Veteran drummer Barry Altschul has enjoyed something of a late career resurgence over the last decade. Work with co-operatives such as the FAB Trio, as well as with trombonists Steve Swell and Roswell Rudd presaged his first leadership date for a quarter of a century in 3dom Factor (TUM Records, 2013). That trio with bassist Joe Fonda and saxophonist Jon Irabagon reunites for Tales Of The Unforeseen. Recorded in the studio following a weeklong tour, the threesome proves exceptionally well-attuned on a program of six (largely) seat-of-the-pants adventures, lavishly packaged with TUM Records customary pizzazz.
Altschul confirms himself a master of free-bop, as he creates an irregular but still swinging pulse which incorporates a expansive range of textures, all delivered in crisp and precise manner. Fonda is likewise surefooted, purposeful and, crucially, able to conjure structure out of thin air (check out his intro to "The Tale Continues"). As if that weren't enough, in Irabagon you have one of the most fluent improvisers on the scene today, who both extemporizes melodies and tests the limits of the saxophone's sound making capacities, while remaining firmly within the jazz vernacular.
At over 26-minutes the opening "As The Tale Begins" provides a broad canvas on which the trio can paint its signature style. After commencing with throbbing bass, a rhythmic saxophone invention and conversational drums, the three principals continually evolve the contrapuntal interplay without missing a beat. Among the highlights are an Altschul solo at 12,' a passage of remarkable mewling saxophone tonalities at 14' and a funky cymbal cadence through which are woven Fonda's arco scrapes and Irabagon's saxophone blurts at 18.'
Elsewhere, "A Tale Of Monk: Ask Me Now" weaves a song from the live repertoire into a woozy ballad feel, with Fonda's lively pizzicato holding onto the coat tails of Irabagon's storytelling verve. Another tune "Annette's Tale Of Miracles," recalled by Altschul from his days with the Paul Bley trio, serves as an exhibition for Irabagon's soprano. The leader displays his chops on the unaccompanied "A Drummer's Tale," toying with pitch, timbre and time. Beginning in three way interchange, with Irabagon on flute, the concluding "And The Tale Ends" morphs into a bluesy vamp, with the reedman preaching on tenor before a fade out which suggests they might be going on forever. And one can't help but hope they do. - John Sharpe / allaboutjazz.com
You just can't fight the freedom urge. Formed in 2012 to celebrate Barry Altschul's 70th birthday the following year, 3dom Factor's first album concentrated on performing the veteran drummer's compositions. But, numerous tours and gigs later, the trio has developed enough of a rapport to strike out into more uncharted territory and this follow-up, recorded off the back of a week-long tour, is comprised almost entirely of spontaneous improvisations (with the exception of a slithering take on Monk's ‘Ask Me Now’ and a tightly bristling go at Annette Peacock's ‘Miracles’). Yet, in many ways, it's less an exercise in pure sonic experimentation and more one of knitting together various different well-established modes and moods. A loping drone- groove reminiscent of Coltrane's ‘Compassion’ splinters into disjointed jabs and parps, tumbles into raging free-bop and settles on a slinky blues with Jon Irabagon's tenor sliding across the changes. Elsewhere, the saxophonist demonstrates the advanced chops that guarantee him a seat in postmodern pranksters Mostly Other People Do the Killing, with tightly reined peeps and purrs on tenor and strangled whinnies and mewls on sopranino. By the time he picks up a flute in the final stretch, over Joe Fonda's joyful hook and Altschul's tumbling brushes, it's clear just how much fun everyone's having. - Daniel Spicer / jazzwise.com
Barry Altschul's 3Dom Factor is becoming one of the strongest jazz trio in recent times. An unusual joining of forces from different generations -- the veteran drummer Barry Altschul, rising star saxophonist Jon Irabagon, and the great bassist Joe Fonda. Altschul and Irabagon first played together on the riotous Irabagon album Foxy. The collaboration went so well that they formed a trio, with Fonda joining on their initial recording the 3Dom Factor, a more muted effort than Foxy, but featuring more complex and intricate improvisations. On their second and newest album, Tales of the Unforeseen, the trio raises their level of play, putting forth a six track album of vibrant improvised music, hard edged yet very uptempo.
The “Unforeseen" mentioned in the title refers to the intent of having all improvisations, no planned approaches or compositions. However, they decided to include two tunes that they have played live, “Ask Me Now” by Thelonious Monk, and “Miracles” by Annette Peacock. This was a smart decision, as it gives some balance to the other four tracks, which vary in length from just over four minutes to over twenty-five, ranging from fiery free playing to subtle funky rhythms. There is a sense of empathy and tightness of the trio that recalls the seemingly telepathic communications of Jimmy Giuffre’s heralded trio from the early 60’s. In some ways, it feels like the 3Dom Factor is a contemporary version of that group.
“As the Tale Begins,” the opening track, is a grand opus, a 26 minute beast of a starter, with a bristling bass line from Fonda, and a plaintive and earnest solo from Irabagon, recalling Coltrane and Pharaoh Sander in manner, spiritual, with deep throated guttural phrasings. It then evolves to a more agitated state, bass and drums more aggressive, saxophone darting in and out like a prize fighter, boppish but more freely played. Irabagon has a sequence of highly complicated phrasings in a solo that is fluid and assured. Altschul follows with a solo himself, low key yet sharp and an effective response to Irabagon’s solo. Then the music evolves into a sonic free for all, Irabagon turning his sound into a series of animalistic blurts and rat tat tat utterances, while Altschul and Fonda mix it up with rapid fire percussion and bass, all the while staying remarkably even tempered. Then it becomes minimal, a tapping of the stick and a one note pluck, with a light squeak of the horn for several minutes. It concludes with a contemplative note, the trio creating several soundscapes varying in mood, from cerebral, to bop, to a speedy free jazz finale.
“A Tale of Monk: Ask Me Now,” is a gorgeous rendition, Irabagon with some gorgeous mellow tones throughout, offset by some dark bass notes by Fonda, I have not heard Irabagon more assured, and the two veterans make for a wonderful complement. “The Tale Continues” features a long bass solo by Fonda, followed by Altschul and Irabagon for four minutes of dynamic and even tempered interaction. And I think that is one of this album’s strengths is for all the range in tone and tempo, there is a solidity to their approach that they can explore a wide range of sounds and moods without breaking their own form or temperament. “Annette’s Tale of Miracles” is an example, a Peacock composition that is the most aggressive and dynamic of the tracks, yet the 3Dom Factor takes it and enriches it with their form of interplay, fast without being hysterical, hard but not cold, and above all, intricate intertwining their sounds to form a greater and richer whole. “A Drummer’s Tale” is a Barry Altschul solo. ‘Nuff said. The final track, “And the Take Ends,” has Irabagon on flute, playing off of Fonda’s bass, going from slow to fast tempo, assisted by Altschul’s brush work, before evolving to an insistently repetative bass line that take over the tune with its low key funkiness. This evolves to being an accompaniment to a lead, as Fonda changes tempo to where they others follow — switching from flute to sax, Irabagon riffs off of Fonda like Gene Ammons, soulful and playful, Altschul driving them both to the album’s highly satisfying conclusion.
Tales of the Unforeseen is an dynamic trio album that should be heard, a journey by three musicians who weave, through their high quality of play and consistency, improvisations that are stimulating and rewarding to the listener. This will be one of my albums of the year for 2015, and gets my highest recommendation. - Stefan Wood / freejazzblog.org
Tales Of The Unforeseen del Barry Altschul’s 3Dom Factor, publicado en Tum Records, es la segunda grabación de este trío integrado por Irabagon (saxos tenor, soprano y sopranino, y flauta), Altschul (batería y percusión), y Joe Fonda (contrabajo). El estreno homónimo de este grupo desarrollaba las composiciones de Altschul en una obra que servía para celebrar el 70º cumpleaños de este grande de la batería. En su continuación, el trío crea unas improvisaciones, entre las que intercala sendas recreaciones de Thelonious Monk (“A Tale Of Monk: Ask Me Now”) y Annette Peacock (“Annete’s Tale Of Miracles”). Libertad, interacción, creatividad a raudales y un entendimiento magistral por parte de tres músicos pertenecientes a dos generaciones distintas. - Pachi Tapiz / tomajazz.com
Tracks
01. As the Tale Begins (Altschul/Fonda/Irabagon)
02. A Tale of Monk: As Me Now (Thelonious Monk)
03. The Tale Continues (Altschul/Fonda/Irabagon)
04. Annette's Tale of Miracles (Annette Peacock)
05. A Drummer's Tale (Barry Altschul)
06. And the Tale Ends (Altschul/Fonda/Irabagon)
BARRY ALTSCHUL drums and percussion
JON IRABAGON tenor & soprano sax
JOE FONDA bass
Recorded February 11& 12, 2014
TUM Records – TUM CD 044 (Finland)