Catching up with Jon Irabagon (2025) (Part 2 of 2) ~ The Free Jazz Collective

By Paul Acquaro 

See part one of the reviews here.

Jon Irabagon Trio (plus two) – Axiom Five (Irabbagast Records, 2025)

Recorded live at the Stone in 2024, Axiom Five features the work of saxophonist Jon
Irabagon with his long-standing trio of bassist Mark Helias and drummer Barry Altschul, but with
the additional voices of pianist Uri Cane and trombonist Ray Anderson. The trio
plus Cane released Dinner and Dancing in 2024 (also recorded at the
Stone) and the trio as a trio released It Takes All Kinds in 2014
(recorded at Jazzwerkstatt Peitz). 

Axiom Five is pure free improvisation, starting with the opening moments where
Irabagon and Anderson are immediately in motion. A playful call-and-response
then invites the others to join. The momentum ebbs and flows, with some quite powerful moments, which at first comes in waves of intensity. One instrument is often out front, the others supportive but giving sonic
space. Sometimes this space opens up even more and a melding of minds seems to
spontaneously occur. The sounds grow denser and around 13-minutes in or so,
the band is relaxed and in motion. Around 18 minutes in, they turn inwards and
an exploratory section lasts for a spell, before returning to form. Helias and
Altschul both get a feature in the latter part of the track. Track two is
shorter, about 15 minutes compared to the 37 minutes of track one, and begins
with a solo piano intro from Cane. Expansive and free it sets the foundation
for the probing group interplay that follows. 

This is fine free jazz, rich in dynamics and unanticipated shifts that can be
volatile but resolve with tacit agreement.

Available digitally at Bandcamp:

Jon Irabagon’s PlainsPeak – Someone to Someone (Irrabaggast, 2025)

Jon Irabagon’s final recording of 2025 is also, in some sense, a new
beginning. A few years ago, the saxophonist moved from New York City back to his hometown of Chicago. He has continued to work with an international
cast of collaborators, as evidenced just by the recordings reviewed here, but
also reestablished some old connections and created a new group of mid-west
based musicians. The new Jon Irabagon Quartet is with trumpeter Russ Johnson,
bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Dana Hall.

Their first recording, Someone to Someone, is an all
acoustic outing with Irabagon focusing on his original instrument, the alto sax. The
result is an exhilarating recording that, while celebrating old connections, is ready to
explore new sonic territories. 

The album begins on an melancholic note, the title track is an elegiacal
fanfare, saxophone and trumpet in near unison, but with something amiss, the
bowed bass seems to smear some notes in a slowly unfolding interlude, then a
return to the melody is followed with drum break and each instrument breaking
into spirited solos, only to come back to the evocative melody to end. It is a
beginning and an end together that leads into ‘Buggin’ the Bug’, whose melody is
reminiscent of something Thelonious Monk may have written. Underpinned by a
slinky descending bass line, the tune is ready made for the vibrant solos from Irabagon and Johnson. 

‘Maloert is My Shepherd’ is an homage
to a local beverage and shows off the group’s ability to swing between free
jazz blowing and declarative melodies. ‘At What Price Garlic’ is a driving piece that
sees Irabagon delivering a withering solo over driving rhythm work. ‘Tiny
Miracles (at a Funeral for a Friend)’ is an emotional journey and a high point
of an album that is replete with them. The simultaneous solos from the sax and trumpet
create a complex but sympathetic mesh of sound supported by a perfectly
conceived bass line. Closing out the album, ‘The Pulseman’ is an upbeat
composition that provides an fine tuned vehicle for distinctive solos from
each musician. 

Hopefully the excellent Someone to Someone is signalling much more great music to come from the musically restless Irabagon. After all, there
are already new releases on the near horizon!