User:Nonjohn/John Tennison (AKA Nonjohn)

John Tennison (AKA Nonjohn) is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and composer who writes in various styles of music. Born in Texarkan, Texas, in 1968, Tennison grew up playing Boogie Woogie piano. Tennison is among the most Avant-garde of modern-day Boogie Woogie players. In particular, Tennison has developed alternate systems of real-time tuning that he uses during some of his Boogie Woogie improvisations. When living in Los Angeles, Tennison adopted the name, Nonjohn, which he describes as a reference to the Buddhist sensibility of the self as an illusion, an idea that is also prevalent in modern philosophy of mind. 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 sources as diverse as 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. In addition to piano and keyboards, Nonjohn also plays guitar, with a preference for 24-fret Les Paul style guitars. "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 song lyrics focus on social critique, timeless philosophical issues, and often have a satirical edge.