Fifty years after its founding, LAURASIA has recorded a new album of original material.
THE ALBUM
BROTHERHOOD unites the founding trio – John Houshmand & Patrick S. Noonan on guitars, and violinist Jonathan Levi – with some of the brothers and sisters they’ve played with over the decades:
- singers Rebecca Levi, Laura Teller, Alfreda Gerald and Chinua Hawk
- sax and flute player Paul Lieberman
- bassist Chucho Merchán and fellow Colombian percussionist Kike Cuao Jr.
- New Orleans bassist James Singleton
- Atlanta drummer Scott Meeder
- Connecticut bluegrass/newgrass legends, The Helium Brothers
The album contains twelve original songs (and one original mash-up), refreshed with modern arrangements and new lyrics of stories and adventurers from a Nantucket that nurtured the band when it performed in 1970s and 1980s at the island’s Brotherhood of Thieves.
THE BAND
L-R: Patrick S. Noonan, John Houshmand, Jonathan Levi (photo: Stephanie Berger)
LAURASIA began its life in September 1973, when Iranian-American guitarist John Houshmand, New York-bred classical violinist Jonathan Levi, and midwestern garage rock guitarist Patrick S. Noonan found themselves jamming on the Old Campus of Yale University on the first day of orientation. They hit it off, with their first live radio and concert appearances coming within weeks of their meeting.
Their unique blend of styles evolved into a “Chaplinesque classy folk-jazz” (according to one reviewer) that, over the years, has drawn inspiration from the multitude of musicians they played with, including:
- flute & sax player Paul Lieberman, who cut his teeth in Brazil with Airto Moreira and Flora Purim and toured with members of the Allman Brothers
- Colombian bassist Chucho Merchán, ex-Eurythmics, Pete Townshend, Pretenders, David Gilmour and more
- jazz artists Victor Jones (drums), Scott Lee (bass), James Singleton (bass), Billy Drewes (reeds and percussion), Jamey Haddad (percussion)
- multi-Grammy-winning banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck
Since its birth, Laurasia has released three albums (Noonan Levi & Houshmand, East River Consort, and Undiscovered Country), drawing comparisons to Leo Kottke, David Grisman, Oregon, Pentangle, John McLaughlin, Fairport Convention, Jean-Pierre Rampal, The Paul Winter Consort, and Bruce Cockburn. The core members of Laurasia have also been productive in other musical projects, releasing an additional eight albums over the years.
ALBUM CREDITS & OTHER DETAILS
Laurasia
- Patrick S. Noonan – guitars, mandolin, autoharp, harmonies
- Jonathan Levi – violin, vocals
- John Houshmand – guitars
featuring:
- Rebecca Levi, Laura Teller,
Chinua Hawk & Alfreda Gerald – vocals - Paul Lieberman – flutes, saxophones
- The Helium Brothers:
- Oscar Hills – banjo
- Andy Gundell – vocals, guitar, ukulele
- Kim Oler – vocals, bass
- Galen Brandt – lyrics
- James Singleton & Chucho Merchán – bass
- Kike Cuao, Jr. – percussion
- Scott Meeder – drums
- Alfreda Gerald, Cheryl Rogers & Ed Bolduc – background vocals
Song List & Composers (detailed song-by-song credits appear below)
- Before the Storm, by John Houshmand & Jonathan Levi
- Dreams for Dinner, by Patrick S. Noonan & Galen Brandt
- The Fiddler, by Patrick S. Noonan & Jonathan Levi
- Sandyman, by Patrick S. Noonan & Jonathan Levi
- Dog Days, by Patrick S. Noonan & Jonathan Levi
- End of the Road, by John Houshmand & Jonathan Levi
- The Island, by Patrick S. Noonan & Galen Brandt
- The ‘Sconset Wreck, by Patrick S. Noonan & Jonathan Levi
- Valediction, by Patrick S. Noonan & Jonathan Levi
- Painting in the Sand, by John Houshmand & Jonathan Levi
- The Last Leaf, by Patrick S. Noonan & Jonathan Levi
- Little Woman, by Jonathan Levi
- Suite: Icarus, traditional & by Ralph Towner
Produced by Patrick S. Noonan & Jonathan Levi
© Copyright 2023, Wild Orchard Record Company. Release WORC2303
Recorded by:
- Trammell Starks, StudioMagic (Atlanta, GA)
- Tim Stambaugh, Word of Mouth (New Orleans, LA)
- Alfonso Astudillo, Rama Studios (La Unión, Rivers Region, Chile)
- Kevin Bartlett, Sound of Music (Franklin, NY)
- AJ Gundell, One Stop Music Shop (Wilton, CT)
- Additional recording in Atlanta, Bogotá, Boston, Cetona (Italy), Greensboro (NC)
Mixed by Trammell Starks / Mastered by Bruce Barielle
Cover photos by Robert Tobey & Stephanie Berger / Design by Parlee Noonan
featuring:
- Rebecca Levi vocals (1,3,5,7,9,13)
- Laura Teller vocals (6,13)
- Chinua Hawk vocals (4,11)
- Alfreda Gerald vocals (2,10)
- Paul Lieberman flutes, saxophones (1,2,4,6,7,10,13)
- The Helium Brothers:
- Oscar Hills banjo (5,8)
- Andy Gundell vocals, guitar, ukulele (8)
- Kim Oler vocals, bass (8)
- Galen Brandt lyrics (2,7)
- James Singleton bass (2,3,4,10,11,12,13)
- Chucho Merchán bass (1,5,6,7,9)
- Kike Cuao, Jr. percussion (1,5,6,7,9)
- Scott Meeder drums (2,3,4,5,8,9,10,11,12,13)
- Alfreda Gerald, Cheryl Rogers & Ed Bolduc background vocals (3,4,6,9,10,11)
1. Before the Storm Music by John Houshmand
Lyrics by Jonathan Levi
- Rebecca Levi vocals
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars, mandolin, harmonies
- Jonathan Levi violin
- John Houshmand guitars
- Paul Lieberman flute
- Chucho Merchán bass
- Kike Cuao, Jr. percussion
2. Dreams for Dinner Music by Patrick S. Noonan
Lyrics by Galen Brandt
- Alfreda Gerald vocals
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars, autoharp
- Jonathan Levi violin
- Paul Lieberman soprano sax
- James Singleton bass
- Scott Meeder drums
3. The Fiddler Music by Patrick S. Noonan
Lyrics by Jonathan Levi
- Rebecca Levi vocals
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars
- Jonathan Levi violin
- John Houshmand guitars
- James Singleton bass
- Scott Meeder drums
- Cheryl Rogers, Ed Bolduc & Alfreda Gerald background vocals
4. Sandyman Music by Patrick S. Noonan
Lyrics by Jonathan Levi
- Chinua Hawk & Alfreda Gerald lead vocals
- Cheryl Rogers & Ed Bolduc additional vocals
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars, bass, mandolin
- Jonathan Levi violin
- Paul Lieberman soprano sax
- James Singleton bass
- Scott Meeder drums
5. Dog Days Music by Patrick S. Noonan
Lyrics by Jonathan Levi
- Rebecca Levi vocals
- Oscar Hills banjo
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars, mandolin, autoharp, harmonies
- Jonathan Levi violin
- Chucho Merchán bass
- Kike Cuao, Jr. percussion
- Scott Meeder drums
6. End of the Road Music by John Houshmand
Lyrics by Jonathan Levi
- Laura Teller vocals
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars
- Jonathan Levi violin
- John Houshmand guitars
- Paul Lieberman alto sax, piccolo
- Chucho Merchán bass
- Kike Cuao, Jr. percussion
- Cheryl Rogers & Alfreda Gerald background vocals
7. The Island Music by Patrick S. Noonan
Lyrics by Galen Brandt
- Rebecca Levi vocals
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars, mandolin, harmonies
- Jonathan Levi violin
- Paul Lieberman flute
- Chucho Merchán bass
- Kike Cuao, Jr. percussion
8. The Sconset Wreck Music by Patrick S. Noonan
Lyrics by Jonathan Levi
- The Helium Brothers:
- Andy Gundell vocals, ukulele
- Kim Oler vocals, bass
- Oscar Hills banjo
- Patrick S. Noonan mandolin
- Jonathan Levi violin
- Scott Meeder drums
9. Valediction Music by Patrick S. Noonan
Lyrics by Jonathan Levi
- Rebecca Levi vocals
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars, autoharp
- Jonathan Levi violin
- John Houshmand guitars
- Chucho Merchán bass
- Kike Cuao, Jr. percussion
- Scott Meeder drums
- Cheryl Rogers, Ed Bolduc & Alfreda Gerald background vocals
10. Painting in the Sand Music by John Houshmand
Lyrics by Jonathan Levi
- Alfreda Gerald vocals
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars
- Jonathan Levi violin
- John Houshmand guitars
- Paul Lieberman tenor sax
- James Singleton bass
- Scott Meeder drums
- Cheryl Rogers, Ed Bolduc & Alfreda Gerald background vocals
11. The Last Leaf Music by Patrick S. Noonan
Lyrics by Jonathan Levi
- Chinua Hawk vocals
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars
- Jonathan Levi violin
- John Houshmand guitars
- James Singleton bass
- Scott Meeder drums
- Cheryl Rogers, Ed Bolduc & Alfreda Gerald background vocals
12. Little Woman Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Levi
- Jonathan Levi vocals, violin
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars, mandolin, autoharp
- James Singleton bass
- Scott Meeder drums
13. Suite: Icarus “Once I Had a Sweetheart,” traditional;
“Icarus,” music by Ralph Towner
- Rebecca Levi vocals
- Patrick S. Noonan guitars, bass, autoharp
- Jonathan Levi violin
- John Houshmand guitars
- Paul Lieberman soprano sax
- Laura Teller background vocals
- James Singleton bass
- Scott Meeder drums