Ristorante La Campagnola

We weren't accomplished enough to copy the songs that we heard on the radio, so we had no choice but to make up our own”, says Jono Manson of his first band which he formed in 1968, at the age of seven. So began the career of this prolific singer/songwriter and veteran performer.Jono Manson wrote his first song at age six, formed his first all-original band when he was seven, and never looked back. His long track record includes major-label releases as both recording artist and producer for numerous artists on three continents. His songwriting encompasses a wide range of styles, from folk to funk, and defies easy classification. He is currently completing work on a new studio album which will be released in February 2014.During a career spanning almost four decades he has performed everywhere from the local dive to Madison Square Garden. His songs have been recorded by Grammy Award winning artists and his music has been featured in major motion pictures, on network television, and in national advertising campaigns. These days he stays pretty busy, both in the studio and touring as a solo artist as well as a member of several side projects.Last year he toured extensively throughout the continental United States as a solo artist and as a member of John Popper and the Duskray Troubadours and also performed two European tours. While not on the road, Jono spent most of his time writing songs and producing records.Recent projects produced by Manson include albums for Santa Fe’s favorite alt-country rockers Anthony Leon and the Chain, Grammy-Award winner John Popper (Manson also co-wrote much of the material for this project), 2011 NM Music Award winners Jaime Michaels (Album of the Year) and Kito Peters (Best Humorous/Novelty), Southern California roots-rocker Lee Simpson, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger (grandson of folk icon Pete Seeger), Stefano Barotti, Momo (Sony/BMG) and The Barnetti Bros. (Universal Records). Jono also recently recorded and/or mixed records for Italian rockers Mojo Filter, Shurman from Austin, TX, and many others. Manson was honored with a 2011 NM Music Award for “Producer of the Year” for his work with Michaels.He’s currently working on projects with Pakistani Sufi/Folk rockers “The Sketches” and singer/songwriter (and American Idol alum) Crystal Bowersox, as well as numerous regional artists from in and around New Mexico. His song “Washed Away” was just recorded by Blues Traveler and four of his compositions are now being featured in the new family film “I Heart Shakey”.Jono comes from a family full of creative people.For example, his mother was a principle member in the Martha Graham dance company, who also worked alongside the likes of Merce Cunningham, John Cage, and Leonard Bernstein and Jono’s cousins are the filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen. So, it’s not surprising that he formed his first all-original band in 1968, at the age of seven and, from that moment on, never looked back.Manson fronted many groups throughout his school years, always playing original music. He became a full-time professional musician at the age of 19, when he began working almost nightly in bars and clubs in his native New York City. In 1981, along with legendary NYC guitarist Simon Chardiet, he founded “Joey Miserable and the Worms” (which later became just “The Worms”). The six piece band played it’s own infectious blend of jump blues, funk, rockabilly, country and R&B. To this day, Manson’s songwriting reflects a wide range of styles, and defies easy classification. During his ten years with the Worms, Jono played repeatedly in virtually every live music club on the New York scene, including Max’s Kansas City, Dan Lynch’s, CBGB, The Ritz, Peppermint Lounge, the Lone Star Cafe and, of course, the now legendary Nightingales.While playing with the Worms, Manson also found time to participate in numerous side bands such as “The Mighty Sweetones” and “The Dogs” , and the “Les Ismore Orchestra”, to name just a few. These Manson side-bands also included members of other infamous NYC bar bands such as “The Blue Chieftans”, “God Street Wine”, “The Five Chinese Brothers”, “Mumbo Gumbo”, and “The Surreal McCoys”. Jono recalls several years in the mid-1980's when he played over 365 gigs a year, without ever leaving New York City. Towards the late 1980's Manson did, however, begin touring outside of New York. The Worms’ two independently released albums had become favorites on college radio playlists across the midwestern USA and the group followed the trail. The band had a short-lived development deal with CBS/Epic Records, who chose not to release an album, and in 1990 they played their last show.It was during this period Manson opened his first recording studio in Brooklyn, NY, and began recording and and producing countless other artists, an activity that he continues to this day.In 1993 Manson, feeling that he needed a change of scenery, moved from his hometown and resettled in the mountains of northern New Mexico, where he quickly set up a new home base. In no time he was up to his old tricks, playing locally, touring nationally, writing and recording solo projects and producing music for local musicians.