This release is a celebration of the successful relationship between ETHEL and Native American musician, instrument builder, and Grammy Award-winner, Robert Mirabal. The River is a live performance, which immerses the listener in a seamless flow of music, narrative, and ritual. Ethel and Mirabal created this program exclusively for this recording, calling upon traditional Native American traditions and exploring the bounds of contemporary artistry. ETHEL, which was founded in New York City in 1998, earned a reputation for being one of America’s most adventurous string quartets. They quickly immersed themselves in the culture of young artists who blended together conservatory musicianship with boundary pushing, genre-bending compositions. Robert Mirabal is a best-selling artist, and in addition to the instruments he builds and the music he composes, he is an accomplished painter, playwright, and poet. In addition to three Grammy awards, he has also received a National Endowment for the Arts Award.