Barry Altschul: Long Tall Sunshine

Be ye player or observer, we all crave to experience, shape and seize the untamed virtuosity of the moment. The absolute here and now. You want your attention commanded away by the manic sounds of humans creating a noise, a language that didn't exist mere minutes ago.

So check out Long Tall Sunshine, drum master Joe Fonda and saxophonist Jon Irabagon and cure thyself. Because even if you haven't heard the trio's previous excursions into the heart of unknown, Long Tall Sunshine is as great an observation point as any to listen in as three guys tackle time and temper and come out victorious.

Recorded live in spring of Europe 2019 but no one remembers just where, Long Tall Sunshine charges head first into the fray with the tuneful title eruption. Fonda and Altschul may set the frenetic pace, but Irabagon chooses the speed and it's furious, blowing like the hounds of hell were on his trail. But he plays with such irascible melody, like a pied piper who has joined forces with the madly inspired.

As much as any player can in instances such as these, Fonda takes charge of "The 3dom Factory" until another prods him to play nice and the thirteen minute, thirteen round punch out has each man playing combatant and referee and often simultaneously. Believing, like Miles Davis that new and fresh are two distinct and equal concepts when it comes to music, the remaining four tracks reprise Althschul originals from previous outings, thus brining a fierce new simmer to "Irina" and a frazzy, new onslaught to "Martin's Stew."

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