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.