Nonjohn Critiques, Reviews, and Awards
Recent Reviews & Testimonials
"Vigorous and inclined to excite the crowd to a height of joy!" -- Mack McCormick, Music and Cultural Historian, December 23, 2006, Houston, Texas
"You're talent was most appreciated by myself and numerous others!" -- Rick Henderson, world-music recording artist, (October 17, 2006, in response to Nonjohn's performance at San Antonio's 2nd Annual Fall Music Festival, presented on October 14, 2006)
"You play so fast, and with such energy! I was inspired to dig out some old Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen albums to hear some more boogie woogie, but they sound slow compared to you. I also found some similar pieces in our 78 collection, some by Albert Ammons, Hadda Brooks, Camille Howard, Frankie Carle, and of course a couple by Tommy Dorsey. But none hold a candle to you, sir!" -- Donna Musselman, Marshall, Texas, Three Oaks Bed & Breakfast, August 6, 2006
"Both Hands Like the
Devil..........beautiful!
"Your Concert in Lugano was very great!" -- André Sidler -- Jazz, Swing, Boogie, & Blues Pianist, Lucerne, Switzerland, April 23, 2006.
"The morning that John Tennison played during our worship service was the most excited I've seen our congregation get. It was amazing." -- Stanna Welch, member, First Unitarian Universalist Church, San Antonio, TX, October 20, 2005.
"John is a practicing psychiatrist and musician. As 'Nonjohn' he is ever immersed in the emotive music he performs and composes; as John Tennison, M.D. he is a scholar and a scientist in all he does. In a profound sense, the two men mesh."
"I'm hoping that with this introduction, he will move into the writers'
community, sharing logical, almost Hegelian commentaries on what some very bad
people are doing in our names. He's the guy that the far right has trouble
picking on. He's a son of the American Revolution and coming from an old,
conservative, extremely patriotic family, he graduated first in his class of
429, has been the recipient of numerous accolades over the years, including a
D.A.R. award for citizenship, graduate of Johns Hopkins, graduate student in
music, and graduate of Stanford Medical School. As one of the finest
musicians I have ever known, he performs and composes under the name 'Nonjohn,'
while he works fulltime to disprove Tom Cruise's cynicism of psychiatry by
helping people survive serious illnesses through the scientific practice of
psychiatry."
"Unlike many physicians, he does not let fear of damage to
his professional name stop him from saying what is often unpopular in Texas.
On the Fourth of July in 2004, John wrote: 'Many modern-day celebrations of the
4th of July have been corrupted into celebrations of militarism, rather than
being celebrations of personal freedom. To remember the real meaning of
the 4th of July, we need only read the Declaration of Independence.'"
-- Leigh Saavedra, writer, activist, former arts columnist, teacher, and author of two books, July 9, 2005
Nonjohn performs Boogie Woogie in international waters aboard Carnival's "Ecstasy" superliner:
"Unbelievable!" -- says musician, Larry Garlutzo, December 6, 2004. See Video Clip.
In San Antonio Medicine's feature article about Nonjohn, titled "Boogie Woogie Man," the "prevalent sensation" of Nonjohn's Boogie Woogie music is said to be "sheer exuberance." (Page 27, July, 2004, Volume 57, Number 6).
To see the full article, contact www.bcms.org to obtain a copy of the July, 2004 (Vol. 57, #6) issue of San Antonio Medicine.
Regarding the Nonjohn website:
"I'm just amazed at it all." -- Christopher Wallace, M.D., University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, May 1, 2003
"A visit to his web site, www.nonjohn.com, is a bit like following Alice down the rabbit hole." -- Luanna Crow, San Antonio Medicine Magazine, July 2004, Vol. 57, #6
Regarding the Boogie Woogie Foundation Website:
"Some of the best information on Boogie Woogie and its origins can be found in a website established by John Tennison, also known as 'Nonjohn,' who is planning a book on the subject."
-- Henry Wolff, Jr., Victoria Advocate, September 21, 2005.
From the Johns Hopkins News-Letter in a Review of the 1990 Johns Hopkins Musical Showcase:
"The overall winners, a trio calling itself the Dust Tracks Blues Ensemble, performed an original blues composition that fell into a good groove at the outset and never left. Keyboardists John Tennison (who performed a solo concert last year in Shriver Hall) and Jeff Carpenter managed to coax what sounded like a five piece band out of two synthesizers, and singer Lana Boter filled the hall with a powerful and very appealing vocal." -- Christopher Bonanos, Johns Hopkins News-Letter, April 13, 1990
From the Johns Hopkins University Gazette in a Review of Nonjohn's "Keys to Success" Album:
"....students who have heard him play have used words like 'awesome' and 'incredible' to describe his off-the-wall style of music. So, for at least the next several years, Hopkins students will be treated to the high-tech sounds of John Tennison and a handful of other 'synth' practitioners like him. As one freshman said, 'You just gotta hear it for yourself.'" -- Evan Chuck, John Hopkins University Gazette, 1986
From the Texarkana Gazette:
"Tomorrow these hands will remake reality. But that's tomorrow. Right now, they are dancing. Across an electronic keyboard they break, sending up one synthesized symphony after another. Without missing a step, they lead the plastic ivories bam-booming into rock fireworks." -- Robert Kerr, Texarkana Gazette, Page 1C, Sunday, July 13, 1986
"It was probably inevitable that man would one day move from substance to concept, from the finite to the infinite. Making music without instruments. Making reality without matter. We approach a day where we take for granted that nothing is what it seems, where believing the world is tangible will be as antiquated a notion as believing it is flat. John Tennison will while away one more summer shaking the walls of his grandmother's living room with his new music. Then he, and others like him, will go about their business, shaking the foundations of civilization." -- Robert Kerr, Texarkana Gazette, Page 1C, Sunday, July 13, 1986
President's Commendation for Achievement in the Arts Award: May 22, 1990:
Tennison received the award above for his original musical and theatrical works, including his dramatic role as the "Clown" in the "Funk You" Concert, performed in Baltimore, Maryland.
"Outstanding Musician" Award, 1983 - Kindler Memorial Concert
"One Act Play All-Star Cast" Award, 1983 - for his role as the father/bus driver in Thornton Wilder's one act play.
"Ranatra Fusca" Creativity Award, April, 1984 - for his role as Winston Smith in a dramatic production inspired by George Orwell's 1984.
Johns Hopkins Musical Showcase, Baltimore, Maryland -- Overall Winner - 1988 - for the performance of original music compositions
Johns Hopkins Musical Showcase, Baltimore, Maryland -- Overall winner - 1990 - for the performance of original music compositions