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Barry Altschul: The 3dom

By Mark Corroto
February 10, 2013
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Seems of late, Mr Simon, Mr Garfunkel and the nation have been singing "Coo, coo, ca- choo, Mrs. Robinson" not for Joe DiMaggio or the deceased Ann Bancroft, but for drummer

Barry Altschul

drums
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Barry Altschul. Somehow, in the 1980s and '90s we misplaced him. Actually, he moved to Europe, recording for smaller labels before he quietly returned to the US. Not that the famed drummer from the 1960s bands of pianist

Paul Bley

piano
1932 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Bley and saxophonist

Sam Rivers

saxophone, tenor
1923 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Sam Rivers, or '70s work with Circle, pianist

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea, and saxophonist

Anthony Braxton

woodwinds
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Braxton has been hiding. It's just that his work with trombonists

Roswell Rudd

trombone
1935 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Roswell Rudd and

Steve Swell

trombone
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Swell, and reed multi- instrumentalist

Gebhard Ullmann

saxophone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Gebhard Ullmann has flown a bit under the radar.

That was the case until the concert with Rivers and

Dave Holland

bass
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Holland in 2007, released as Reunion: Live In New York (Pi Recordings, 2012), and a subsequent outing with saxophonist

Jon Irabagon

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Irabagon on Foxy (Hot Cup Records, 2010). Both discs were noted as top releases in their respective years.

Since we are not calling it a comeback, let's at least recognize The 3dom Factor is his first recording as a leader in 25 years. Altschul and Irabagon team up with bassist

Joe Fonda

bass
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Fonda, the drummer's former partner in FAB Trio with violinist

Billy Bang

violin
1947 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Bang.

Nine of the ten pieces here are penned by Altschul, plus pianist

Carla Bley

piano
1938 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Carla Bley's "Ictus." The trio spins a mixture of inside and outside playing. With Irabagon—the 2008

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk Institute saxophone competition winner and member of the band

Mostly Other People Do the Killing

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Mostly Other People Do the Killing—Altschul has found a kindred spirit. The saxophonist executes the intricacies of the title track with ostensible ease. Even when Altschul throws in a tricky start/stop piece like "Be Out S'Cool," Irabagon deals. The pair trades off energy surges while Fonda keeps the piece together. Where another drummer would surrender time to free jazz, Altschul keeps the music rooted between post-bop and free. This is best exemplified on "Natal Chart," a piece that could be mistaken for a Buster Keaton silent movie soundtrack. Altschul balances a circus-like sound, weaving dixieland into Irabagon's free yowls and flutter by changing the time signatures and including a veritable gunny sack of percussive textures.

Bley's "Ictus" is a blistering piece of bebop and perfect vehicle for Altschul, Fonda, and Irabagon to trade solos. They also deliver sobering ballads like "Just A Simple Song" and "Irina," two tracks that showcase a classic passion for storytelling.

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Track Listing

The 3dom Factor; Martin?s Stew; Irina; Papa?s Funkish Dance; Be Out S?Cool; Oops; Just A Simple Song; Ictus; Natal Chart; A Drummer?s Song.

Personnel

Barry Altschul

drums

Barry Altschul: drums; Jon Irabagon: tenor saxophone; Joe Fonda double: bass.

Album information

Title: The 3dom | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: TUM Records

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Barry Altschul 3Dom Factor

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