Irabagon-Helias-Altschul May 16th Cornelia Street Cafe

[Steve Reynolds]

I'm ready for the trio with the Great Barry Altschul

[Chuck Nessa]

I would be too.

[Steve Reynolds]

And I haven't seen him since around 1998 or so when he was in a quartet with John Tchicai, Paul Smoker and I think, Adam Lane on bass

I remember it was a very strong show with Tchicai on tenor saxophone

And next Thursday in the same place will be Open Loose with Malaby, Helias and Rainey.

For sure one of my favorite bands, and the one when Rainey really lets loose

[7/4]

I heard these guyS play in Jan, really enjoyed the show.

[Chuck Nessa]

Heard Barry in person a few times in the last 5 years. He is at the top of his game.

[bertrand]

I would love to see that band in a different venue.

Bertrand.

[relyles]

I caught Altschul with the Gebhard Ullmann/Steve Swell quartet two years ago and before than in a Dave Douglas group with Roswell Rudd. Both times he (as well as the entire band) sounded great.

[BeBop]

Four weeks in NYC without a free moment. Now down to my last day, so I'm going - morning work be damned.

[Steve Reynolds]

fwiw, despite the compact size, I love the venue as there is nowhere else to see a band that is quite so intimate.

Nothing like a great drummer on that little stage and me within 10 feet.

[Steve Reynolds]

Couple of thoughts:

Irabagon could one day be one the big guys

Altschul played a solo on brushes on a ballad towards the end of the second set that said all about everything there is to say about the simplicity and genius of a great drummer

Helias is among the most versatile and organic bassists playing today

A few pieces didn't quite work like a long boppish piece

The best piece was almost a tone poem where Irabagon (who played tenor throughout) played long bright tones a of a piece. He can play anything and he is best when he doesn't

Altschul's other solo during the second set was beyond my ability to even start to describe where it came from.

Btw I love when he almost stands up off the drum stool as he so into the groove

Very good night and I was blessed to be within 6 feet of the bass drum

Also once Irabagon played some rough and tumble tenor saxophone that was the first time I ever heard anyone for about 20 seconds sound like primo Evan Parker. The whole sound was there, I wondered how much he's listened to the great man

Edited May 18, 2013 by Steve Reynolds

[colinmce]

Have you heard Absolute Zero? If Foxy was Irabagon's display of extended time playing a la Rollins and Trane, then this is his display of extended technique a la Parker and Mitchell. It's breathtaking.

[Steve Reynolds]

I have Absolute Zero

I told Jon that I wasn't yet sure what to think about it. I do think he doesn't give the other musicians enough of their own space and the music needs to breath a little more

As far as his technical facility on either horn, he may be without peer.

A friend of mine who was at the show says over the last 18 months, he has come a long way. There are group of people who go to many, many shows focused on the outtish downtown scene and he is one of those guys so he has seen him often.