Jono Manson

“Uomini in Costruzione” re-issue

Jono Manson — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:16:03 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8b1COxqGDQ

Ten years after it’s original release, Stefano Barotti’s masterpiece “Uomini in Costruzione” is being re-issued on CD and vinyl LP.
Jono produced, recorded and mixed the album in Italy and at his studio in the hills north of Santa Fe, NM.
It features performances by Paolo Bonfanti, Kevin Trainor, Mark Clark, Marco Kaserer, John Egenes, Marco Barotti, Steve Lindsay, Chris Ishee and Pietro Bertilorenzi. The project was mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering in Boulder, CO.

SantaFe.com interview (by Gabe Gomez) with Jono and Crystal

Jono Manson — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:41:35 +0000

“We should play him a new song,” Crystal Bowersox says to Jono Manson at the conclusion of our short interview. Bowersox, 26, is an easygoing and direct singer-songwriter, who is known across the planet for her participation in American Idol. That she came in second place of the competition in 2010 is of little consequence. She landed a record deal, released an album (“Farmer’s Daughter”), toured and made enough scratch to support herself and her son with her voice: a declarative and soulful object that pierces the atmosphere effortless with motions.

“Let’s play ‘Sunshine,’ ” she continues. Manson picks up his guitar and begins to noodle chords, while Bowersox tunes her Takamine acoustic. The song begins. It navigates, lifts and crowns with Bowersox’s enormous control, filling the room with the kind of voice one is rarely privy to be in close proximity. To say that she can sing is the minimum of what you might expect from the glossy stage of a former American Idol.

Bowersox is in Santa Fe to write songs with Manson. The pair met at the 2011 SXSW Music Conference in Austin, through their mutual friend John Popper. Although the project is still in its early stages, the song “Sunshine,” was written and arranged within 24 hours since her arrival, and another eight songs have been broadly sketched. Her visit will be capped off with a show at Santa Fe Sol on January 28.

SantaFe.com: Tell me a little about this about this project.

Bowersox: We were writing through the wire, emailing songs ideas back and forth and we got some good songs that way, but I needed to actually be here. I needed to exchange ideas more qickly than email, and I’m glad I did and we have two songs down now.

SFDC: How does the writing process work?

Bowersox: We have the starts or little ideas on my phone, and then we just start talking about the idea. Eventually, I pick up the guitar and start playing a tune. And if it works, the words come.

Manson: We’ve only just started playing together, so nothing is quite set. One of us isn’t the lyricist and the other is the music person, we are just going back and forth. So far it’s been a very productive exchange of ideas.

Bowersox: Our writing styles are pretty similar. My words tend to be a little simpler and that’s where Jono really helps. I’m 26 and Jono is 50, he knows about more things, so he brings some things into the lyrics that I couldn’t possible do.

Manson: But on the other hand, on the song “Sunshine,” we needed something for the chorus, which was an essential yet simple thing. Her idea for it was totally the right thing.

Bowersox: Sometimes when you’re in the songwriting zone, you’re trying to think of the right thing or thinking about it too much. You forget that sometimes simple is ok.

SFDC: Let’s compare and contrast a little bit from your album “Farmer’s Daughter.”

Bowersox: Coming off of American Idol, everything is shiny and new. When I came off the show, they had 13 songs waiting for me. They said cut these and be done with it, and I stood up to that. I had my own material. But I’m proud of “Farmer’s Daughter.”

SFDC: How much of your personality is in that album?

Bowersox: It’s there. Those are still my songs. There was a little push and pull from the label wanting one thing and me wanting something and everything in between.

Before American Idol, you were obviously making music. In a way you did it backwards. The fame came upfront and now you are stepping back and deconstructing yourself?

Bowersox: I need to be comfortable. I don’t like the idea of putting myself above anyone. I just work here. I’m trying to be myself and do what’s comfortable.

SFDC: Do you want to vanquish the American Idol association?

Bowersox: I’ve bit the hand that fed me. I’ve said things about Idol because I wasn’t a fan before and it’s not something that I wanted to do. I did it for my son. I did it to change my life. It did exactly what I wanted it to do, and I’m grateful for it. I’m an American Idol. Those are words that have to come out of my mouth and it is what it is. It happened. It’s true.

Manson: For better or worse, there are many great things that have come out of your experience with that. The story cannot be told without that chapter.

SFDC: So let’s just jump back to the now. What are you doing in Santa Fe?

Bowersox: I am here on a spiritual journey; a quest for insight (laughs). No really. I’m here to write music with Jono and feel all the good vibes that Santa Fe has to offer. I’ve never been to place quite like this.

SFDC: As far as the direction of the work, what kind of songs are you building?

Bowersox: I’m trying to write songs that make people feel good. I’ve had a few different writing sessions with people., but none of them have been as productive as this and I’ve only been here for 24 hours. When you find some one who you can connect with and there’s no ego involved, that’s a hard thing to find…someone you can work with like that and genuinely feel the music.

Writing songs with Crystal Bowersox

Jono Manson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:22:36 +0000

Jono and Crystal are having a great time….and getting lots of work done!
More soon…

New album from Shurman (mixed by Jono Manson) is on the way!

Jono Manson — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:22:52 +0000

“Inspiration”, the new album from Austin, TX’s own “Shurman” (Aaron Beavers, Mike Therieau, Craig Bagby and Harley Husbands) will be hitting the streets on February 21, 2011. The record (YES, vinyl LP!) was recorded by the boys at their own Three-Legged Cat studio and they sent it up to Jono to mix at The Kitchen Sink in Chupadero, NM. Moving ever northward, the project was then mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering in Boulder CO

This a great album, folks.
An instant classic!

Jono and Crystal Bowersox

Jono Manson — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:55:32 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFTGSXWnEH8

Crystal Bowersox, who is an amazingly talented singer/songwriter will be joining Jono Manson at his studio in Santa Fe for week of songwriting. The two met at last year’s SXSW conference in Austin TX, where they struck up a friendship and began an on-and-off long distance writing partnership. An intensive face-to-face session seemed the logical next step, besides writing songs is fun.

While in Santa Fe, the two will also perform in concert at Santa Fe Sol, on Saturday, January 28th at 8:00pm - All ages admitted. Also joining Crystal at this show will be bass player extraordinaire Frankie May.

Jono to produce “Book of Shadows” by Daniel Link

Jono Manson — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:18:53 +0000

Jono is slated to produce a new project with gifted singer/songwriter Daniel Link.
The two intend to join forces early in 2012 to record Link’s “Book of Shadows” album.
Stay tuned for updates on this project….

Daniel speaks a bit about the project:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iiq5XimjK78

Read Daniel’s Blog HERE

Daniel Link’s website:
http://www.daniellink.com/

Jono is back home in Santa Fe!

Jono Manson — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:14:49 +0000

Jono is back from the road, and once again busy working in the studio.
He also has a handful of local performances scheduled, starting with TONIGHT, Friday January 6th at The Second Street Brewery (6 – 9 pm).

Tonight’s concert from Milano will be streaming live online!

Jono Manson — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:34:15 +0000

Jono will be playing at Teatro Nidaba in Milano, Italy – tonight, Thursday December 8th.
The show is scheduled to begin around 10:00 pm Italian time – or 4:00 pm Eastern Time in the USA.
Streaming live here:
http://www.nidaba.it

Jono on Italian TV tonight

Jono Manson — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:08:23 +0000

Jono will be on the show “zerotreuno” at 7:00 pm (Italian Time), tonight – Tuesday November 29th, 2011 – in the USA that’s 11:00 am Mountain time, 1:00pm Eastern time….

The show can be streamed at:
http://www.espansionetv.it

Jono hosts bi-monthly “session” at Vanessie

Jono Manson — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:18:40 +0000

Here’s an article/interview by Gabe Gomez from Santa Fe.com
(November 18, 2011)

I will always have a deep affinity for Vanessie’s of Santa Fe. It is the place where my wife and I had our first date 16 years ago and ended up making out in the parking lot like a pair of wolverines. It’s where I had my college graduation party with my classmate and roommate, who also happened to be the restaurant manager. To say that we would end up getting gassed at the bar on a regular basis during our days at the College of Santa Fe would be a significant understatement. This is also the place where I was thrown out for spanking a friend on the bar, while she howled like a retarded banshee completely twisted on Grey Goose martinis.

Years later—after grad school, marriage, maturing slightly south of a diabetic coma—the place didn’t seem the same. Doug or Charles ripping into some revolting Phantom of the Opera nonsense at the piano bar lost its campy charm. The crowd around the piano looked liked they had been alive since the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed; languishing in their champagne cocktails until the usher of darkness shows them to their seats in that great 42^nd Street theater in the sky.

Then someone you wouldn’t normally associate with Vanessie, Jono Manson, stepped into the picture. The singer-songwriter, producer and owner of Kitchen Sink Recording Studio, took the helm of “The Vanessie Sessions,” a new bi-monthly music series aimed to put the swagger back into the piano bar, which has—and you can quote me—the best sounding room for singers in Santa Fe. Jono doesn’t have a set style or vibe to the series, and as I sit and watch Vince Bell and Catfish Hodge awaken the boomers in the audience into a lather at the most recent Sessions’ gig, I do everything in my power not to take a digger into the fine Spanish tile and pray to sweet baby Jesus to please keep this afloat for sake of our music scene.

***

Before you start reading this very insightful Q&A with Jono, I should mention that you should check out www.vanessiesantafe.com. There you will see the November – January music line up, above and beyond the Vanessie Sessions, which by the way, hosts BANJOMANIA: Three banjo players, swapping songs throughout the night. Jeff Scroggins (from Denver, with his son Tristan on mandolin) playing Bluegrass, Tom Adler playing original “Old Style” compositions, and Todd and the Fox laying it pachuco/juke joint style. Wednesday, November 23. 7:30 p.m. No cover.

How did you become involved with this project?

I was asked by RJ Laino, and I’m always excited to get involved in interesting and challenging musical projects. At this point, it’s strictly a labor of love on my part. In other words, I’m making little, if any, money for doing this. I feel that Vanessie can offer a lot of possibilities and anything we can do to keep the programming alive and fresh increases the odds that the new musical format at the club will continue to grow. It’s a great room and the food is awesome!

Besides revitalizing the entertainment line-up at Vanessie’s, what is the vision behind the series?

Being able to attract regional and national acts and having them perform side-by-side with local artists. I think that we can create buzz amongst touring acts about this series and about the venue in general. Vanessie also owns the adjoining inn, so it’s a no-brainer for them to offer hospitality to touring artists as part of the deal.

As the host, will you interview or interact with the musicians during the gig or is this a straightforward music showcase?

Yes, I will interact and, at times play with the acts as well…it will vary depending on the nature of a given night, for example, I’ll be the odd-ball NON banjo player next Wednesday. Now that I’ve blown through the opening night jitters of the first “sessions” gig, I think I’ll feel a lot more at ease kibitzing with the artists. I will also play a short set (three songs or so) to kick off each night.

This is new musical territory for Vanessie’s. Most people know it as a piano bar.What can we expect from the music series?

They’ve given me free reign (for now) so anything goes…heck, they let me book THREE banjo players on ONE night (there’s gotta be a joke in there somewhere).

Santa Fe can be a tough place to run a music venue. Is this a trial run for the music series, or are you digging deep with long-range plans?

I take things as they come…but plan for the long haul, and I’m putting out feelers and casting a wide net for acts to participate in the series going into the new year.

Despite popular opinion, there are many places where audiences enjoy live music. What do you hope add to the local music community?

There are a great number of artists who live here who make rarely play locally. I’m hoping to coax more of them out into the community. And, we’ve made a deal to have this be a NO COVER event, so right there we’re offering something special in a very classy venue. Plus the gigantic mirror behind the artists gives the audience a “unique” perspective.

The Vanessie Sessions

Vanessie of Santa Fe

427 W. Water Street

6-9 p.m.

Free Admission