Contact: Sheena Hong +1 (617) 816-6522 [email protected] Spring 2016 For-tune Album release: Sean Noonan “Memorable Sticks" “…it’s safe to say that you’ve never heard music like this before…will have you wondering why Sean Noonan isn’t a household name.” – Mark Saleski, Blogcritics.org

The Spring 2016 release of “Memorable Sticks" is a reflection of how Drummer/composer Sean Noonan sees himself, a modern-day sonic griot. In the spirit of those traveling African storytellers, Noonan wanders the world gathering stories, legends, and folklore like a punk- Alan Lomax. 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.

"Memorable Sticks” is available on For-tune Records, is an electric epic experience taking hold of punked-up jazz new music utilizing Noonan's "wandering folk music theory”. With “Memorable Sticks", Noonan adopts a magical scepter (The Immortal Rod (Wiekopomna Laska) to dig the depths of the Wieliczka underworld revealing "Hidden Treasures" protected by its treasurer, Skarbnik and apparition "White Lady Bieliczka”. Bieliczka appears with her Krasnolodki (dwarfs) in tears courting Noonan to carry her from the salt mine.

The Immortal Rod (Wiekopomna Laska) 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 the Rod. Sean Noonan penetrates the depths of Wieliczka's underworld, using a pair of magical drumsticks, and reveals the Hidden Treasures guarded by Skarbnik, the treasurer of that mine. Noonan encounters an apparition – the White Lady, Wieliczka, along with her dwarfs – who beseeches him, in tears, to take her from the salt mine. Through the power of the Immortal Rod, they are transported to South Africa where, in a culminating moment, we hear songs of praise and greeting (Nangadef) for the great Zulu king, Shaka. Does the journey end here? Or, perhaps, is this the beginning, or is it the end? About Noonan: An Irish-American drummer with a theatrical bent and a passion for African rhythms, Sean Noonan’s nomadic muse has led Noonan in a wealth of unexpected directions, resulting in an explosion of unclassifiable releases and projects spanning more than 19 albums and hundreds of performances in more than a dozen countries, including such international festivals as Timezone Festival, EFG London Jazz, Bergen Natt Jazz, Incubate and Jazz Liege. He’s worked with an incredible array of artists from across the literal and musical map, including Abdoulaye Diabaté, , Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Mat Maneri, Susan McKeown, and Can’s Malcolm Mooney.

The results take on many forms, each as surprising and inventive as the last: currently they include the Pavees Electric Trio, with U.K.-based keyboardist Johnny Richards and bassist Michael Bardon, is the latest chapter in Noonan’s Pavees Dance series combining funk, punk and jazz with the spirit of Irish wayfarers; Zappanation, a 10-piece ensemble project ionizing the music of Frank Zappa and Edgard Varèse; Bartalk, a spasmodic solo drum performance art piece; the Brooklyn Lager Trio, a Bavarian punk-jazz sax/guitar/drums triad (some believe Noonan is the reincarnation of King Ludwig II, the last Bavarian monarch); or his ongoing series of drum set concertos for orchestra.

About Marcelo: Alexis Marcelo is a pianist who instinctively creates sounds from a wide range of influences. His training began at the Harlem School of the Arts learning from JD Parran (AACM) and continued at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he studied composition with Yusef Lateef. Alexis Marcelo benefitted greatly from growing up in New York City as a black Latino. He was exposed to Hip Hop, Rock, Salsa, Merengue, and Gospel music. His studies led him to the greats in African American music where he fell in love with , John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Wayne Shorter.

The unique sound of Alexis Marcelo comes from all of these influences and aims to capture the soulful expression of man. He’s performed overseas and domestically at various festivals and prestigious venues. They include the North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland-Yusef Lateef), the Detroit Jazz Festival (Yusef Lateef), Etnafest (Italy-Yusef Lateef), Mediawave Festival (Hungary-The Hub), Alice Tully Hall in New York City as well as multiple tours to Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, and Denmark.

He has also recorded multiple albums with former professor and mentor Yusef Lateef. He has just recorded his first album (coming out summer of 2013) and can be heard on current recordings with Mike Pride’s from Bacteria to Boys, Adam Rudolph’s Go Orchestra, Sean Noonan’s Set the Hammer Free, and a new recording with Malcolm Mooney (Can). Alexis Marcelo is a very unique pianist who looks to provide a soulful experience.

About Bitenc: Bassist Peter Bitenc grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was gigging in local clubs not long after taking up the bass at age 15. Peter attended the New England Conservatory of Music where he studied with Steve Lacy, Cecil McBee, and Jerry Bergonzi and graduated with a degree in Jazz Studies in 2004. Peter moved to New York City in 2005 where he is active in the Jazz, Rock and Bluegrass scenes. He has toured extensively with the Sweetback Sisters and has recorded 3 records with them including 2010s "Looking for a Fight" released on Signature Sounds. Peter's solo project, Hunter Gatherer, features his songwriting, singing and guitar playing. He is also a member of Mike Pride's From Bacteria 2 Boys, where he has recorded two records and Daniel Levin's Quartet where he has recorded four records. Some other musicians Peter has performed with include Nate Wooley, Matt Moran, Joe Morris, Jon Irabagon, Darius Jones and Rob Brown.

For more information visit http://seannoonanmusic.com For-tune homepage visit http://store.for-tune.pl/sean-noonan-memorable-sticks