What does
"Nonjohn" mean?
Welcome to nonjohn.com, the official website for music, video, commentary, and other creations by Nonjohn.
Nonjohn performs music for both the mind and the body. Nonjohn's left-handed ostinato juggernaut and right-handed pyroclastics create a contrapuntal, polyrhythmic, trance-inducing texture that takes Boogie Woogie piano places it has never been before. Because of his driving, high-energy Boogie Woogie grooves, Nonjohn has been called "The Texarkana Train." Harmonically and melodically, Nonjohn's music usually has a strong sense of tonality (musical key), and has been influenced by the melodies and phrasing of both Bluegrass and the classical music of India. However, Nonjohn also ventures into experimental and dissonant harmonies that might sound odd to some ears. Nonjohn's intense percussive style has been influenced by African, Arabic, Indian, and Samba drumming. "Fricking" (an acronym for FingeR pICKING) is the word used by Nonjohn to refer to his hammer-on style of solo guitar playing. Nonjohn's lyrics focus on social critique, timeless philosophical issues, and often have a satirical edge. Overall, the spirit of Nonjohn's music is conveyed by the freedom implied by the African Bantu word, "Mbuki Mvuki," which means to remove one's clothes in order to better dance or perform.
What's New? FAQ Bios & Philosophy Merchandise Calendar Bookings Contact Reviews & Awards Audio & Video Clips Photos Lyrics, Poetry, Quotations, & Other Writings
Print Media Archives The Boogie Woogie Foundation Fighting for Freedom Satirical Sideshow Recommended Websites
Free Music Download: "Both Hands Like the Devil" -- Boogie Woogie piano improvisation by Nonjohn, with drums by Alex Ornelas
"Improvisatory music and dance are the purest forms of worship." -- Nonjohn "There are no 'wrong' notes, only 'wrong' intentions." -- Nonjohn "I don't have ideas. Ideas have me." -- Nonjohn
"In science, you have to deal with figuring out and being constrained by what is 'true' and what is 'false.' In art, everything is 'true.'" -- Nonjohn
Recent Public Performances
Annual Community Music Festival, San Antonio, Texas, October 13, 2007 (with guest drummer Kyle Keener of Small World)
Annual Community Music Festival, San Antonio, Texas, October 14, 2006
Rick Henderson (left) plays the sarod. Nonjohn (right) plays keyboards while wearing his signature ankle bells.
Switzerland: April 20-23, 2006
(As seen in BBC World's "Destination Music" television series)
See www.boogiefestival.com and www.boogiefestival.com/artists for details about the Festival.
A documentary about the Boogie Woogie Festival was first broadcast by BBC World in its World Music Series: Destination Music on June 2, 2006.
All content and associated files on the Nonjohn website: Copyright 1984-2007 by Nonjohn. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication or distribution of material from this website is a violation of applicable laws.
On the World Wide Web since 1995! Website last updated by webmaster, Bill Scribner, on March 6, 2006.