Noonan's Music | Real, Cutting Edge, Progressive Independent Music

Download Sean Colour Photo Credits: Dirk Eusterbrock

SEAN NOONAN'S BREWED BY NOON

The drummer and composer Sean Noonan approaches postmodern jazz and world music from the same angle of self-discovery. On his new album, "Stories to Tell" (Songlines), Mr. Noonan, attempts to braid together the Celtic balladry of his ancestors with the various traditions of West African griots, Southern bluesmen and downtown-scene alchemists. Because it's all music he feels, the results mostly sounds unforced. Of course it helps that his collaborators include a Senegalese bassists (Thierno Camara), an Irish folk singer (Susan McKeown) and a prominent Malian griot (Abdoulaye Diabate).

Also in the mix are a couple of marquee avant-garde improvisers, the guitarists Marc Ribot and the violists Mat Maneri. Brewed by Noon - the whole crew, and ultimately a few more players - participated in Mr. Noonans's fusion quest, which he financed through a commission from the American Composers Forum. At times the work is unimaginable without their contributions. "Esspi" is a vocal feature for Mr. Diabate, who is largely responsible for its discursive melody; on "Urban Mbalax" he compellingly trades verses (in his Bambara) with Mr. Camara (in Wolof). "Noonbrews" features a more liberal approach; Ms. McKeown sings its opening section in Gaelic, buy over a West African ostimato that gradually gives in to a gale of distorted electric guitars. Mr. Noonan is by no means the first jazz composer to draw these onnections-in some ways "Stories to Tell" resembles a caffeinated version of Bill Frisell's 2003 album "The Intercontinentals" (Nonesuch) - but he manages to make his pieces speak coherently, and in a unified voice. With luck he'll pull off the same effect tomorrow night with an ensemble including all of teh artists mentioned above, as well as the guitarist Aram Bajakian, his longtime musical partner, and the bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma, a pioneer of electric free-funk.
-- NATE CHINEN

For more videos see Brewed by Noon on Youtube

"He succeeds at bridging the gap during the preponderance of these fascinating arrangements, constructed upon a multicultural array of cadences. Here, jazz vernaculars and birthrights are fused into a bold and beautiful chain of musical events, often enamored with vigor and finesse."
--www.ejazznews.com

"Stories to Tell, the new album by drummer Sean Noonan's group Brewed by Noon, is a funky feast of music bursting with talented musicians and interesting sounds."
--All About Jazz New York

"Drummer Noonan is notion of conflating bardic and griot traditions has juice. The Celtic tunes and African grooves retain their singularity, even when surrounded by flashes of fusion."
-- The Village Voice

Download Sean Colour
Photo Credits: Dirk Eusterbrock

Interview: Sean Noonan Boxing Dreams

conducted by email with Sean Noonan and Aram Bajakian, July 2008

Tony Reif: Sean, since Stories to Tell, your previous record combining African and Celtic influences with jazz, rock, blues and improv, what directions have you been taking the Brewed by Noon band in?

Sean Noonan: I would like to first say that Brewed by Noon is more of a concept than a band. Brewed by Noon is really who I am or what my musical philosophy is about. I approach my music and composing as if I were some kind of musical chef that sits in a kitchen brewing various types of dish to serve to my listeners. I strive to create my own original recipes that accommodate each composition, made out of my finest ingredients. When I am in the brewing process I make sure my albums, which I think of as dishes, contain diverse courses that incorporate original musical concepts, that use authentic traditions and cultures, and include a specific lineup of musicians that fit the instrumentation I am writing for. Each time I begin a new project or album I immediately decide what the theme or musical idea is I want to present.

Brewed by Noon - "Tribal rhythms by an Irish griot" is how Brewed By Noon leader/percussionist Sean Noonan describes the band. "Griot" describes a West African poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. Combining progressive jazz (Weather Report and Miles Davis [Bitches Brew era]), African tribal rhythms and stories (Fela Kuti and Paul Simon's Graceland) mixed with some Irish lyrics and attitude and you have the basis for Brewed By Noon.

Born in Brockton, Massachusetts and a Berklee College graduate, Noonan is a longtime veteran of both aforementioned musical styles. He has played with both Thierno Camara's West African Waaw Band and with the jazz-punk trio, THE HUB. After recovering from a near-fatal car wreck in Italy during 2003, Noonan decided his next project would combine his two musical loves of Jazz and African rhythms.

By the summer of 2004, Brewed by Noon was born. Joining Noonan was bassist/vocalist Thierno Camara, and guitarists Aram Bajakian and Jon Madof, who recorded the groups debut self-titled album during this period. The group's rich and exotic sound was so well received that a second album was soon planned. Titled 'N.Y.' it features a far more expansive supporting cast. Joining Noonan, Camara, Bajakian, and Madof in the studio for the second go-round were guitarist Marc Ribot, violist Mat Maneri, percussionist Jim Pugliese, and singers Susan McKeown, Abdoulaye Diabate, and Dawn Padmore. As a transplant New Yorker (he relocated there in 1999), Noonan explains exactly why he chose the album title. "The album is called 'N.Y.' after one of the tracks which takes the listener on a emotional roller coaster - what one might see, feel or hear on a daily basis living in New York. Also, New York is symbolic since it is where I met all these musicians.

The album reflects a diverse melting pot of artists from around theworld - Ireland, Mali, Senegal, Liberia and Armenia." Noonan explains "Essentially, I produced the album, but Thierno Camara was heavily involved and would consult with me. Our goal was to get maximum potential out of each artist. I do consider [that] I did all the hard leg work by obtaining a commission from the American Composers Forum, conceived the compositions, directed the rehearsals, chose and consulted with the musicians and finally decided the arrangements. An important thing that I learned was to be decisive and be able to direct and coach people but not force ideas on them. I told everyone to 'just let the music come out - don't look back'. Also, I'd tell them 'we are going to be taking a lot of musical pictures,' and then decided what works and orchestrated it."

It turns out that the tracks 'Esspi' and 'Pineapple' are amongst Noonan's favorites on 'N.Y.' with each having a specific lyrical meaning. "'Esspi' is about a baby elephant that leaves his mother and wanders into the forest getting lost. [Singer] Abdoulaye Diabate asks why the baby left his mother without saying goodbye. 'Pineapple' is a love song that is about two people who just meet each other. It's kind of sexy and romantic." With two albums now under their belt, Brewed by Noon appears to be gaining momentum. Noonan agrees "I really want to keep exploring my concept of 'brewing' people, original ideas/concepts and cultures, since I believe it is my mission. I've become very attached to the people I work with. Sometimes I dream about them and have visualizations of what they will do with my music. This record is just a platform presenting many different themes and formulas. I want to dedicate a record to each theme and to tell stories with my music. To learn more about my Gaelic roots and brew it with West African music and improvisation. I also want to explore and create new dimensions to my electro-acoustic drum set and utilize electronics in a way that compliments but challenges my approach to the drums."