(New York / Suwałki / Bydgoszcz / Warszawa)

Friday 7 November
10.00 PM
MCK

A Gambler's Hand is a suite for amplified string quartet and drum kit/percussion, combines the aesthetics of downtown jazz/rock, improv and storytelling with composition inspired by American experimentalists such as Cowell, Nancarrow and Zorn. At any particular moment, rock grooves might be locking with insistent string ostinatos, which then morph into spiky counterpoint reminiscent of Bartok. Delicate-harsh writing for the quartet is woven around Sean's eclectic, lyrical and organic drumming in a highly original fusion. The music represents an original story by Noonan, an absurd, haunting tale of an Irish gambler who one day finds himself trapped inside a wall. The work presents the composers ongoing interest in folklore and the work of playwright Samuel Beckett. In the performance Noonan narrates the surreal tale from the drum set.

Sean Noonan - percussions, composition, narration

String quartet:
Adam Roszkowski - violin
Maciej Afanasjew - violin
Magdalena Małecka - viola
Jan Roszkowski - cello

Sean Noonan

A New York based drummer and composer. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In Poland he is best known for Brewed by Noon and The Hub. He is closely connected to the underground music scene of Brooklyn. His work is strongly influenced by experimental jazz, contemporary music, hip hop, rock and metal. His music is characteristic for its combination of rhythm and melody with selective sound. It is a mixture of punk, prog-rock, psychedelic and world music. Sean Noonan released 17 albums and cooperated with artists such as Marc Ribot, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Abdoulaye Diabate i Susan McKeown of Klezmatics, Jason Hwang, Kirk Knuffke, Mat Maneri and Momenta Quartet.

Adam Roszkowski

He graduated from the Academy of Music in Białystok and the Royal Conservatory in Brussels. He studied violin in the class of professor Adam Korniszewski and professor Tadeusz Gadzina and composition in the class of professor Ronald Zollman. Adam Roszkowski is the artistic director and the creator of Klasik Mjuzik Festival. He is the vice president of ART-S.O.S. Foundation which supports young artists. He is also concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra BruSolistes in Brussels. He is passionate about jazz and improvised music. He cooperates with musicians of the alternative scene of New York, Sean Noonan and Alexis Marcello.

Maciej Afanasjew

He is a violinist, a composer and a teacher. He graduated from the Academy of Music in Katowice where he studied jazz violin and composition in the jazz and pop music department. He works on Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz and on Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk. He cooperated with artists such as K. Herdzin, C. Konrad, J. Główczewski, P. Biskupski, K. Szymanowski. He performed in Europe and China. He is a member and a founder of Maciej Afanasjew Quartet, De Pasion, The Plodders, Kanaanczy Play&Pray. He composes music for big bands and some of his compositions were performed in Carnegie Hall during the New York Wind Band Festival.

Magdalena Małecka - Wippich

She received music and literary education. She graduated from Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw where she studied viola. She also studied on Witold Lutosławski Conservatory in Kraków, Jagiellonian University and Laboratoarium Dramatu in Warsaw. In 2004 she founded the Opium String Quartet which recorded three albums. She received a nomination for Fryderyk award for a debut album. She also recorded for labels such as CD Accord, DUX, Albany Recors UD, Raum Klang, Acte Prealable. She performed in all of Europe, in China, Canada and USA.

Jan Roszkowski

He is a celist and a composer. Currently he works in the USA. He regularly performs with his brother Adam Roszkowski. He graduated from Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw where he studied in the class of professor Kazimierz Michalik. He is the holder of Hans & Klara Bauer scholarship and the Fulbright scholarship. In May 2012 he graduated from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied cello with David Geber, jazz improvisation with Joan Stiles and composition with Mark Stambaugh. He recorded for Polish Radio and Television, Radio BIS and recording labels such as DUX and Kayax.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PucNIEzXBL8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRJzA8PFO0Q