New SUN TIGER album release date is January 19th – the recording features Vinnie Sperrazza, Hank Roberts, and myself and will be available on Skirl Records. Really excited about this one!
Please come out to our release concert at Greenwich House Sound it out Series on Jan 19th, 7:30pm!
Tusk receives 4 stars in All About Jazz Italia! Here is the link for those of you who read Italian.. http://italia.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=9048
“Fascinating release from Sean Moran, whose nylon string guitar adds a bright element to this edgy modern jazz session. Music that takes odd angles and unexpected curves. With Chris Dingman on vibes, Harris Eisenstadt on drums, Mike McGinnis on woodwinds, Reuben Radding on bass, Moran has assembled a crew that knows how to navigate unconventional music. Highly recommended” (Dave Sumner, eMusic contributer)
“Sean Moran’s compositions and arrangements defy easy definitions or any labels; this is music of great imagination and intelligence, well worth exploring time and again for its creativity and the quality of the musicianship.” (Richard Kamins – Step Tempest) Read the full review here: http://steptempest.blogspot.com/2013/04/live-this-week-music-that-challenges.html
“Moran’s ability to conjure both subtlety and intensity from the nylon string guitar lends this album a profound sense of drama. The haunting feel that populates the majority of this record perfectly frames Moran’s sound..” (NYC jazz record)
“Even grumpy nylon-string skeptics will get off on the rhythmically challenging and harmonically colorful tines of Tusk, the solo debut by guitarist Sean Moran” (The Village Voice)
Something Else Reviews – read the full review here http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/03/26/sean-moran-small-elephant-band-tusk-2013/
Tusk receives 4 stars in the Free Jazz Blog – read the full review here http://www.freejazzblog.org/2013/02/guitar-week-composed-and-otherwise.html
You can buy the record from www.ncmeast.com
or Band Camp
Find us at www.thefourbags.com
Here’s what Nate Chinen from the NY Times says….
The confluence of post-bop, indie-rock and chamber music finds another good outlet in “Forth” (NCM), by the Four Bags. It’s an album of springy friction, its lineup consisting of Brian Drye’s trombone, Michael McGinnis’s clarinets, Jacob Garchik’s accordion and Sean Moran’s guitar. Every band member contributes at least one composition; there are also deft arrangements of songs from the Persian devotional realm, the Brazilian Forró canon and the catalog of the French electronic duo Air. Throughout the album the improvisation shifts easily from one musician to the next, and the rhythmic brio in the group obviates the need for a percussionist. Every now and then you hear the punchy click of the buttons on Mr. Moran’s effects pedals, and that turns out to be enough.
Sun Tiger album release at Sound it Out series, Greenwich House Music, West Village NYC
Album release for Skirl records, with Sean Moran (guitar), Hank Roberts(cello), Vinnie Sperrazza(drums)
https://www.facebook.com/events/347413295840273/
Sun Tiger at the Black Iris Richmond VA (with Brian Jones) 8pm
Excited to share the bill with my good friend Brian in RVA! This should be a great show!
Sun Tiger w /Sunwatchers and Cache Bonus @ The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative
https://www.facebook.com/events/300957230694375/
Sponsored by the Charlottesville Jazz Society - we play at 7pm!
Junkbucket at Barbes
Excited for this new trio's first show!
Art Bailey (organ), Chris Stromquist (drums), Sean Moran(gtr)
Plinth at Wonders of Nature
w Sarah Bernstein(violin), Brian Adler(percussion), Sean Moran (guitar)
SUN TIGER at Barbes
with Sean Moran, Hank Roberts, Vinnie Sperrazza
SUN TIGER at the Brooklyn Conservatory
with Sean Moran, Hank Roberts, Vinnie Sperrazza
Bassoon at Geno’s Rock Club, Portland ME
Bassoon in Portsmouth N.H.
with Stuart Popejoy, John Mettam, Sean Moran
Debbie Deane at Prospect Concerts
with Debbie Deane, Jim Whitney, Brian Adler, Todd Isler, Sean Moran
Stromquist/Moses/Moran at Hank’s Saloon
w Chris Stromquist, Stephen Moses, Sean Moran
also Greek Judas!
SUN TIGER at Barbes
Sean Moran, Hank Roberts, Vinnie Sperrazza
Brian Adler’s Hermeto Vive! at Cornelia Street Cafe
with Brian Adler, Rene Hart, Jeff Hudgins, Frank London, Sean Moran
Jim Whitney’s Perpendicular Shoes at Barbes
with Jim Whitney, Michel Gentile, Diego Voglino, Sean Moran
SUN TIGER at Balboa
with Sean Moran, Hank Roberts, Vinnie Sperrazza
Lesbros/Kulick/Moran at Legion Bar
with Emilie Lesbros, Sam Kulick, Sean Moran
Adam Schneit Band at The Owl
with Adam Schneit, Eivind Opsvik, Kenny Wollesen, Sean Moran
BASSOON at The Barbary, Philadelphia PA
with Heavy Coughin/BASSOON/Moons/Space Caravan
Debbie Deane at Bar Chord
with Debbie Deane, Jim Whitney, Diego Voglino, Sean Moran
Jim Whitney group at Barbes
with Jim Whitney(bass), Michel Gentile(flutes), Diego Voglino(drums), Sean Moran (gtr)
The Four Bags Three’s Brewing Residency
with Brandon Seabrook trio 8pm
The Four Bags 9pm
The Four Bags Three’s Brewing Residency
with The Westerlies 8pm
The Four Bags 9pm
The Four Bags – Three’s Brewing Residency
with Andy Biskin's 16 tons 8pm
The Four Bags 9pm
SUN TIGER at Ibeam
with Hank Roberts (cello), Vinnie Sperrazza (drums), Sean Moran (guitar)
The Four Bags – “Waltz” cd release at Shapeshifter Lab
with ASM
http://www.thefourbags.com
Sun Tiger at Korzo
Sean Moran gtr, Hank Roberts cello, Vinnie Sperrazza drums
BASSOON at Flywheel – Easthampton MA
BASSOON at Oasis – New London CT
BASSOON at Geno’s Rock Club – Portland ME
https://www.facebook.com/events/1821978054686142/
BASSOON at Cherry St. Station – Wallingford CT
BASSOON at El Bar – Philadelphia PA
https://www.facebook.com/events/408343726165370/
John Mettam’s Flying home at Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Playing the music of Benny Goodman with John Mettam, Mike Mcginnis, Brian Drye, Tom Beckham, Jim Whitney
BASSOON at Bushwick Public House
with Slug/Video Beast
Emilie Lesbros at the Brooklyn Public Library
playing duo with my good friend and amazing singer Emilie's alter ego Miss Elie at the Night of Philosophy and Ideas at the BPL. Looking forward to this one! http://nightofphilosophyandideas.com/schedule.aspx
“Sun Tiger” at Barbes
Sean Moran/Vinnie Sperrazza/Hank Roberts. Pre recording gig!
“Sun Tiger” at Ibeam
Sean Moran/Vinnie Sperrazza/Hank Roberts
before us at 8pm is Jabberclaw (Mike Mcginnis, Brian Drye, Ben Perowsky)
Fun double trio night!
Adam Schneit band record release party for “Light Shines In” at Threes Brewing
My friend Adam's record just came out on the Fresh Sound New Talent label. Tonight we celebrate it's release!
w Adam Schneit/Eivind Opsvik/Kenny Wollesen/Sean Moran
Bassoon at Don Pedro’s
Bassoon rocking some new sick riffs! Stuart Popejoy/John Mettam/Sean Moran
Brian Adler “Natural Feelings” (music of Hermeto Pascoal) at Brooklyn Society for ethical culture
w Brian Adler/Karlie Bruce/Rene Hart/Sean Moran
Adam Schneit band at Korzo
w Adam Schneit/Eivind Opsvik/Kenny Wollesen/Sean Moran
“SUN TIGER” at Barbes
w Hank Roberts/Vinnie Sperrazza/Sean Moran
The Four Bags at Penn Plaza concert series
Mike Mcginnis/Brian Drye/Jacob Garchik/Sean Moran
Sean Moran “SUN TIGER” at Korzo
w Hank Roberts/Vinnie Sperrazza/Sean Moran
The Four Bags at Wave Hill Summer concert series
Hermeto Pascoal bday gig at Barbes
Sean Moran “SUN TIGER” at Barbes
w Sean Moran/Hank Roberts/Vinnie Sperrazza
Adam Schneit Band at Bar Below Rye
Bassoon at En Su Boca, Richmond VA
Bassoon w/ Plow, Accident Prone, and Enigmatic at Slims
Raleigh, NC
Bassoon + Night Raids at The Fire, Philly PA
Bassoon/Netherlands at Acheron
Rock.
Brian Adler “Natural Feelings” at Barbes
Music of Hermeto Pascoal, w Brian Adler, Rene Hart, Mariel Berger, Karlie Bruce, Sean Moran
Adam Schneit Band at Bar Lunatico
w Adam Schneit, Matt Pavolka, Kenny Wollesen, Sean Moran
Adam Schneit Band at Three’s Brewing
w/Adam Schneit, Eivind Opsvik, Kenny Wollesen, Sean Moran
The Four Bags at Barbes
John Mettam’s Flying Home at Barbes
playing the music of Benny Goodman
w/ John Mettam, Mike Mcginnis, Bryan Drye, Tom Beckham, Jim Whitney, Sean Moran
Bassoon at Caledonia in Athens GA
Bassoon at Slims in Raleigh NC
Brian Adler’s “Natural Feelings” – the music of Hermeto Pascoal – at Brooklyn Society of Ethical Culture
w Brian Adler, Rene Hart, Mariel Berger, Karlie Bruce, Matt Kilmer, Sean Moran
The Four Bags at Barbes
Bassoon at the Grand Victory
John Mettam’s Flying Home at the Rockaway Beach Jazzfest
Playing the music of Benny Goodman
w/John Mettam, Ben Goldberg, Michael Bates, Sean Moran
John Mettam’s “Flying Home”
at Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
John Mettam’s “Flying Home”
at Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Adam Schneit Band
at Seeds (w Adam Schneit/Chris Lightcap/Kenny Wollesen/Sean Moran)
John Mettam’s “Flying Home”
at Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Bassoon
Matinee show ! - at Palisades
with Skullshitter/Vomit Fist/Existential Animals
John Mettam’s “Flying Home”
at Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Bassoon
at Grand Victory (with Robot Death Kites/Night Raids/The Telecommunists)
Bassoon minitour: Kung-Fu Necktie PHILADELPHIA
at Kung-Fu Necktie
with Night Raids/Hellrad
Bassoon minitour: Strange Matter RICHMOND
at Strange Matter w/Dar Sombra
Bassoon minitour: Sidebar in BALTIMORE
at the Sidebar
with Elagabalus/The Wayward
Brian Adler – “Natural Feelings” – the music of Hermeto Pascoal and Aierto
at Barbes (w/Brian Adler, Rene Hart, Mariel Berger, Sean Moran)
John Mettam’s “Flying Home”
at Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Locus Delicti
At Freddy's Backroom
Locus Delicti (Laura Cromwell and Sean Moran), with The Famous Fred Thomas Trio and the Shitbirds
John Mettam’s Flying Home
at Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Bassoon
at Grand Victory
with Timo Ellis/Cinema Cinema
Bassoon
at Black Bear
with Couch Slut/Bangladeafy/Ambiguity
BASSOON at St. Vitus, with Activator, Nomoto, Marateck
http://www.saintvitusbar.com/
John Mettam’s Flying Home
at Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
LIC bar
w/ Brian Adler's Helium Music Project
Sean Moran Small Elephant Band
Why Not Experiment? Series
Why Not Jazz Room
BASSOON @ Death By Audio w/ Vomit Fist, Marateck, Child Bite
$7 cover. Child Bite is a touring act from Detroit! Vomit Fist is Nick Didkovsky shredding it up! BASSOOOOOOOOON! (Stuart Popejoy, John Mettam, Sean Moran)
John Mettam and Flying Home – the music of Benny Goodman
BARBES
The Four Bags
Why Not Experiment? Series
Why Not Jazz Room
Adam Schneit band
at SEEDs
Adam Schneit, Eivind Opsvik, Vinnie Sperrazza, Sean Moran
John Mettam’s “Flying Home” – The Music of Benny Goodman
Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
The Four Bags
BARBES
Mike Mcginnis Spang a Lang
Korzo Konceptions Series
w/Mike Mcginnis, Elias Bailey, Vinnie Sperrazza, Sean Moran
Bassoon minitour: Sidebar BALTIMORE
at the Sidebar w/ The Wayward
The Four Bags
BARBES
The Four Bags
BARBES (Brooklyn)
The Four Bags
Chamber Music America Showcase
Majestic Ballroom 5th Floor Westin Ny at Times Square
Sean Moran Small Elephant Band
Korzo Konceptions Series
The Four Bags
including a live performance with sculptures by Chico MacMurtrie
Pioneer Works Center for Art and Innovation
Mike Mcginnis “Angsudden Song Cycle” album release party
Roulette
John Mettam’s “Flying Home”
at Jalopy
playing the music of Benny Goodman
diNMachine
at The Rockshop
w/ New Beard
diNMachine
The Paper B0x
Mike Mcginnis “Splang-a-Lang” trio w/ special guest Sean Moran
Korzo Konceptions Series
with Mike Mcginnis, Elias Bailey, Vinnie Sperrazza, Sean Moran
diNMachine
at Leftfield
diNMachine
at Pianos
diNMachine
Paper box
Adam Schneit Band
Barbes
Flying Home (music of Benny Goodman)
Barbes
w/ John Mettam, Mike Mcginnis, Tom Beckham, Brian Drye, Jim Whitney
diNMachine
BSP Lounge (with Liminal and Ben Neil)
The Four Bags
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
diNMachine
at MoMA - with film by Ken Jacobs
diNMachine
Alphabet Lounge
Adam Schneit band
Sycamore
The Four Bags
Annual Alec Wilder concert at Christ and St. Stephen's Church
diNMachine
at the Firehouse Space
diNMachine (Michael Schumacher, Sean Moran, Nisi Jacobs, Hari Ganglberger)
also Ben Neill
diNMachine
The Bowery Electric
Sean Moran Small Elephant Band “Tusk” Cd release!
Barbes
diNMachine
The Delancey
diNMachine
Lit Lounge
Shane Endsley “Cellar Door”
NJ Pilsnerhaus
John Mettam’s “Flying Home” – the music of Benny Goodman
Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
The Four Bags (w/Stew)
Barbes
Shane Endsley “Cellar Door”
NJ Pilsnerhaus
diNMachine (Michael Schumacher, Nisi Jacobs, Hari Ganglberger, Sean Moran)
Jack
w/Isaac Peachin
The Four Bags
Barbes
Shane Endsley “Cellar Door”
NJ Pilsnerhaus
w/Shane Endsley, Brian Drye, Matt Pavolka, Vinnie Sperrazza, S Moran
Bassoon
at Jack
The Four Bags
Barbes
The Four Bags
Barbes
The Four Bags
Barbes
Bassoon
Grand Victory
Adam Schneit Band
at Seeds
http://www.seedsbrooklyn.org/
w/ Adam Schneit, Zach Lober, George Schuller, Sean Moran
Mike Mcginnis “Angsudden Song Cycle” recording
Systems Two, Brooklyn NY
Mike Mcginnis Angsudden Song Cycle
w/ mike mcginnis, sarah schoenbeck, jessica pavone, dan fabricatore, harris eisenstadt, sean moran, khabu young, kyoko kitamura
The Soundbats (John Mettam, Briggan Krauss, Sean Moran)
Freddy's
The Four Bags
Ibeam (part of the undead jazzfest)
The Four Bags
Barbes 10th anniversary celebration!
Adam Schneit Band (w/Adam, Sean Moran, Dave Ambrosio, RJ Miller)
Douglass Street Music Collective
John Mettam and Flying Home (the music of Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian)
Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Sean Moran’s “Small Elephant”
Konceptions Music Series @ Korzo
Duo with Aiden Carrol
The Castello Plan
The Four Bags opening set for Stew!
Neptune Theatre, 1303 N.E. 45th St., Seattle WA
The Four Bags
The Camellia Lounge, 510 NW 11th ave, Portland OR 97209
The Four Bags
CMA Gallery, Seattle WA 98103
The Four Bags
The Red Poppy Art House
San Francisco, CA 94110
Adam Schneit Band (w/Adam, George Schuller, Eivind Opsvik, Sean Moran)
Sycamore
Bassoon
The Grand Victory
The Four Bags
Culturefix
The Four Bags (w/ Ches Smith, Father Figures)
The Cakeshop
Bassoon + Seabrook Powerplant + Marika Hughes
The Rockshop
Jim Whitney’s Perpendicular Shoes at Barbes
with Jim Whitney, Michel Gentile, Diego Voglino, Sean Moran
diNMachine
The Paper Box
Here are a few tracks from the new Bassoon release!
Go Forth Not
Flight of Hektor
New Promo Video by Jim Hoppin (2012)
Fresh Sound New Talent
FSNT-518
Released Feb 2014
(yocto yotta recordings – Y-Y 111)
produced by Bill Laswell and Michael Schumacher
Released October 2013 (482 music)
Released March 2013
(NCM 40136)
Released July 2012 PhaseFrame (PFM002)
Released Oct 2011 (NCM40132)
self released 2009
Released Nov 2006 (NCM40127)
Released Jun 2004 (NCM40121)
Released Jun 2004 (NCM40122)
Released May 2003 – 577 records (577-4)
Released Feb 2002 (NCM 40114)
released March 2001 (NCM 40106)
Sean Moran is a guitarist and composer based in Brooklyn, NY. He has performed at New York venues such as Lincoln Center, Celebrate Brooklyn, The Stone, BAM, Roulette, and Symphony Space as well as playing in Japan, Europe, and throughout the U.S. His music has been featured on WNYC’s “Soundcheck” and “Spinning on Air”, as well as at Merkin Concert Hall. He plays regularly with the chamber quartet “The Four Bags”, the avante metal trio “Bassoon”, leads his own group “Small Elephant”, and performs with many other NYC based groups.
Hailed as “A forward thinking guitarist”(Chinen) by the NY Times, Sean has also performed and/or recorded in many groups featuring a wide variety of artists including Jackie Cain, Briggan Krauss, Teo Macero, Ron Mclure, Stew, Daniel Carter, George Schuller, Federico Ughi, Earl Mcintyre, Michael J Schumacher, and Pamelia Kurstin among many others. Sean has been a longtime faculty member of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, where he teaches composition, theory, counterpoint and jazz studies.
(Sean Moran’s Small Elephant) Guitarist-Composer Sean Moran presents works inspired by both hectic fusion and dreamy chamber music..
Time Out NY
Edgy electric guitar improvisations…
Astarita – All About Jazz
Electric guitarist Sean Moran plays a critical role throughout, with his hard-laced solos blending a rock sensibility with a free aesthetic.
Loewy – All Music review of Federico Ughi’s “South of Brooklyn” 577 records
The group is a chamber ensemble making music in the era-defining category of the uncategorizable, its work a hybrid of jazz, classical, folk, and pop musics from around the world. Exuberant, virtuosic, and light-spirited, the Four Bags make smart music with a quiet, joyful intensity..I’m loving the group’s new CD, Forth
Hajdu – The New Republic
“What a strange lineup for a jazz quartet: trombone, accordion, guitar, and woodwinds. But what vibrant, compelling music. This is as hip as chamber jazz gets. To drive the point home the quartet even covers a song by the French electronic duo Air.”
Greenlee – Jazz’s top ten albums of 2011 – The Boston Globe
Guitarist Sean Moran, in particular, is a curious player who stands out even within such a curious group (The Four Bags). His electric playing seems to be informed largely by post-rock atmospherics (think delay, trem picking, all the rest) and classic film soundtracks (a little noir here, a little Morricone there) – it’s a daring fit within the accordion/clarinet/trombone/guitar schematic. At one point, the group segued from a classic French waltz into one of Moran’s own compositions, which featured a hilariously chug-y metallic breakdown fit for any number of contemporary hardcore groups to ransack.
Battik – Dispatch Magazine
Mr. Moran, a forward-thinking guitarist, focuses on his nylon-string and his own compositions in this new ensemble. (Small Elephant)
Chinen – NY Times
Hank Roberts(cello), Vinnie Sperrazza(drums), Sean Moran(guitar)
Sean Moran (nylon string gtr), Mike Mcginnis (clarinets), Chris Dingman (vibraphone), Reuben Radding (bass), Harris Eisenstadt (drums)
Brian Drye (trombone), Sean Moran (guitar), Jacob Garchik (accordion), Mike Mcginnis (clarinet)
Stuart Popejoy (keys/bass), John Mettam (drums), Sean Moran (guitar)
http://www.popejoy.org/bassoon
Briggan Krauss (alto saxophone), John Mettam (drums), Sean Moran (guitar)
Improvised duets for nylon string guitar and acoustic bass
Mike Mcginnis (clarinet), Sara Schoenbeck (bassoon), Jessica Pavone (viola), Harris Eisenstadt (percussion), Kyoko Kitamura (voice), Sean Moran (nylon string), Khabu Doug Young (cavaquinho), Dan Fabricatore (bass)
Adam Schneit (tenor saxophone), Kenny Wollesen (drums), Eivind Opsvik(bass), Sean Moran (guitar)
Nick Kadajski (alto saxophone), Brian Adler (drums), Bob Lanzetti (guitar), Sean Moran (guitar), Brad Maestas (bass)
Brian Adler (percussion/drums), Rene Hart (bass), Karlie Bruce(vocals), Sean Moran (guitar)
Brian Drye (trombone), Matt Glassmeyer (saxophone), Lori Bingel (tuba), Greg Joseph (drums), Dan Fabricatore (bass), Sean Moran(guitar)
Matt Glassmeyer (saxophone), Jason Wildman (drums), Sean Moran (guitar)
Steve Blum (nylon string), Marco Capelli (nylon string), Sean Moran (nylon string)