Bill Noertker and his psychedelic avant-chamber jazz ensemble, Noertker’s Moxie, are back with a three-part suite, Tricycle. In this third installment, Leonora, Noertker recounts a mythical exploration of his past as inspired by a journey to Mexico City and an encounter with the work of Leonora Carrington. From the oscillating calliope of Metro Cosmos to the iridescent birdsong and plaintive cry of Beneath the Sinking Cathedral to the arcane processional of Avenue of the Dead, Noertker and his stalwart companions engage us with their playful, emotive, and intimate musical conversations.
In 2001, Bill Noertker formed Noertker’s Moxie as a vehicle for his thematic compositions. Since then he has composed over 200 pieces of music and has released thirteen CDs on the Edgetone Records label, including the soundtrack for Curious Worlds: the Art and Imagination of David Beck and the extended suites Sketches of Catalonia; The Blue Rider; and The Druidh.
Source material for compositions
Metro Cosmos – El Túnel de la Ciencia in Mexico City’s La Raza Metro station
Beneath the Sinking Cathedral (the Artist Travels Incognito) – Mexico City’s endlessly sinking Metropolitan Cathedral & Leonora Carrington’s 1949 painting
Red Mask – Leonora Carrington’s 1950 construct
Eluhim – Leonora Carrington’s 1960 painting
Snake Bike Floripondio – Leonora Carrington’s 1975 painting
Avenue of the Dead – the main promenade at Teotihuacán
El Bosque – de Chapultepec
How Doth the Little Crocodile? – Leonora Carrington’s 2002 sculpture & a poem recited by Alice in chapter 2 of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
These are recordings of live performances of Noertker’s Moxie from 2018-2019 at the SIMM Series, held bi-monthly at the Musicians’ Union Hall in San Francisco, CA
All tracks recorded live to 2-track by Michael Zelner
Mastered by Myles Boisen at The Headless Buddha Mastering Lab on 14 & 18 October 2019
Graphic design by Gert Rude Music
Cover art by Jekyll
Produced by Bill Noertker
Executive producer - Rent Romus
Special thanks to Schmill & Nobara & The Climate Music Project
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