Search - Sean Brewed By Noon Noonan :: Stories to Tell (Hybr)

One hesitates to dub him The Next Big Thing . . .

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 08/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

". . . but that's what he strikes me as. Straddling the worlds of The New Celtic Thing, out jazz, and demented world-musings, Sean Noonan bursts on the scene with something that might best be described as sui generis.



For instance, one would be hard put to imagine a more eclectic and diverse band: Marc Ribot (and Aram Bajakian and Jon Madof) guitars; Thierno Camara (huh?) bass; Susan McKeown and Dawn Padmore, vocals; Jim Pugliese, percussion; Thiokho Diagne, djembe; and Mat Maneri, viola. Quite an assemblage. And they, not surprisingly, play their collective butts off. Afro/Celt world madness, indeed. Can U dig it?



Look.



Pretty much drop everything and acquire this.



You'll swoon.



Snooze and you lose."

An interesting stew

eliot gardenstreet | Phoenix, AZ | 02/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a good album for making unusual musical associations. Here is a partial list of other music that this album reminds me of: Bill Frisell's Intercontinentals, John Zorn's Naked City, Yes, African electric guitar pop, Riverdance, Jewish cantors, King Crimson, Derek and the Dominoes, Allman Brothers, Carlos Santana, King Crimson, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Cassandra Wilson. The list could go on. The central instrument is the electric guitar, and the playing sounds slightly amateurish at points, compared to the precision you expect if you're accustomed to the playing of Metheny, Frisell, Scofield, Stern, Rosenwinkel, Moreno, Louhke, et al. But in a way this roughness adds charm, and makes the music seem more youthful and adventurous."