QUOTES String ace John and vocalist extraordinaire Barbara have produced a sterling collection of exquisite songs.   Jim Guyette - WRUW, Cleveland, Ohio     Another duo original, "We Hide Our Secrets Well", was another fine number and a hit with the audience. The curious sinewy melody showed the musical range of this duo.   Michael Drexler - The Cleveland Plain Dealer     SILENT LION Silent lion is the duet of John and Barbiel Saunders. Their music is an eclectic mixture of influence ranging from bluegrass and jazz to medieval, Celtic and folk. Aided by several guest musicians, silent Lion has created an assortment of new age acoustic music almost equally divided between vocals and instruments. While it is John’s imaginative banjo featured on such instrumentals as “Flying Dragons: Year 793,” it is Barbiel’s sultry lead vocals on “Days of Shadows,” “Rocking the Boat,” “Gwenivere’s Lament,” and “I Will Lead You Home” that give Silent Lion their own unique personality. The music of Silent Lion would be pigeon hole into one particular genre, so best advice is to just simply enjoy.   Bluegrass Unlimited magazine, Les McIntyre, reviewer, September 2003     ...They have whisked me away from the everyday problems of this world and brought me into their own magical world.   Tom Ball - Radio Administrator - Mountain Rose Concert Series     SILENT LION – “Silent Lion” CD ’03 (Private, US) – When I saw a review of this one, alluding to Celtic & bluegrass, I had to drop ‘em a line. Truth is, I wasn’t expecting a disc quite this good! What you’ve got here are songs as catchy & emotional as Iona (Va) or Emerald Rose plus instrumental work that will blow you away. Check out “The Gamer’s Song” or “”Days Of Shadows,” with Barbiel Saunders’ gorgeous vocals & melodies that will slip smoothly into your brain & stay there a long time, as you sing ‘em over & over to yourself. And, the playing…well, to be honest, I’d thought Maryland-guy Zan McLeod was the king of acoustic folk, but John Saunders is an absolute monster on this CD! Whether it’s guitar, cittern, banjo or mandolin, this cat lays down the serious wooden business from one end of this disc to the other. Anyone who’s ever shied away from Celtic or folk in general thinking “there’s no soloing” had better think again! Saunders brings a level of “ripping” to the table here that’s bluegrass-like in it’s intensity & so hot that sparks’ll be flying from your speakers…and, all in the context of the songs, flowing like U J Roth & never a bit overdone. Absolutely outstanding and an album that will please fans of great vocals & instrumental work all the same. A not very “SILENT” LION, but a great one!   Ray Dorsey of Chaos Realm e-magazine