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Jon Irabagon Quartet: Dr. Quixotic’s Traveling Exotics

By Mark Corroto
May 11, 2018
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Jon Irabagon Quartet: Dr. Quixotic’s Traveling Exotics

It's easy imagine Hollywood producers putting together a comic book superhero movie when listening to a recording by the saxophonist

Jon Irabagon

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Irabagon. We know that after joining

" data-original-title="" title="">Moppa Elliott's Mostly Other People Do The Killing and winning the 2008 Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition, he decided to use his super powers for good instead of evil. Like that young spider guy, he had to learn exactly what his powers entailed. Moving on from MOPDTK, Irabagon has collaborated with others with special powers in the

Dave Douglas

trumpet
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Douglas Quintet and with

Mary Halvorson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson and

Barry Altschul

drums
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Barry Altschul, turning heads with his ability to leap tall intervals and bear the heaviest chord progressions with ease.

This quartet recording takes on that Avengers feel with his pseudonym, Dr. Quixotic and his band Traveling Exotics, aka fellow superhero musicians. Irabagon assembled a mighty cast which includes pianist

Luis Perdomo

piano
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Luis Perdomo, bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and drummer

Rudy Royston

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Rudy Royston. Their previous release was Behind The Sky (Irabbagast, 2015), and included trumpeter

Tom Harrell

trumpet
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Harrell. Here, the guest is

Tim Hagans

trumpet
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Hagans, a trumpeter who shares Irabagon's appreciation for the jazz canon, but is also inclined to fire a shot or two forward.

Compositions like "Emotional Physics/The Things" and "Taipei Personality" typify the unit's approach. Time becomes a pliant substance, accelerated beyond human limits that the quartet and Hagans just perambulate with ease. With this barrier broken, the musicians can also move back and forth within jazz history, reimagining

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Henderson/

Kenny Dorham

trumpet
1924 - 1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Dorham exchanges within the complex web of Irabagon's arrangements. The saxophonist's approach has always been one of "try, if you can, to follow me." With Perdomo, Nakamura, and Royston that requirement is fulfilled. With the great powers Irabagon possesses, comes great responsibility. Thank you Dr. Quixotic.

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Track Listing

The Demon Barber Of Fleet Week; Emotional Physics/The Things; You Own Your Own; The Bo’Ness Monster; Pretty Like North Dakota; Taipei Personality.

Personnel

Jon Irab

Jon Irabagon: tenor saxophone; Luis Perdomo: piano; Yasushi Nakamura: bass; Rudy Royston: drums; Tim Hagans: trumpet.

Album information

Title: Dr. Quixotic’s Traveling Exotics | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Irabbagast

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