Sean Noonan

Rhythmic Storyteller

Rhythmic storyteller Sean Noonan composes and conducts with a pair of drum sticks original multi-stylistic music, fusing his discoveries from harmolodic jazz rock to avant-garde classical music.

His “wandering folk” theory captures the elusiveness of ever-evolving world music traditions and reorients them through his own distinctive lens, gathering stories, legends, and folklore like a punk-jazz Alan Lomax.

As a drummer, his compositions serve as an extension of his four limbs and the treasures that he finds along the way are filtered through his distinctive vision to become the unpredictable and far-ranging sounds of Noonan’s wide-spectrum music, which combines the eloquence of an Irish bard, the narrative rhythms of Samuel Beckett, and the raw physicality of a street-smart boxer.

"Independence might be the ruling concept of this drummer/leader’s career. It defines a common relationship not only among his hands, feet, and voice, but between his art and almost everything else in drumland". Modern Drummer Magazine

"Tan Man's Hat" is now out featuring Malcolm Mooney (CAN), Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Ava Mendoza and Alex Marcelo! On Tan Man’s Hat, the second release by his harmolodic jazz-rock ensemble Pavees Dance, Noonan draws inspiration from the soul to the stars with his stunningly adventurous collaborators. Tan Man’s Hat confronts the listener with a vibrant, shocking swirl of sound, a dauntless tempest of varied influences: prog rock and avant-garde classical create sparks from clashes with harmolodic improvisation and African folk traditions, with jolting infusions of psychedelia and campfire tales. The band also thrives on its blend of generations, with experimental elders Mooney and Tacuma passing a still-blazing torch to their cutting-edge compatriots. Now available on CD Digipack, Gatefold Vinyl and several digital formats on RareNoise Records

"Tan Man's Hat" is now out featuring Malcolm Mooney (CAN), Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Ava Mendoza and Alex Marcelo!

On Tan Man’s Hat, the second release by his harmolodic jazz-rock ensemble Pavees Dance, Noonan draws inspiration from the soul to the stars with his stunningly adventurous collaborators. Tan Man’s Hat confronts the listener with a vibrant, shocking swirl of sound, a dauntless tempest of varied influences: prog rock and avant-garde classical create sparks from clashes with harmolodic improvisation and African folk traditions, with jolting infusions of psychedelia and campfire tales. The band also thrives on its blend of generations, with experimental elders Mooney and Tacuma passing a still-blazing torch to their cutting-edge compatriots. Now available on CD Digipack, Gatefold Vinyl and several digital formats on RareNoise Records

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Memorable Sticks Trio 2016 Album Release February 27, 2016 (Release date Poland)  

Memorable Sticks Trio with Alex Marcelo piano Peter Bitenc bass

The Immortal Rod is a symbol of power and authority in the salt mine, and is always in the Foreman's possession. When the miners chip away at a wall of salt, the clatter of their pickaxes resounds from wall to wall, from floor to ceiling and, finding no outlet, soaks into the saline bedrock.  The mine's walls remember everything – the voices of people, as well as horses. The memories residing in the walls can be awakened, upon being struck by…

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02/24/2018

Solo Drum Improvisation Perspectives Behind the Kit and Tour Diary 

Chapter 1: Wood and Air

Over the last few weeks I had a chance to focus exclusively on the drum set, performing my current solo program and composing the next chapter of this very honest idiom and from getting to share it with many audience by now I found a way to transcend myself to a mode of expression by using just two bare naked natural acoustic instruments: wood and air. Well actually for the drums it is wood, metal and skin and for the voice, water air and fire. 

Thus rhythm and sound are the essential…

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10/31/2016

Zappanation Compositional Process 

Chapter 3 Journal from Zappanation Rock Opera

The final Compositional Process has been completed where we have tracked the entire ensemble in the recording studio and I am in the final stages where I treat studio production and editing as a part of the process.  Editing is only used to exploit the most interesting and unique moments which often happens during improvisation.  I am currently working on this and hope to share with you the final result next year.  You can read about the libretto storyline here

…

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08/15/2016

Memorable Sticks are Limitless 

Memorable Sticks Spring 2016 Tour has had many limitless moments in my electric trio configuration with Johnny Richards and Michael Bardon
March tour and there will be more shows this month

Some translations from Germany review

>>> Noonan offers pictures for any mind ("Kopfkino"), no matter if you are a jazz fan or not...."
(Moosburger Zeitung, March 12, 2016)

>>> Jazz punk drummer Sean Noonan does not have any limits, at least not in his imagination. He does not stop at any pain barrier. Yet he is a master of…Read more

04/26/2016

Fall 2015 Drums in 4 unique rhythmic configurations 

 

From Sept to Nov I will perform in 4 unique rhythmic configurations drums with string quartet, drums with keyboard trio, drums with harmonic trio and drums with me.  First I will kick off the tour in London with A Gambler's Hand that will feature London based Ligeti Quartet and later heading to alternative music Incubate festival in Tilburg Sept 17. 

Shortly after I will be in a barn with the Pavees Dance Electric Trio at the Alternative Harvest Festival in Kirbymoorside collaboration for the first time…

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07/27/2015