Jacqueline Comito is the vocalist with Ann Staudt on piano and Anthony Stevens on percussion.

“The ancient psalmists lived in difficult times. We live in difficult times. It gives great comfort to come together to cry out the Name of God with their words. All are present: all who have died; all who are now; all who will be born. To exclude anyone is to reduce God. In the Name of God, peace, compassion and joy are possible.”---Jacqueline Comito

$11.95

Joyful Hearts: Seasons of Prayer is a musical work inspired by Spirit and actualized through friendship and joy. This collection of prayers and musical meditations were improvised in the studio by musicians: Jacqueline Comito, Jennifer Jester, Anthony Stevens, Todd Stevens, Ingrid Gronstal, Luke Gran, and Karla Stevens.

This original work is the blending of several musical traditions. Twenty-two different instruments are played along with the vocal ensemble. The music emerges from the seasonal energies of Iowa and has the essence of Comito’s Calabrese ancestry as the lyrics are mostly in Italian.

$11.95

joyful hearts: GO OUT TO ALL THE WORLD is a spiritual call to action through music performed with voice, piano, trumpet and percussion. This collection of 15 songs includes "I Love to Sing," a beautiful rendition of "The Prayer of St. Francis" and four moving instrumental pieces ("Breath of Fire," "Breath of Air," "Breath of Earth," and "Breath of Water").

“The conch shell awakens us! The drum beckons us and we pray to God’s Spirit. We are called forth from our closed rooms. We are called to go out to all the world and tell the good news that this loving, singing, dancing and laughing God is with us.”---Jacqueline Comito

$11.95

joyful hearts: dogs, frogs and nature songs is a collection of 21 old and new songs that celebrate and encourage a curiousity about the natural world. In "What Does a River Want to Do?", a eagle, beaver and fish share their view of the river. "Old MacDonald" is a conservationist and the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" becomes a rap to teach the water cycle. This cd is fun and soon to be a family favorite! For a complete listing of Tracks, go to publications .

“This is for everyone who shares their love of reading and nature with children. An appreciation of the world is nurtured through the adventures found in books, in songs, under frogs and by a river with a dog. If we can connect with nature, we can work together to conserve and protect it!”---Jacqueline Comito

$10.95

joyful hearts: BACK TO OUR ROOTS is a musical cornucopia of living in Iowa: county fairs, flowing rivers, windmills, barn quilts, urban sprawl, neighbors and toads. Featuring songs from the award winning musical score for "Troubled Waters," many of the songs highlight our relationship to the land and rivers.

“With banjo, mandolin, piano, guitar, percussion, cello, crickets, tibetan bowls and horns, we celebrate a midwestern sense of place and inspire changes to a more sustainable living. Join us with an open heart and you will leave with a joyous one!”---Jacqueline Comito

$13.95

joyful hearts: Postcards of home was recorded in the aftermath of the 2008 floods, they also sound out the lamentations of the land from greed and environmental distress. Award winning composer Ann Staudt brings us musical postcards of home: mist on a sunday morning, bull frogs, april rains, blessings of the land, and work of farmers' hands.

“Postcards of Home are musical vignettes of a Midwestern sense of place. The underlying message is the power of gratitude to change the current social ecological rhythms and restore the health of the land. These songs celebrate the joys of our connections with nature.”---Jacqueline Comito

$12.95