Download or purchase most of Jesse's CDs on magnatune:
magnatune.com/artists/manno
Şerefé, Sala Sala – Well
honed from hundreds of performances at concerts, festivals, weddings and private parties, Şerefé's
rich sound is a melding of cello, bouzouki, oud, gadulka, saz,
double bass, and Middle Eastern percussion – with evocative vocals on 8
of the 12 songs. Featuring James Hoskins, Jesse Manno, Zahara McLellan,
Paul Brown and special guest vocalist Beth Quist, this album weaves a path
through folk dance, belly dance and middle eastern classical styles. A full
78 minutes of Eastern Mediterranean soul food. 2010
Download or purchase CD on CD Baby:
www.cdbaby.com/cd/sherefe
(Click here for complete track listings, and to listen to sample audio clips)
Sherefe, Opium – named
after the Turkish drinking toast "to your honor", is a group
of American musicians based in Boulder, Colorado dedicated to performing
traditional music from the Balkans and the Middle East. Jesse Manno is
a founding member of the group. This album is a special collection
of ballads and laments, drawn from different regional cultures, but all
expressing the same theme of loss in love and war. It is a consistently
mellow album; dreamy and dark, yet ecstatic at its own pace. With
Meg York: clarinet, Beth Quist: vocals, hammered dulcimer, Cameron Powers: Oud,
Bouzouki, vocals, James Hoskins: Cello, Paul Brown: Double Bass, percussion,
and Zahara: percussion.
Download or purchase CD on magnatune:
magnatune.com/artists/albums/manno-opium
(Click here for complete track listings, and to listen to sample audio clips)
Sea Spirits – Instrumental, 1 hour. More
melodic and less ambient than Rainforest, but mysterious and intense in places.
Balkan, Indian and Indonesian elements, as well as hints of Peter Gabriel, Meredith Monk,
Steve Reich, Pat Metheny, and an orchestral swell or two. Flutes, lutes, drums, keyboards and voices
by Jesse. With Ty Burhoe: tabla, James Hoskins: cello, and Beth Quist and others: voice.
Download or purchase CD on magnatune:
magnatune.com/artists/albums/manno-sea
(Click here for complete track listings, and to listen to sample audio clips)
Lazer Vaudeville – 1 hour. Excerpts from the forever touring
juggling / blacklight / laser / physical
comedy show. The pieces are extremely diverse. Two have silly lyrics. Rowdy
Irish folk, abstract electronic, rock and roll, cantankerous oompah, bluegrass,
trance dance, classical spoof, country rock, sweet melodicism, and some
Indian and Japanese influences. With Ty Burhoe: tabla, Jean Harrison: Irish
fiddle, Timothy Quigley: didgeridoo, and James Hoskins: cello.
(Click here for complete track listings, and to listen to sample audio clips)
Rainforest – Music from the multimedia performance by David Taylor Dance Theatre.
Instrumental. 1 hour. Indonesian, Australian, African, and romantic elements.
Mostly dark and dreamy, but with 2 intense rhythmic pieces, and two gentle
melodic pieces. Voice, drums, hummers, flutes, lutes, keyboard, berimbau
and field recordings by Jesse. With James Hoskins: Cello, and Timothy Quigley: Didgeridoo.
(Click here for complete track listings, and to listen to sample audio clips)