Music
Press
"Nicholson could very easily be signed by Windham Hill some day. His solo guitar work is superbly executed, melodic, and haunting, laden with emotion." - Review for "Sojourn"
"Although the saying is overused, I feel his music is very moving and full of spirit..." - Good Morning Northwest KXLY NEWS 4 Anchor
"...A talented guitarist who records instrumental music in a vein similar to the "New Age" artists on the Windham Hill and Narada labels."
"For some his songs, he uses a 12-string guitar. There is something about the sound of a 12-string that takes Nicholson's light touch and idiosyncratic harmonic sensibilities to a whole new level." - The Easterner
"... All the pieces on the album are beautiful sound escapades which invite one to pleasant insightful and soothing journeys."
"... Jonathan Nicholson is a noteworthy guitarist who is able to move one with his music and let you ponder about life. His techniques used are first-rate, he uses overtones, flageolets and flowing arpeggios to create his own style with his own solacing signature."
"...Jonathan Nicholson is one of these acoustic guitarists who has the gift to inspire one and dares to go beyond the surface of the soul." - Bridge Guitar Reviews; Review For "Sojourn"
"Here was a music that spoke quietly yet moved the emotions. A music that was not forced or forceful but one that passed over you like a gentle spring breeze. I highly recommend this CD for guitar fans and non guitar fans alike!" - Pianist & Composer; Review For "Sojourn"
"With each succeeding note, I found myself submerged into my own reflections about my life, with the introspective tones of Sojourn leading the way. I haven't lost myself in an album in a long time. "Sojourn" comes highly recommended. Don't pass this rare gem up." - Station Manager, Masters Of New Age Radio, & Composer; Review For "Sojourn"
"Jonathan Nicholson's harmonics-heavy instrumental acoustic music co-exists as complex foreground ambience and water-smooth background dinner music." - The Spokesman Review
"This self-taught acoustic guitarist from Spokane, WA, USA got critical
acclaim for his earlier CD “Sojourn”. The music he composes is highly
introspective and also meditative. Jonathan's guitar music is reminiscent
of the Windham Hill label where guitarists as Will Ackerman and the late
Michael Hedges recorded. His new album “Calliope's End” is a logical step
forward and Jonathan weaves his songs in a poetic and soothing ambiance.
No killer-chops but emotional captivating songs, like “Chasing The Moon”,
“Dividend” the melancholic “Our Place in The Sun”, “Ring” and for instance
“The First Rain”, with is a piece with rich overtones. “On The Courtyard” he
is assisted by a percussionist. “Persephone” is a more vivid and flowing
track. On “Through the Dolls Eyes” percussive overtones give the whole
song a rhythmical and cadenced feeling. Jonathan's music touches a listener
on a personal level with music with enticing sound escapades on a spiritual
poetic journey." - Bridge Guitar Reviews, Review of "Calliope's End"
Discography
CDs:
1999 - Calliope's Burden (released under the name "Calliope's Burden")
2000 - Beautiful Dreams (released under the name "Calliope's Burden")
2002 - 90 Days (originally released under the name "Calliope's Burden", re-released in 2003 under "Jonathan Nicholson" )
2004 - Sojourn
2006 - Calliope's End
DVDs:
2004 - Floetry: Visions Of Nature (Jonathan composed and recorded all of the music on this DVD, which consisted of 4 relaxation videos)
All of the songs on Sojourn and Calliope's End are on rotation at www.musicsojourn.com, as well as on KPBX 91.1 in Spokane, WA. There are several other streaming stations online that feature these two albums. The nationwide radio show Echoes (which is aired on over 130+ radio stations) also has added Jonathan's music their rotation.
Photos
Bio
“[Jonathan] makes sensitive, gossamer-delicate guitar instrumentals that invoke a more introspective, self-exploratory side of the human psyche,” said Listen.com about Jonathan Nicholson’s music.
Jonathan is a self-taught fingerstyle guitarist currently living in Spokane, WA, who has been making quite a stir in the last few years locally and abroad with his unique blend of soothing, yet intricate guitar work, and his emotionally captivating songwriting. “He manages to craft lovely tunes that reward a thoughtful and careful listener with lots of cool stuff to meditate upon.” (The Easterner)
Jonathan began playing guitar at 15 (much later than the typical guitarist), and it immediately became the vehicle for his passionate nature. “I remember playing until my fingers bled, and then taping my hands up, and playing for another few hours or so,” recalls Jonathan. “I just couldn’t stop playing. I felt this huge sense of loss when I would put down the guitar, like I had just lost my best friend. I couldn’t stay away. Actually, I still can’t.”
Since he first started playing, Jonathan was immediately drawn to writing riveting instrumental pieces, but it wasn’t until the fall of 1999 that he decided to take the plunge (after years of pestering by friends and family) and go from playing in bands to becoming a solo act. He recorded a demo in his apartment and adopted a name that reflected his love of mythology and unique spirit: Calliope’s Burden. The name was inspired by one of his favorite Greek myths, that of the muse Calliope watching her human son Orpheus (also a talented musician) helplessly as he lived his life…
So he started dropping off a tape locally simply entitled “Calliope’s Burden”, and noticed something quickly happening: He was getting calls back asking if he had a CD for sale, and where it could be bought. Oh yeah, and did he want to perform at these venues...
In the spring of 2002 he decided to stop using his stage name, and start performing simply as Jonathan Nicholson. “The name (Calliope’s Burden) was confusing for a lot of people, and I also started to feel that I was hiding behind it”, says Jonathan. “It was an amazing experience when I decided to abandon the stage name, it was very frightening yet liberating, like I was saying that I wasn’t afraid anymore to just be me.”
In the years since he began performing live, he has released 5 CDs, has written and recorded music for various Relaxation videos and Independent films, and due to the internet and word of mouth, has sold CDs in 7 different countries. He has made fans all of the world in places he's not even performed at yet...
"Although the saying is overused, I feel his music is very moving and full of spirit...” ( Mark Peterson, Good Morning Northwest KXLY NEWS 4) It is this spirit in his music that has made fans of all ages, and it is not uncommon for a small child to be dancing while an elderly couple is relaxing and enjoying the music with their eyes closed, while an aspiring teenage guitarist next to them is watching attentively as Jonathan performs.
Jonathan’s music touches people on a very personal level, and has become synonymous with relaxation, reflection, and just pure enjoyment. One fan wrote, “Jonathan creates a safe and beautiful space for the listener with his music that you never want to leave.”
And as another fan put simply:
“Listen, and Enjoy.”
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