Description
My musical expression comes in many forms, from solo saxophone excursions, to trios, to quintets, to tentet. The music almost always includes elements of the jazz lineage as well as open improvisation, and relies heavily on group interaction and bold contributions from all members. I encourage a democratic viewpoint of the bandstand where any musician can become the bandleader at any given time, and the musical and social rewards make themselves known constantly and immediately.
This is an example of an original composition and performance with my quintet. Hoodootoo was recorded in the spring of 2021 and the 7-minute claymation music video was created by my good friend Stefan Zeniuk in late 2022. The song incorporates several elements that I consistently return to in my compositions and performance-- a focus on group interaction, heavy grooves, open improvisation sections, singable melodies and experimental soundscapes. My other compositions carry these same aspects in different ways and ratios, but the same spirit and optimism can be found.
In addition to my ongoing bandleading and compositional work, I have had a continuous and steady interest in solo saxophone performance, usually with rare and unusual saxophones. This solo sopranino saxophone (smaller than the soprano saxophone) performance was recorded in August of 2022 at the Nu Mu Festival in Brattleboro, VT. The total running time is just over 30 minutes for the entire set, but if you focus on the moments between minute 6 and 15, the general breadth and scope of my solo performances (which include jazz history, Great American Songbook standards, several kinds of extended saxophone techniques and original compositions) can be heard.
Here is a second music video featuring my original music. Needles was composed and recorded by my ensemble in April 2021 and the music video, created by Filipino artist Khris Apawan, was designed in the fall of 2022. The 7:47 minute track features changing grooves and horn interaction and has been a hit at live performances throughout the country.
I want my music to be both accessible and challenging and easily singable and theoretically open. Hoodootoo turned out to be all of those and more, as each preparatory performance led to completely different performances. The one we captured in the studio and used for the claymation video proved to be the most emotional and open, fortunately. This process of growth and reliance on group interaction and input runs steadily through all of my work. This even applies to my solo saxophone performances, as the shows usually incorporate audience questions between songs to give the listeners insight into my improvisational and saxophonistic process.
History
Jon Irabagon, the winner of the 2008 Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition, has been an in-demand performer, bandleader, composer and educator for over twenty years. He has received Downbeat Magazine Rising Star Awards for both alto and tenor saxophones, ben nominated as Tenor Saxophonist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and was named one of the Top 25 Jazz Icons in Time Out New York. Irabagon has been a longtime member of several current cutting edge ensembles including the Dave Douglas Quintet, the Mary Halvorson Quintet and Barry Altschul's 3Dom Factor and runs his own record label Irabbagast Records to release his own uncategorizable work, which includes several solo saxophone excursions as well as trio, quartet, quintet and tentet outings.
Artistic Vision
My primary focus in music is strictly artistic. I want no commerce or monetary necessities to deflect or alter my artistic vision of purity and expression. My music combines the entire history of the jazz lineage with the open-ended suggestions and philosophies of the more avant garde musicians such as the AACM and ICP Orchestra organizations. As a first-generation Filipino-American, I can relate to oppositional forces and loyalties, and my music attempts to artistically meld these nuances, encouraging each musician's personal voice to shine through as well as necessitating their overall study of several styles of music to accentuate any musical references clarifying my compositional goals.
Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise
I can oftentimes tailor the compositions or solo performances to the audience that has shown up, however, for the most part, my music remains fun, challenging and interactive throughout.
Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement
I have slowly started adding traditional Filipino elements to my jazz-and-improvisation-based music; my recent tentet recording includes kulintang gongs, which are traditional southern Filipino percussion instruments. My goal is to add their microtonal elements into my performance and compositional aspects.
Name
Jon Irabagon
Type
Individual Artist
Address
1629 S Fairview Ave
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Contact Person
Jon Irabagon
[email protected]
917 826 9891
Web Site
Artistic Discipline(s)
Music
- A cappella
-Jazz
Geographic Availability
Central Illinois
Chicago/Chicagoland
Northern Illinois
Southern Illinois
Western Illinois
Fee Ranges
$300 to $10000
Additional Services
Demonstrations
Lectures
Master classes
Residencies
Teacher Development
Workshops