Jazz Articles about Jon Irabagon

About Jon Irabagon

Album Review

Jon Irabagon: Inaction is An Action

Read "Inaction is An Action" reviewed by Jakob Baekgaard

by Jakob Baekgaard
September 29, 2015

The release of saxophonist and composer Jon Irabagon's album Inaction is An Action poses an interesting question. When should an artist release a record? It is not a matter of talent. Long ago, Irabagon has proven himself. He has won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition and gained success in every measureable way, including release on a major record label and critical acclaim. It is also not a matter of good or bad. ...

Multiple Reviews

Two Simultaneous Jon Irabagon Releases: Quartet & Solo

by Mark Sullivan
September 25, 2015

Saxophonist Jon Irabagon has worked in a wide variety of settings, including Mostly Other People Do The Killing, the Mary Halvorson Quintet, Barry Altschul's 3Dom Factor, and the Dave Douglas Quintet. For the 2015 release on his own Irabbagast Records label he released two records on the same day: Behind the Sky, with his quartet plus guest trumpeter Tom Harrell; and Inaction is An Action, for solo sopranino saxophone. The two albums could hardly be farther apart stylistically. Taken together ...

Album Review

Jon Irabagon: Behind The Sky

Read "Behind The Sky" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
September 15, 2015

The grieving process is a personal journey and an act of discovery, allowing individuals to truly appreciate what was, while awakening to the reality of what is. And while no two people mourn in the exact same fashion, mourning itself, no matter the method, is almost always a cathartic experience. In the case of saxophonist Jon Irabagon, that emotional outpouring, connected to the loss of several loved ones and mentors, was channeled into Behind The Sky. Irabagon--winner ...

Album Review

Jon Irabagon: Inaction is An Action

Read "Inaction is An Action" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
September 1, 2015

Saxophonist Jon Irabagon, a central figure in Mostly Other People Do the Killing, guitarist Mary Halvorson's Quintet and leader of his own trio with drummer Barry Altschul and bassist Mark Helias is one of the most prolific composers and performers in music. Still in his thirties, Irabagon has amassed about eighty recordings as a leader, co-leader or sideman and his portfolio covers the breadth from big band swing to free improvisation. As his career has zig-zagged its way through diverse ...

Interview

Jon Irabagon: Examining All The Angles

by R.J. DeLuke
October 13, 2014

Saxophonist Jon Irabagon likes challenges in music; likes attempting different things. He's not opposed to things traditional, but would prefer to come at music and sounds from different angles. He enjoys the journey; enjoys experiencing the results. At 35, he's on the go all the time, ubiquitous on the New York City music scene. In the next minute, he's often off to Europe on tour with one of his own groups or playing as a sideman. Not long ...

Album Review

Jon Irabagon Trio: It Takes All Kinds

Read "It Takes All Kinds" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
August 4, 2014

Scegliere come altri vertici di un triangolo due musicisti pieni di storia e esperienza come Mark Helias (contrabbasso) e Barry Altschul (batteria) è una scelta che racconta già da sola molte cose. È la scelta di Jon Irabagon, sassofonista che abbiamo potuto ammirare anche in Italia negli ultimi anni, con i Mostly Other People Do The Killing, nel quintetto di Dave Douglas o in quello di Mary Halvorson. È una scelta che racconta non soltanto la voglia ...

Album Review

Jon Irabagon: It Takes All Kinds

Read "It Takes All Kinds" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni

by Eyal Hareuveni
March 16, 2014

It Takes All Kinds is the third recorded collaboration between prolific tenor saxophonist Jon Irabagon and a great drummer, Barry Altschul. The first, Irabagon's Foxy (Hot cup, 2010) featured double bassist Peter Brendler. The second, Altschul's The 3dom Factor (TUM, 2013) featured double bass player Joe Fonda. The most recent one features Altschul's longtime rhythm teammate, double bassist virtuoso Mark Helias. Irabagon, Altschul and Helias are each highly creative musicians with distinct, dominant voices nurtured by an extensive, diverse array ...