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NEW ALBUM: “Brotherhood,” available everywhere!
Laurasia started back in the studio in the spring of 2022, beginning the creation of their first new recordings as a group since the 1980s. Featuring the founding trio of Noonan, Levi & Houshmand, the new “Brotherhood” album includes the talents of past band-mates Paul Lieberman, Galen Brandt and Laura Teller, and introduces a variety of new guest artists from around the world, including vocalist Rebecca Levi, the Colombian rhythm section of Chucho Merchán (bass) & Kike Cuao, Jr. (percussion), New Orleans bassist extraordinaire James Singleton, Connecticut bluegrass/newgrass legends The Helium Brothers, and a pair of Atlanta-based vocal powerhouses, Alfreda Gerald and Chinua Hawk.

History

Back when the “new acoustic music” was new, in August 1973, John Houshmand (guitars), Patrick S. Noonan (guitars), and Jonathan Levi (violin) met under a tree in New Haven, Conn. They had just started college at Yale University, and their summertime jam sessions launched a unique and original musical collaboration, merging the folk, classical, Near Eastern, bluegrass, rock and jazz elements of their individual backgrounds.

Traveling from the bands various home ports of Boston, New York, and Nantucket Island – and later taking the name of the ancient continent of Laurasia, which contained all the lands of the present-day Northern Hemisphere – they joined with a variety of fine musicians over the intervening (almost) half-century to dazzle their audiences with beautiful new sounds, intriguing new types of songs, and tantalizing new textures.

Called “Chaplinesque classy folk-jazz” at the time of their 1978 release East River Consort, this unique group’s music has evoked comparisons with such diverse artists as Leo Kottke, Michael Hedges, David Grisman, Oregon, The Pentangle, John McLaughlin, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Fairport Convention, Chick Corea, the Paul Winter Consort, and Bruce Cockburn.

The group performed as a trio through the release of their first recording, the LP “Noonan, Levi & Houshmand (1975), playing clubs, colleges and concerts throughout New England. With the addition of vocalist Galen Brandt in 1975, they changed the name of the group to “East River” and extended their reach to include a month-long tour of Colorado in 1976.

From 1977 to 1981, the “East River Consort” relocated to Boston and performed at various times with Paul Lieberman (reeds), Laura Teller (vocals), Jim Lyden (bass), Terry Butler (flute), Jim Guttmann (bass), Leslie Bain (oboe & flute), J.B. Lowe (tabla), Phil DeGreg (piano), Kim Oler (bass), Steve Adams (reeds), Thal Aylward (violin), Erick Montgomery (percussion), Grisha Alexiev (drums), and Mimi Rabson (violin).

During the ’80s the original trio of Noonan, Levi & Houshmand regrouped in New York City, permanently adopted the name “Laurasia,”  recorded and released Undiscovered Country. They performed occasionally with Scott Lee (bass), Billy Drewes (reeds & percussion), and others.

The ’90s and 00’s brought solo projects by Noonan & Houshmand, and the release of extended CD versions of two of their earlier albums. The past 5 years has seen a flurry of new creative activity by the members of Laurasia, including their recent album release, “Brotherhood: The East River Songs,” which coincided with their 50th anniversary concert at New York City’s famed Joe’s Pub, on Sept. 12, 2023.

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Paul Lieberman also appears on:

Laura Teller also appears on:

Jim Lyden also appears on: