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Two Simultaneous Jon Irabagon Releases: Quartet & Solo
by Mark Sullivan
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 ...
Continue ReadingJon Irabagon: Behind The Sky
by Dan Bilawsky
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 ...
Continue ReadingJon Irabagon: Inaction is An Action
by Karl Ackermann
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 ...
Continue ReadingJon Irabagon: Examining All The Angles
by R.J. DeLuke
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 ...
Continue ReadingJon Irabagon Trio: It Takes All Kinds
by Enrico Bettinello
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 ...
Continue ReadingJon Irabagon: It Takes All Kinds
by Eyal Hareuveni
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 ...
Continue ReadingJon Irabagon Trio: It Takes All Kinds
by Glenn Astarita
This trio radiated Olympian style heroics akin to an endurance race on Foxy (Hot Cup, 2010). It was an arousing exercise in energy and power. And while drummer Barry Altschul, and bassist Mark Helias are time-honored jazz warriors-- respectively appearing on many landmark albums--saxophonist Jon Irabagon is now firmly seated with the upper-echelon of modern saxophone heroes. His star has definitely risen. A first-call session ace and stalwart member of the cutting-edge, nouveau jazz ensemble Mostly Other People Do The ...
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