Secret Teachings by Mystery School

Strongbow carries on with Secret Teachings, the fifth Mystery School album released on Green Monkey this year.

Jon’s album notes: Secret teachings filter down consistently from the higher realms, but we need to listen very hard or we never hear them, we never learn them. Here are 16 all new compositions for your listening pleasure that are playfully designed with a similar intention. Sometimes we’re whispering and sometimes we’re shouting, sometimes strutting and sometimes floating off in a stylized Tibetan cloud. I poured everything I got into it, and I hope you like it. If it floats your boat and unruffles your coat and then milks your goat, you may want to check out its companion piece, Strange Cathedral (releasing next month - td), which is an eclectic grouping of mysterious compositions that are designed to untangle the blues, put a spring in your shoes and help you remember what’s good and what’s true! I especially wish to thank Mehrdad Azadi, my engineer and co-producer, for putting up with my eccentric behavior, and to Patrich Donicht for his great skills in mastering this project. Now drink your cup and crank it up! Your servant, Jon Strongbow.


A note from Marty Sutlovich:

I have been reflecting on the wonderful music that Jon Strongbow wrote throughout his life. I knew he had something special when I first heard him on the vibrant open mic scene that filled the cafes along University Way near the University of Washington campus. Within a short time of getting to know him, Jon approached me to work on music with him. We recorded and performed all over the Northwest over the next 40 years. I simply can't believe that so much time has passed. We had such a good time!

Jon and I both shared a great love for the jazz giants like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. One day in the early 90's, Jon said to me how about forming a jazz fusion style band that would play live and record original music. I said yes immediately! And that was how the concept of the MYSTERY SCHOOL band was formed. We would have a core group of players but also add other instruments along the way to add additional flavors to the music. The whole thing would be like a music collective, almost like a family band. And I think we accomplished that spectacularly!

Some of the very talented people we worked with were the amazing electric violinist Clayton Park, the lovely Christine Gunn playing her wonderful cello parts, Mark Taylor our percussion master whose uncle is legendary bassist Larry Taylor from Canned Heat, our superb drummers Dave Martin and Erich Brewer, Dave went on to play and tour with r&b artist LeRoy Bell and Erich plays and records artists in his own studio, Frank 'Stainless' Steele who added some great horn parts on many sessions early on, and special mention goes to our good friend and first producer and engineer Mehrdad Azadi who is a master of Middle Eastern drumming and added many sweet percussion parts to all of the MYSTERY SCHOOL projects.

Very special mention also goes to our close friend and musical genius Patrick Donicht, who played drums in the final version of the band and also worked the mixing board at the same time in his home studio up on Camano Island where we would spend a week at a time and do some serious creating in the studio! Pat now lives in Ecuador and is still recording local artists and producing music. Playing with Jon was one of the greatest musical experiences of my life. He gave me absolute freedom to create so many beautiful parts on my 6 string fretless bass! We got along splendidly and I miss him dearly,

peace, Marty

As with the other Mystery School albums, I am listening to it as I write this and I can tell you it is another rock-solid performance from a group of listening-sensitive groove masters playing Jon’s tunes. Perfect for paying attention to the deets or for just chillin’. The usual musician core (hey Marty!) is here, aided and abetted with the occasional new passer through. Another solid session from Jon and crew. I recommend it highly!

Jon Strongbow was a nearly-hidden Pacific Northwest wonder, with six albums of his songs and another six albums of his instrumental music, most with his band Mystery School. He was an author and a graphic artist with multiple books and art prints which he sold at the Pike Place Market, where he was a community fixture. Books and CDs available here. All sales go to his family.