On October 20th, 2009, Concord Jazz will release The Observer, saxophonist and composer Jon Irabagon’s newest recording as a leader. The album is a follow up to his first one, Outright, released last year by Innova.

Winning the 2008 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition has afforded Irabagon the opportunity to assemble a dream-team of musicians, including the stellar rhythm section of pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Victor Lewis, alongside veteran producer Don Sickler and legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder.

The Album

While The Observer is comprised of compositions that are clearly rooted in the melodies and harmonies of jazz’s myriad and long-nourished traditions, they are treated with a liberal helping of Irabagon’s open-eared eclecticism. Much of the intrigue generated by such an approach results from his decisive but malleable playing style.

Irabagon’s sound blends the relaxed and loping ease of Adderley with the bold and up-front precision of Wayne Shorter’s tone, but he shows no trepidation about launching into the occasional multiphonic passage in the manner of John Coltrane or Anthony Braxton.

- Artist Info
- More album info at On Target Media Group

Album Samples

(1) “Joy’s Secret”
- Quicktime
- Windows Media

(2) “January Dream”
- Quicktime
- Windows Media

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