Bourne Bardon Noonan + Fabio Ferri + Enrico Merlin at St Stephen's Church Bristol
Headfirst Editor's Pick

"Unclassifiable experimentalists led by eccentric rhythmic storytelling Sean Noonan’s fearless mix of free jazz, vaudeville, global folk, avant-garde chamber music and prog rock. Totally bombastic, bat-shit sounds somewhere between Frank Zappa, Edgar Varèse, Stockhausen, Richard Dawson, John Zorn and Mike Patton."

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£12, £5 concessions

A gig on Thursday 26th October. The event starts at 19:30.


BOURNE BARDON NOONAN to debut New Music, Free Improvisation, and Rhythmic Storytelling in Wales and England this October!
Prepare for an unprecedented sonic experience as the highly anticipated trio, BOURNE BARDON NOONAN, takes the stage for their debut on October 25, 2023 at The Queens Head in Monmouth and Jazzlive At The Crypt in London on October 27th. Headed by the transplanted New York drummer and composer Sean Noonan, this ensemble melds the extraordinary skills of Matthew Bourne and Michael Bardon. Their collaboration ignited during the premiere of "Bartalk", a genre-defying monodrama for Speaking Drummer and Large Ensemble in April 2022 at St. Giles church, seamlessly blending new music, free improvisation, and rhythmic storytelling.
A speaking drummer and composer whose music enthusiastically defies category, Sean Noonan prefers the title rhythmic storyteller – an apt description for a modern-day sonic griot who spins imaginative yarns in the ancient tradition of wandering minstrels while weaving captivating narrative tapestries via his unique polyrhythmic language. Noonan has released over 30 albums that are informed by an eclectic variety of influences, including rock opera, avant-garde chamber music, and improvised jazz-rock
Matthew Bourne, a fearless and unpredictable pianist and keyboardist, possesses a burning passion for crafting music from unconventional sources, often breathing life into old and broken instruments, tracing back to his innovative experiments, such as teaching himself piano by tossing confectionery into a school instrument.
Michael Bardon, a Leeds-based double bass virtuoso who took part in Noonan's release "Zappanation", defies musical categorization through avant-garde collaborations, sound spatial exploration, and a diverse range of performances, making his sonic journey a captivating, multifaceted odyssey.
"Bourne Bardon Noonan" promises a series of spellbinding 'improv bouts' in live concerts before embarking on their debut album recording journey. This trio is set to redefine the boundaries of music, offering a unique and captivating sonic exploration.
Don't miss the chance to witness the birth of a new trio. Stay tuned for updates and releases from this innovative trio, please visit https://seannoonanmusic.com
Watch an excerpt featuring this trio here https://youtu.be/ubvDj6DGrHk

Fabio Ferri Quintet is the full band of Bristol based guitarist, composer and mathematician Fabio Ferri. After its debut Bristol performance of last July followed by Standon Calling and Shambala, the band continues delivering genre-defying complex compositions and playful improvisations, combining hauting melodies and chord progressions with improvisation, groove, theatrical sketches, visual art and extreme involvement of the audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jNwjIbQugo

Enrico Merlin is one of those unusual cases of an accomplished musician and composer who is at the same time an acclaimed expert on the subject of 20th century music. As a musician he has played on more than 50 different recordings as well as international festivals alongside artists such as Carla Bley, Paolo Fresu, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, Giovanni Sollima, Elliott Sharp and elected one of the 10 best Italian guitar players by Jazzit Magazine readers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rsXKCoVvAA

The artist Kertu Väinsalu will be producing live visual art inspired by the music!

Doors 7:30 PM, music 8PM

£12, £5 concessions (online)
£14, £6 concessions (on the door, card and cash accepted)

Entry requirements:

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