COMPOSERS: Barry Altschub
LABELS: Tum
ALBUM TITLE: Barry Altschub's 3Dom Factor
WORKS: Tales Of The Unforeseen
PERFORMER: Barry Altschul (drums), Jon Irabagon (saxophone), Joe Fonda (double bass)
CATALOGUE NO: TUM CD 044
This trio’s first album was one of my favourite releases of 2012. Tales will, without doubt, be one of the most memorable of 2015 for me. That first album re-examined compositions that Altschul had written since the 1960s, whereas this focuses on spontaneous improvisation, the inclusion of Thelonious Monk’s ‘Ask Me Now’ and Annette Peacock’s ‘Miracles’ notwithstanding.
The first track, occupying almost half the CD’s duration, is a continuous collective improvisation, but with players as talented and intelligent as these, there is a strong impression of structure. Irabagon produces skeins of ever-fresh ideas, rarely obviously lyrical but always profoundly melodic. Altschul, too, is on great form. One of the most musical and fluid of drummers, he produces (sorry to torture the metaphor) streams, cascades, fountains and even reflective pools of supple rhythm. Fonda helps tie everything together with his strong patterns and full tone. Barry Witherden