New happenings

Hi all, happy spring (finally)!!

Just a quick update:

We've been getting many stellar reviews for our new trio record, It Takes All Kinds, on Irabbagast Records and Jazzwerkstatt.  Some can be seen here:

http://www.criticaljazz.com/2014/02/jon-irabagon-it-takes-all-kinds-jw-2014.html

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/02/10/jon-irabagon-with-barry-altschul-and-mark-helias-it-takes-all-kinds-2014/

http://www.londonjazznews.com/2014/02/cd-review-jon-irabagon-trio-it-takes.html

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=46519

http://dustedmagazine.tumblr.com/post/79668827365/jon-irabagon-it-takes-all-kinds-irrabagast-records

http://canadianaudiophile.net/2014/03/28/jon-irabagon-it-takes-all-kinds/

http://gapplegatemusicreview.blogspot.com/2014/02/jon-irabagon-it-takes-all-kinds.html

and this great one that just came out yesterday:
http://www.thetens.us/pins/253-it-takes-all-kinds


Also, there have been a couple of nice features on my playing and some albums I have played on recently here:

http://www.popmatters.com/column/167286-jon-irabagon-takes-us-by-storm/

http://jazztimes.com/articles/93416-jon-irabagon-eclectic-warrior


I just recorded a new book of music with my new jazz quartet that features Luis Perdomo, Yasushi Nakamura and Rudy Royston.  We're excited to have featured on three tunes the inimitable Tom Harrell!!  These 11 new compositions have been written with these guys in mind, and will be coming out early next year on Irabbagast Records.  Stay tuned!

In the meantime, the Mostly Other People do the Killing Septet is playing at the Moers Festival in Germany this summer, the Newport Jazz Festival in August and the Berlin Music Festival in November.  The Dave Douglas Quintet is playing in Seattle, Eugene and Denver in June, as well as the Middleheim Festival in Belgium in August and Birdland for a whole week in August, gearing up for its next recording.  Barry Altschul and the 3Dom Factor (with Joe Fonda and myself) is playing at Firehouse 12 in New Haven on May 23, as well as a European tour in December.  Mike Pride's From Bacteria to Boys is playing festivals in Montreal and Ottawa on June 19 and 20, and the Mary Halvorson Quintet is doing its first European tour in late October and early November.

My trio with Mark Helias and Barry Altschul is going on tour in Germany, Austria, Poland and more in late September and early October, celebrating the release of It Takes All Kinds and learning new material for the next record.  Hope to see you out there!

Thanks for reading!
Jon

New album out!

Hi everyone, I hope you're keeping warm in this crazy weather!

Just a quick note to let you know that my new album, It Takes All Kinds, is out today on iTunes, local record stores, the Jazzwerkstatt website (http://records-cd.com) and through myself.  The record features eight of my originals, as performed at the 2013 Peitz Festival in Germany, and features two of my favorite musicians and improvisers-- Barry Altschul and Mark Helias!  This co-release between Jazzwerkstatt and my own Irabbagast Records has been a dream come true, and we couldn't be more proud of the music!  This trio will be touring Europe in late September/early October 2014, so keep an eye out for us!

In other music news, another one of my favorite drummers, Rudy Royston, is releasing his debut record on Dave Douglas' Greenleaf Music label on February 4.  "303" features Rudy's compositions and many of NYC's finest musicians.  I am happy to be a part of this project!  Please see the live shows section to see when we are playing in your area!

Thanks for checking in, and see you soon!

Jon

New CD announced, tour dates, new articles!

Hi everyone, I hope you've been having a great summer.  I'm excited to announce that my record label, Irabbagast Records, is teaming up with Germany's Jazzwerkstatt and we are co-releasing my new trio CD in late October, featuring Barry Altschul and Mark Helias!!

Mark and Barry have been playing together for over thirty years, and it's been a dream of mine to get them together and play my music.  We recorded 8 of my new originals at the Peitz Jazz Festival in Germany back in June, and I cannot be happier with the way they turned out.  Stay tuned for more on that!

It's been a very busy year so far, with CD releases from the Dave Douglas Quintet, Mostly Other People do the Killing, Mike Pride's From Bacteria to Boys, the Barry Altschul 3Dom Factor and the Mary Halvorson Septet.  All the records have been receiving rave reviews from critics and fans alike, so pick up a copy!   There's also a new Mostly Other People do the Killing record coming out in late October, featuring the quartet along with Brandon Seabrook, Ron Stabinsky and Dave Taylor.

I just updated the tour schedule, so take a look, and hopefully I'll see you out there!  I'm traveling around a lot to end the year and doing shows with Dave Douglas, Mostly Other People, Barry Altschul and Mary Halvorson.

Thomas Conrad did a great write-up of my music at JazzTimes recently.  Thanks, Thomas!  Check out the link here:  http://jazztimes.com/articles/93416-jon-irabagon-eclectic-warrior

And finally, I was honored to be named Rising Star Tenor Saxophonist in this year's Downbeat Critics Poll.  Thanks to everyone that voted for me; I truly appreciate it.  I also finished runner up in the poll's Rising Star Jazz Artist category.   You can see the entire magazine here:  http://www.downbeat.com/digitaledition/2013/DB201308/_art/DB201308.pdf

Thanks for reading, and hope to see you out and about!
Jon

Pop Matters Blog article

Happy 2013 everybody!  This is gearing up to be a pretty busy this year for me.  I'm doing tours with the Barry Altschul 3Dom Factor, Mostly Other People do the Killing, my trio with Mark Helias and Barry Altschul, the new Dave Douglas Quintet with Aoife O'Donovan, the Mary Halvorson Quintet and Mike Pride's From Bacteria to Boys.

I'm also on a bunch of new records coming out this year:  Barry's new record "The 3Dom Factor" just came out on Finland's TUM Records, Mostly Other People do the Killing's fifth studio album, "Slippery Rock" came out a week ago on Hot Cup Records, the new Dave Douglas Quintet record "Time Travel" is coming out in April, the new From Bacteria to Boys record "Birthing Days" is coming out in May, the new Mary Halvorson Septet record is coming out later in the year, as well as a new MOPDtK live record and an expanded MOPDtK with piano, banjo and bass trombone!

Whew.  

I'm also honored and humbled to have had this article written on my music by Will Layman at PopMatters.com.  Check it out!  Will really hits it out of the park, and nails exactly where I'm coming from with my music and different bands.  

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/167286-jon-irabagon-takes-us-by-storm/

Also, the new video from Mostly Other People do the Killing just came out.  Thanks to Yuan Liu for all she did to make this thing happen.  

http://vimeo.com/58001210

And finally, my recent releases on my own label, Irabbagast Records, have been getting some great reviews, and they've been selling!  Can't believe I have to order a 2nd batch of them!!  Downbeat recently gave Unhinged a rare 5 star rating, and it was pictured next to the recent Keith Jarrett record on the "5 Star Masterpiece" page of the January 2013 issue.  Unhinged also just received a CHOC rating in the big French magazine Jazzman/Jazzmagazine, which is the equivalent to a 5 star review.  Thanks everyone!  

I'll be writing again soon to put more reviews, articles and shows up.  Until then, feel free to drop me a line and say hello!

Jon

Tuesday's the day!

In addition to being Election Day in the States (don't forget to vote!!), Tuesday sees the launch of my new record label, Irabbagast Records, and the release of my two latest albums:  Outright! Unhinged and I Don't Hear Nothin' but the Blues Volume 2: Appalachian Haze.  I'm extremely proud of both of these records and can't wait to share them with you!

Appalachian Haze features Mike Pride on drums and Mick Barr on guitar, and is one gigantic 47 minute interactive improvisation based on Mike and my long-standing duo built on motives, repetition, and kitchen-sink genre inclusion.  These guys absolutely slay it on this one, and we look forward to the CD release show on December 6 at the Cornelia St. Cafe in New York City.

Outright! Unhinged is the 2nd album in my Outright! series, and features Ralph Alessi, Jacob Sacks, John Hebert and Tom Rainey in the quintet, along with special guests Eivind Opsvik, Glenn Alexander, Mike Pride, Chris Cash and the Outright! Jazz Orchestra.  The reviews are already starting to come in, so make sure to check back here for some of the highlights.

These albums will be available through CDBaby and Amazon, and you can always get in touch with me here at jon@jonirabagon.com if you wish to purchase these, or any of my other titles, through me directly.

Thanks for reading!

Jon

New Dave Douglas recording, live broadcast on The Checkout

Hi everyone,

I'm extremely honored and delighted to be a part of the new Dave Douglas Quintet recording, Be Still.  It has gotten some amazing reviews so far, and features Matt Mitchell, Linda Oh, Rudy Royston and great singer Aoife O'Donovan in addition to Dave and myself.  If you haven't had the chance to check out the music yet, here's the EPK for the record:

           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk4xKvvD6Xo

Also, the great people at Greenleaf have put together two music videos from the recording session:

           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocAaZ2aMrNo
           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl9_S_dfA7Q

AND, we performed at the 92nd St. Y in Tribeca in New York City last week, and here's the stream, from NPR:

           http://www.npr.org/event/music/160693129/dave-douglas-quintet-live-from-92y-tribeca


In further news, there are new recordings from the Mary Halvorson Septet, Mike Pride's From Bacteria to Boys, Mostly Other People do the Killing, and even the next Dave Douglas Quintet on the way early next year.  I also have a bunch of touring coming up in both America and Europe, so check out the "Live" page and come say hi!

Thanks for reading.

Jon

New haps!

Hi all,

I know it's been a minute, but we've been working on some really exciting things, including new (and more regular!) blog postings, new recordings from myself and fellow conspirators, and a new record label!!

I just started a Twitter account to help keep you up to date on what's going on in my musical world, so if you'd like to stay in touch, follow me @JonIrabagon.

I'm on several new recordings that will find their way to iTunes, CD Baby, etc. in the next couple of months, including records from the Dave Douglas Quintet, Mostly Other People do the Killing, Mike Pride's From Bacteria to Boys, the Mary Halvorson Quintet and Septet, and the Hot Club of Detroit.  Keep coming back for updates and reviews.

Finally, I'm happy to announce my new record label, Irabbagast Records, which will help document the rumblings of my mind digitally.  On November 6th, the first to releases on the label will drop simultaneously, both extensions of previous albums.  "I Don't Hear Nothin' but the Blues Volume 2: Appalachian Haze" is the 2nd installment of my group featuring Mike Pride, and this time we've added guitar whiz Mick Barr to the mix.  Also, "Unhinged," the new record from my concept "Outright!" will drop, featuring Ralph Alessi, Jacob Sacks, John Hebert and Tom Rainey, as well as many, many special guests.

I'll be updating the site more to keep you posted on the new happenings, as well as to lend some insight into what's going on in these recordings!

Thanks for checking in, and see you soon!

Jon

Upcoming Gigs

Hi all, I've got some shows coming up that I wanted to let you know about! After I finish these next few days in London with Michael Buble's band, I've got these two shows in NYC. I hope to see some of you there!

Jon Irabagon Trio

Friday, October 21st

Cornelia St. Cafe

corneliastreetcafe.com

29 Cornelia St. in the Village, near the W 4th St. Subway

9 and 1030 Sets

$15 plus one drink minimum

This show was selected as Time Out NY's Critic's Pick for the week!

http://newyork.timeout.com/music-nightlife/music/2081355/jon-irabagon-trio

Jon Irabagon-saxophone

Mark Helias-bass

Barry Altschul-drums

_____________________________________________

Kenny Wheeler Quintet

Sunday, October 23rd

The Jazz Standard

http://www.jazzstandard.net/red/index.html

116 E 27th St.

730 and 930 sets

$30

This show was previewed in the New York Times!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/arts/oct-16-22.html

Kenny Wheeler-trumpet

Jon Irabagon-saxophone

Craig Taborn-piano

Dave Holland-bass

Rudy Royston-drums

Thanks for reading!

Jon

Jon wins Rising Star award in Downbeat!

Hi all, just a quick note to say thank you to all the critics who voted for me in this year's Downbeat Magazine International Critics' Poll. I am humbled and honored to have won the "Alto Saxophone Rising Star" award for 2011. I also got some votes for "Tenor Saxophone Rising Star."

Thanks for your support!

Jon nominated for two 2011 Jazz Journalists Awards!

Hi all, I am truly honored and blessed to have been nominated by the Jazz Journalists' Association for two different awards this year-- Up and Coming Artist and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year. Thank you everyone! I've put together a couple of paragraphs so you can see what I've been up to in the last few months, and what's coming up. Thanks!

I also have some really fun gigs in NYC coming up this month, so if you are in the area, please stop by and say hi!!

Saturday, May 7th, Bar Next Door with Barry Altschul and Joe Fonda

Thursday, May 12th, Cornelia St. Cafe with Ralph Alessi, Jacob Sacks, John Hebert and Mike Pride

Sunday, May 15th, Brooklyn Lyceum with Tom Rainey and Peter Brendler, with Randy Ingram for the 2nd set

Wednesday, May 18th, The Stone with Ralph Alessi, Jacob Sacks, John Hebert and Tom Rainey

Thursday, May 19th, I record my new CD with the above cast, with tons of guests!!

Jon Irabagon Nominated for 2011 Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards

Saxophonist Jon Irabagon, winner of the 2008 Thelonious MonkCompetition, has been nominated by the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) in both the Up and Coming Artist and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year categories for its prestigious 2011 Jazz Awards. In the Up and Coming Artist category, Irabagon joins such talented musicians as Ambrose Akinmusire, Darius Jones and Gerald Clayton in being recognized as those to watch in coming years. Other nominees in the Tenor Saxophonist of the Year category include such legends as Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, Sonny Rollins, Tony Malaby and Wayne Shorter. Award winners are selected by JJA members who have until May 11^th to vote.

"In looking at who has been nominated in both of these categories and the incredible body of work these artists have put out, the cliche that it's an honor just to have been nominated is true," said Irabagon. "It's absolutely amazing to have my name on the same list as those who I see as the best and most thought-provoking musicians in jazz today."

Irabagon has 4 records under his own name and has appeared as a sideman for a wide-range of others. His most recent, Foxy (Hot Cup Records), features long-time collaborator and percussion icon Barry Altschul in a swinging, non-stop, post-bop high-wire act, attacking and dissecting a simple 16 bar form for almost 80 continuous minutes. Foxy appeared on the “Best of 2010” lists for a variety of jazz journalists, including David Adler and Hank Shteamer. Along with Foxy, Jon played pivotal roles on two other drastically different recordings from 2010 that made Top 10 lists from members of the JJA community: Mostly Other People do the Killing’s Forty Fort, and Mary Halvorson’s Saturn Sings, which was picked by several members as the top CD of the year.

Irabagon has a full travel schedule this summer, bringing his Foxy trio to the legendary Moers Jazz Festival, recording a new CD with the Mary Halvorson Quintet, as well as a month long European tour with Mostly Other People do the Killing (winner of the Rising Star Ensemble award in the Downbeat critics poll in 2009), and as the foil for Kenny Wheeler for several Canadian jazz festival appearances featuring pianist Myra Melford. He is also set to record his next release this month, featuring Ralph Alessi, Jacob Sacks, John Hebert, and Tom Rainey.

Known for his comprehensive, far-reaching approach to jazz, Irabagon weaves fluidly from straight ahead to post-modernism to everything in between. The experimental flavor found in Mostly Other People do the Killing sits side by side with Irabagon’s own groups, as well as his tenure in the Mary Halvorson Quintet, guesting with Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, and his continuing duo work with Mike Pride. This work is complemented by other more straight ahead performances and records with Joey DeFrancesco, Jeremy Pelt, and Kenny Wheeler, and Jon has begun collaborating with Norwegian hip-hop mogul Tommy Tee-- all within the last year. This flexibility and daring is part of what makes him unique in jazz and improvising today.

“Envision a Hollywood star who, in the same calendar year, stars in both a crowd-pleasing Hollywood blockbuster and a cryptic experimental film, and you’ll get a sense of Irabagon’s continuing work.” (Hank Shteamer, Time Out NY) Irabagon has also received continuing
media attention, doing features for Signal To Noise, Burning Ambulance, Jazz & Tzaz Magazine in Greece, Cuadernos de Jazz World Magazine in Spain, as well as several online podcasts and blogs, and had a solo from his record The Observer (Concord) transcribed and analyzed in Downbeat Magazine.

A graduate of both Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music, Irabagon's already impressive resume includes performances and recordings with such well-known artists as Wayne Shorter, Mary Halvorson, Evan Parker, Joey DeFrancsco, John Edwards, Kenny Wheeler, Nicholas Payton, Charles Gayle, Kenny Barron, and with non-jazzers Billy Joel, Michael Buble, Conor Oberst, and Renee Fleming.

Open letter on NPR funding

Hi everyone, I just wrote this letter concerning Congress's ridiculous idea on eliminating funding to National Public Radio. If you feel strongly (or even a little bit) about preserving the idea of freedom of artistic expression in America, I encourage you to get in touch with your Congressperson and let them know. The only way for your Congress to work FOR you is to let them know what YOU want.

_____

In the United States, public radio is one of the most important outlets for all fine arts to have a voice and be heard. All types of jazz, Americaʼs fine arts gift to the world, can be heard on public radio, from the most traditional to the most searching. This freedom of expression (in music, dance, theater, painting, and numerous other arts) in vital to the health of any country or culture, especially in America today.

This is why Iʼm so concerned about the efforts in the U.S. Congress to eliminate ALL federal funding for public broadcasting. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the legislation, and the U.S. Senate will be considering this issue soon. Given the fervor to cut the deficit in any way possible, there is a possibility that, here, in one of the richest nations in the world, the government will vote to financially stop supporting an outlet that exposes hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Americans to what is new and innovative in the worldʼs creative and fine arts. It is of course important to save money, but not at the expense of a service that generates $6 in local support for every $1 provided by the federal government. This 6 to 1 ratio, would, in business terms, be an unquestioningly large return, and we should look at it as such, not just monetarily, but culturally as well.

Fortunately, there is something we all can do to help out. At www.170millionamericans.org you can learn more and send a message to Congress letting our federal representatives know that this is a really bad idea. Our Congressmen and -women need to hear from their constituents to know how to represent us better, and this is a good place to start!

From national programmers like NPR to local stations like WDIY in LeHigh, PA, KENW in Portales, NM, and everywhere in between, public radio stations have allowed me to get my music out to others who might not be able to come hear me in concert or afford to buy my CDs. Through the numerous reviews, interviews, or song spins Iʼve received on the radio, Iʼve been able to get my view on the world out there. In fact, my latest record “Foxy” (which is a non-stop 80 minute post-bop jazz offering that features a living legend in percussionist Barry Altschul) was played non-stop recently on Blue Lake Public Radio in Michigan. Youʼre not going to hear something like this, or most other really personal forms of expression, on mainstream, commercial radio.

Americans SHOULD have options when it comes to what they want to watch or listen to, and keeping public radio as an option, the American people are richer with choices.

Iʼve been humbled and honored to play with great artists from all over America and the world, including Wynton Marsalis, Billy Joel, Joey DeFrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Michael Buble, Kenny Wheeler, Lou Reed, Conor Oberst, Nicholas Payton, Kenny Barron, and Wayne Shorter; without public radio, the inspiring work of these musicians-- and many more-- would not be heard. Public radio stations are THE source on the free airwaves for high-quality jazz programming in our country. If you care about jazz in the United States, this is the time to speak out.

Sincerely,

Jon Irabagon

Feb 16 and 17th: SPECIAL EVENT: Kenny Wheeler with John Taylor, Jon Irabagon, Andrew Bain and Michael Janisch

The pizza express welcomes two of the UKs most revered and celebrated jazz musicians and composers in a very rare and special musical collaboration with three rising jazz stars, celebrating the life and music of Kenny Wheeler.

Wheeler was born in Toronto Canada in 1930 and studied trumpet before moving to the UK in 1952, where he played with John Dankwork, Ronnie Scott, Joe Harriot and with pioneering free improvisers John Stevens, Tony Oxley and Anthony Braxton. Through his subsequent groups with John Taylor, Norma Winstone, the Dave Holland Quintet and his own big band, Wheeler has become one of the most highly regarded composer/trumpeters in jazz history. Recently turning 80, Wheeler embarked on a birthday celebration tour featuring his big band. For these two nights, he is presenting his music for quintet in a rare and intimate setting, joined by long time musical associate and world renown English pianist John Taylor and the recent Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz Saxophone Winner, NYC based altoist Jon Irabagon, with the first call rhythm section team of Scottish drummer Andrew Bain and American bassist Michael Janisch.

John Taylor's individualistic piano style draws on the whole of the jazz pallette and considerable influence from classical music, his approach is characterised by a sophisticated and advanced rhythmic and harmonic sensibility. He has performed since the 60s with many of the most creative improvising musicians: Charlie Haden, Norma Winstone, Jan Garbarek, Enrico Rava, Gil Evens, and Lee Konitz. He currently tours the world with his trio featuring Mark Johnson and Joey Barron and teaches at universities in Cologne, Germany and York, England.

NYC residenct Jon Irabagon, winner of the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition and Concord Recording Artist, has performed extensively as both a sideman and as a leader in an ever-expanding range of projects, from the most straight ahead to the most searching. Jon has studied under such divergent artists as Dave Liebman, Wynton Marsalis, Dick Oatts, Jason Moran and Victor Goines, and has performed and/or recorded with musical luminaries such as Billy Joel, Wynton Marsalis, Bright Eyes, Tom Harrell, Tommy Iago, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Deborah Gibson, John Abercrombie, Frank Wess, Wycliffe Gordon, Renee Fleming, Kenny Washington, Lou Reed, Jenny Lewis, and Ken Vandermark.

At: Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho 10 Dean Street Soho London W1D 3RW
Booking Tel : 0845 6027 017

Price of Admission: 25 Pounds (20 for students/musicians)

http://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/jazzList.aspx

Jon Irabagon Trio Featuring Barry Altschul Releases "Foxy" on Hot Cup Records September 14, 2010

"Jon is one of the city’s deadliest horn players.”
– Hank Shteamer, Time Out New York

“Jon’s encyclopedic knowledge reworks, and rewrites, history with an omnivorous curiosity.”
— Vincenzo Roggero, Italian All About Jazz

Hot Cup Records is proud to announce the release of "Foxy", the fourth album as a leader by saxophonist Jon Irabagon. Joining him on this trio recording are the legendary drummer Barry Altschul and bassist Peter Brendler. Over the course of 78 plus minutes, the trio explores and attempts to exhaust the possibilities of a standard sixteen bar form. In his extraordinary uninterrupted tenor saxophone solo, Irabagon interacts with his two bandmates and draws on historical elements from both his own work and that of past masters.
Rarely, if ever, do young musicians with Irabagon's mainstream credentials and awards attempt such a range of ambitious projects. Ideas present in Irabagon's first three releases merge here to create an important artistic statement and a continuation of his already illustrious career. The flexibility of the jazz tradition and the relationship between "inside" and "outside" playing, first explored on
"Outright" (Innova), is pushed further in this trio recording. Irabagon has also explored long-form improvisation and the use of recurring motifs in his duo with Mike Pride.
Like many young musicians, Irabagon has sought out older, more experienced players to perform and record with. His previous release, "The Observer" (Concord), featured Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, and Victor Lewis, one of the classic rhythm sections in jazz. Yet the choice of Barry Altschul seems more appropriate given the range of Irabagon's interests. Having earned his place in jazz history by performing with such diverse legends as Hampton Hawes, Dave Holland, Lee Konitz, Anthony Braxton, and Paul Bley, Altschul is the perfect combination of tradition, innovation, and experience. Irabagon and Altschul's interaction on "Foxy" demonstrates both their similar musical sensibilities and astonishing technical prowess.

--read more--

Concord announces "The Observer"

Concord Jazz is proud to announce the release of The Observer, saxophonist and composer Jon Irabagon's newest recording as a leader. Winning the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition has afforded Irabagon the opportunity to assemble a dream-team of musicians, including the stellar rhythm section of pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Victor Lewis. This combo of familiar players is augmented by extraordinary trumpeter Nicholas Payton on two tracks, while pianist Bertha Hope provides gorgeous accompaniment to one of her late husband, Elmo Hope's compositions. Along with veteran producer Don Sickler and engineering wizard Rudy Van Gelder, Irabagon and company have crafted a statement of power and beauty replete with twists and turns, a diverse but cohesive collection sure to please jazz aficionados and new fans alike. Irabagon is no stranger to the recording studio, and his musical horizons are broad. His first album as leader, Outright!, was released last year by Innova; other projects include a duo of free improvisation with drummer Mike Pride called I Don't Hear Nothin' But the Blues and his long-time tenure with the post-bop rebels Mostly Other People Do the Killing, whose take on Billy Joel's “Allentown” is only partially tongue-in-cheek. “I'm a child of the 1980s,” laughs Irabagon. “I grew up absorbing all kinds of music, from easy-listening to country, and pop on the radio; I just took it all in.” The Illinois native of Filipino descent began on piano, then played saxophone in middle school and high school band, but only as he prepared to enter DePaul University did he begin a serious study of jazz. “I'd always been interested in the act of performing music, but I developed a real and gradually deepening curiosity about what makes it tick, the elements involved in crafting a successful composition.” He also became interested in the mechanics of soloing, immersing himself in the joyful intrigue of soloists like Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt and Cannonball Adderley, beginning to crystallize his precise and uniquely swinging approach to the alto saxophone.

read more

Jon Irabagon Wins Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition

By Nate Chinen

From the NY Times Art Beat Blog:

Jon Irabagon, an alto saxophonist based in Astoria, Queens, won the 21st annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in Los Angeles on Sunday, securing the most prestigious honor available to a young jazz musician. Finishing in second place was Tim Green, of Baltimore, Md.; Quamon Fowler, of Fort Worth, Texas, was third.

....

Mr. Irabagon, who will receive $20,000 and a contract with the Concord Music Group, has one album out as a leader, “Outright!” (Innova). He can also be heard on the new release by the pugnacious post-bop group Mostly Other People Do the Killing, which will appear at Zebulon in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Saturday. (Nov 1, 2008)

Outright! reviewed in All About Jazz

Troy Collins just gave Outright! its first review. Check it out here:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29386

Village Voice

I'm honored to be on two out of the top 5 new albums in the new Village Voice. Check out the article here.

It's on!

Welcome to the new page!! Pardon our dust as we get it rolling. Check out the new album at http://www.innovarecordings.com/artist1.asp?skuID=323

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