Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Barry Altschul featuring Jon Irabagon & Joe Fonda: The 3...

Barry Altschul featuring Jon Irabagon & Joe Fonda: The 3Dom Factor: Live in Krakow

By Karl Ackermann
October 3, 2017
View read count

Barry Altschul featuring Jon Irabagon & Joe Fonda: The 3Dom Factor: Live in Krakow

Recorded live at the Alchemia Club in Krakow, Poland, Barry Altschul's 3dom Factor offers the third group release in an informal trilogy that began with their self-titled album (TUM, 2012). That debut—Altschul's first leader outing in a couple dozen years—consisted of nine Altschul originals, and one from

Carla Bley

piano
1938 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Carla Bley. A blend of post-bop and free playing, it set the stage for 2015's Tales of the Unforseen, a largely improvised set. The new trio album Live in Krakow adapts a technique closer to the debut in bringing structured and free approaches together.

Jon Irabagon, on tenor and sopranino saxophones, and bassist Joe Fonda remain Altschul's partners. Irabagon (

Mostly Other People Do the Killing

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Mostly Other People Do the Killing) is a dynamo capable of generating his own weather systems while Fonda's deep, woody bass makes for dramatic contrast with the saxophones. Combined with Altschul's intense pulsations, the trio is adept at producing a sound that is larger and more involved than its headcount would indicate.

"Martin's Stew," from 3Dom's debut album, opens with an extended drum solo joined later by Fonda's undulating bass and, finally, by Irabagon's eagerly directed lines. The sole cover is Thelonius Monk's "Ask Me Now" and it's taken at a more relaxed pace, touching the original melody intermittently. The piece features a terrific Fonda solo. "For Papa Joe, Klook, and Philly Too" and "The 3dom Factor" are more visceral, driving improvisations, not entirely without melody, they nevertheless focus more on texture and technique. "Irina" is the lone ballad in the set, albeit, one that has a consistently off-kilter feel.

With the exception of the single ballad, the music on Live in Krakow alternates between persistent energy and palliative passages. The collective improvisations are powerful and the symmetry—especially between long-time cohorts Fonda and Altschul—allows the music to shift and reshape organically. It's a highly engaging performance from three stellar artists.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Martin's Stew; Ask Me Now; For Papa Joe, Klook, and Philly Too; Irina; The 3Dom Factor.

Personnel

Barry Altschul

drums

Barry Altschul: drums; Jon Irabagon: tenor and sopranino saxophones; Joe Fonda: bass.

Album information

Title: The 3Dom Factor: Live in Krakow | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Not Two Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Pelagos
< Previous

European Jazz Conference 2017
Next >

Barry Altschul Concerts

Sep 17 Wed

Barry Altschul 3Dom Factor

Entropy Gallery
Santa Fe, NM

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.