P r e s s R e l e a s
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Acoustic Textures - An Eclectic Blend of Americana … Everything from
Classical to Bluegrass to Contemporary to Folk.
Four Baltimore-Based Musicians
Present a Legacy of Life-long Musical Influences in this CD Release
Baltimore, MD, October
10, 2011: Skip Noon and his friends,
John Wenger, Shannon Borges and Eugene Yun release fifteen acoustic works that offer just about something
for everyone. And the album title, Acoustic Textures, says it all! These songs pay tribute to the variety of musical
influences that have made an impact on each of these musician’s individual talents. Filled with foot-stomping rhythm
that rushes away in If Wishes Were Horses and Blackberry Blossom… to a reflection on Biblical
references and sexual tension in Hallelujah… to the pure beauty of Bach’s masterpiece
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring… this compilation carries solemn, yet sweet musical poetry that brings listeners
to introspection.
Beyond the compilation’s enigmatic and healing narrative, Acoustic Textures offers
another home-grown story: that of how four Marylanders’ paths connect to take them on a journey where friendship and
musical storytelling flower.
Each musician brings a life-long, skilled passion for music that’s happened right in Baltimore’s
backyards. In Northwood, Noon got his first guitar in ’62 when it cost $25 and the
strings were 6 inches off the fretboard. A year later, Noon’s Rosedale neighbor brought over Peter, Paul & Mary—Moving,
which forever influenced his playing technique. Later, in ’71, Noon experimented with a banjo, playing along to
Hard Travelin’ by Flatt & Scruggs. Noon would try out his material at parties—and one of those parties
is where he met Wenger who, along with his wife, would sing along to every song Noon played. In short order,
Wenger, a Dundalk native, told Noon that he would be interested in learning to play guitar and sing. Not too many years later,
the two played together on a local TV show called Man on the Move (later renamed People on the Move).
Several years ago,
Noon found a jam session devoted to bluegrass musicians and decided to join to hone his banjo playing skills.
It was at the Baltimore Bluegrass Meetup Group that Noon heard Borges playing and singing.
Enamored with her hard-driving and soulful singing ability as well as her skill on the banjo, Noon asked her to join
him in his current endeavor. In the meantime, Noon had met Yun through a contact at work.
In some idle office chit-chat one day, Noon had mentioned how he had been searching for a really good violin player
for several years and was always coming up empty. Phone numbers were passed and exchanged, and Yun showed
up, bringing his years of classical training and expertise at improvisation to the group.
All four talents meshed, and the rest is
history shared through powerful song textures and moving melodies.
A portion of the proceeds from Acoustic Textures will go to Multiple Sclerosis Research.
