New Album Of Leunig’s Poems By Katie Noonan And Elixir

Gratitude and Grief ELIXIR Feat. Katie Noonan with Michael Leunig is a new album released today in which Katie Noonan and Elixir explore every nuance of Michael Leunig’s poetry.

Elixir, one of Australia’s finest jazz trios led by five-time ARIA award-winning singer songwriter Katie Noonan, alongside National Jazz Award-winning Saxophonist/Composer Zac Hurren and Australia’s master of guitar Stephen Magnusson are releasing this labum on the Kin label, distributed by Universal Music Australia.

Over four years iconic Australian poet-cartoonist Michael Leunig and Elixir workshopped a selection of poems to create this collaborative album. Interpreting 10 iconic poems by Leunig, Elixir combine the spoken word with vocals and jazz improvisation. ‘Love is Born’, ‘Peace (is my drug)’, ‘Gratitude and Grief’ and ‘The Path to Your Door’ are amongst the ten classic works Leunig himself will read as an introduction, before each musical interpretation of that, performed by the trio. The album ends with their unique take on ‘The Rainbow Connection’
– small gift of love to the LGBTQI community.

Founded in 1997, Elixir is led by Katie Noonan, singer, songwriter, producer, pianist, mother and fierce champion of the arts. She has five ARIA Awards, sales in excess of seven times platinum and released over a dozen studio albums. Saxophonist, composer and improvisor Zac Hurren won the 2009 National Jazz Award and Melbourne-based Stephen Magnusson is regarded as one of Australia’s finest jazz guitarists. He has shared the limelight with the likes of Paul Grabowsky, Scott Tinkler, Michelle Nicole, Paul Kelly and Vince Jones.

Also featured on the album are Sarah Curro and Monica Curro on violins, Christopher Cartlidge on viola, Michelle Wood on cello, Phil Stack on double bass with percussion by Javier Fredes. String Arrangements are by Stephen Newcomb, Iain Grandage and Joe Chindamo.

Watch out for our review of Gratitude and Grief ELIXIR – coming soon!