Metronome 8 Magazine
March 2004

JOHN FLYNN
DRAGON
12-SONG CD
•DRAGON
•SHE MOVES ME
•BIG BOAT COMIN'
• MINNIE LOU
•AMBUSH
•HEY VINCENTE
• ANGEL DAWSON
•HOPE SLEEPS
•FULL CIRCLE
•NOT WITH MY JESUS
•BENEDICTION
•ONLY ONE
Singer-songwriter-guitarist John Flynn can't escape his Irish heritage and his people's leanings (or telling fine tales of love, life and merriment). And on his latest CD Dragon. Flynn finds himself knee deep in delivering stories of the heart while exuding his capable songwriting prowess (all twelve songs were penned by Flynn).
With folks like country legend Kris Kristofferson lending vocals to the proceedings along with the talents of Jane Kelly Williams on vocals and flute, Ben Wisch on vocals, keyboards and Melodihorn, Boston's own Duke Levine on guitars of all sorts. Stephanie Winters on cello, Shawn Pelton on drums and drum loops, Jim Gilmour on bass guitar and Steve Elson on recorder, penny whistle and saxophone, John Flynn and his army of players maintain a high caliber of song performance on this disc.
Whether Flynn is spinning yams of folklore as in "Dragon," waxing nostalgic In "She Moves Me," delivering a traditional Celtic chant like 'Big Boat Comin'," or firing up the band for the upbeat "Minnie Lou," he exhibits masterful musical control.
Kris Kristofferson's vocal contributions on "Hey Vicente,' "Hope Sleeps,* and especially "Benediction* (which also features the superb vocal accompaniment of Jane Kelly Williams) only bolsters Flynn's colorful song crafting prowess making Dragon one of the finest Celtic flavored achievements of the year.