John Shannon
Modern folk guitarist, vocalist, and song crafter John Shannon believes in the power of music to enlighten the mind. Having already toured the globe with some of the brightest rising stars in indie rock, folk, and jazz, including Sonya Kitchell , Haale, and Hiromi , Shannon’s solo work has taken him on a journey into his own spirit and beyond.
Starting with an exploratory meditation trip called a Vision Quest in Native American tradition in the southwestern desert some years ago, John Shannon evolved his unique musical voice, inspired by the openness of American landscapes, and translated it into his debut solo album, a subtle masterpiece called American Mystic .
“I believe in the awakening power of song,” says Shannon, whose musical vision came to the forefront a few years ago in the Arizona desert, after he spent four days and nights sitting in a circle without food, only drinking water. On this vision quest, communing with the elements according to Native American cultural traditions, Shannon found a sense of clarity.
“There’s a point in the circle in those four days when I realized that I had always been there, just like there’s a point in the circle of the moment of playing music that you realize you have always been there. It may sound abstract, but it is a real place that exists within my self and my music that seems to bring out the sound and overtones of my songs.”
Born in 1980, Shannon’s musical foundations began with guitar lessons at age six. After years of Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page-inspired musical exploration, Shannon studied harmony and improvisation with a local pipe organist. His teacher brought him to a church for lessons around midnight, with lights dimmed except on the altar, so the pair could improvise on the organ and electric guitar.
At the same time, Shannon studied straight-ahead and avant-garde jazz with renowned saxophonist Eric Kloss. The lessons left Shannon with a focus on performing with heart and spiritual awareness. Shannon later went on to graduate from the Berklee College of Music, where he began a series of organic musical explorations in the instrumental trio Waking Vision together with friends Mitch Cohn (aka Catalyst, bassist for Lauryn Hill, Kanye West) and Martin Valihora (drummer for Hiromi).
In addition to his solo work, Shannon has spent the past several years performing and touring with an eclectic group of break-out stars. He’s recorded three albums as leader of Waking Vision, and toured as electric guitarist for psychedelic Sufi trance rocker Haale, jazz fusion piano phenomenon Hiromi, avant-jazz singer Pyeng Threadgill, and played guitar for Sonya Kitchell ’s ground-breaking folk album Words Came Back to Me (Velour/Starbucks Hear Music) and her subsequent national tour.
Shannon continues to play with Waking Vision, whose fourth album is slated for release on ObliqSound in 2009. He recently collaborated on British pop rocker Gary Go ’s debut album Say Less (Decca). Shannon also still tours with Hiromi’s Sonicbloom and Pyeng Threadgill. John Shannon’s solo debut album American Mystic (OS 105) was released in the USA and Canada in April, 2008 , followed by Europe.
