Jon Irabagon - I Don't Hear Nothin' But The Blues Volume 3: Anatomical Snuffbox (2020)

×

Jon Irabagon - I Don't Hear Nothin' But The Blues Volume 3: Anatomical Snuffbox (2020)

Close

"Jon Irabagon releases the latest installment of his I Don't Hear Nothin' but the Blues series, adding rising star Ava Mendoza to his no-frills, brutal ensemble.

On November 10th, 2020, Jon Irabagon is proud to release the third installment in his cataclysmic, end-of-the-world, ecstatic noise ensemble I Don't Hear Nothin' but the Blues. Returning are longtime rhythmic partner and soundpainter Mike Pride and prog-metal genius Mick Barr, while new standout Ava Mendoza joins the fray and adds even more depth and complexity to the single, long-running track.

I Don't Hear Nothin' but the Blues Volume 3: Anatomical Snuffbox continues where 2013's Appalachian Haze (Irabbagast Records 001) left off, with the churning and continuous motivic ideas by Irabagon and Pride morphing and reappearing at will, while Barr is free to use his pyrotechnic technique and unparalleled musicianship to act as the glue bringing all the parts together. Mendoza, no stranger to challenging and intense group situations, jumps in flawlessly, adding an extra layer of cacophony and melody– a characteristic only she can add to the tumultuous shouts. The confident experimentation, stylistic breadth and imagination they bring to the table leads to a dramatic ending, wrapping up a 47 minute whirlwind of sound, rhythm and brazen intensity.

This album is not for the faint of heart but it is an essential addition to Irabagon's growing and varied discography, which features solo albums (Inaction is an Action), straight ahead jazz sessions (The Observer, Behind the Sky), a large-scale song cycle for voice, piano, saxophone, narrator and woodwind trio (After Talk), a six-movement piano quintet featuring Matt Mitchell and the Mivos Quartet (Invisible Horizon), challenging trio excursions (It Takes All Kinds) and a 78 minute non-stop tribute to Sonny Rollins (Foxy), alongside dozens of sideman appearances with today's must cutting edge and challenging artists, including Mary Halvorson, Dave Douglas, Matt Mitchell, Uri Caine and Barry Altschul. Anatomical Snuffbox is heavy, unapologetic, cathartic and necessary in these times, and the four musicians leave it all on the floor in this performance. Irabagon's vision of music throughout his dozen albums as a leader only grows stronger and more defined with its release.

Anatomical Snuffbox was recorded by Randy Thaler during Irabagon's residency at John Zorn's club The Stone in Brooklyn, mixed by sound magician Jamie Saft and mastered by Christian Castagno and is a document of this ensemble in full flight, with no regards to genre, radio play or "playing nice." The continuing series of Wild West artwork paints a picture of the Great Plains as a place of mayhem, loneliness and a place where only the strong survive– a Cormac McCarthy-ish portrait that defines the music as well. Perhaps an alliance or two will be forged as our heroes traverse this hostile landscape…

Irabbagast Records is proud to release Anatomical Snuffbox as its 17th release, with eight dates led by Irabagon and the others as documents by some of America's brightest voices in both jazz and experimental forms, such as Brandon Lee, the Uptown Jazz Tentet, Vancouver-based guitar and oud player Gordon Grdina, baritone saxophone specialist Anders Svanoe and a stunning solo contrabass clarinet outing by Josh Sinton."-Irabbagast Records


"Saxophonist Jon Irabagon is a subverter of the jazz form," declares Martin Longley in his Irabagon feature in the August 2015 issue of The New York City Jazz Record. "He's a revolutionary who's secretly messing with the changes. There are few players who can so deftly stride from postbop to free improvisation, avant country to doom metal and then wander from chaotic collage-spraying to sleek-blowing fluency." The winner of the 2008 Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition, Irabagon has since topped both the Rising Star Alto Saxophone and the Rising Star Tenor Saxophone categories in the DownBeat Magazine Critics' Poll and been named one of Time Out New York's 25 New York City Jazz Icons. Jon was also named Musician of the Year in The New York City Jazz Record and is an integral member of such high-profile ensembles as the Mary Halvorson Octet, the Dave Douglas Quintet, Rudy Royston's Orion Trio and Barry Altschul's 3Dom Factor, as well as an established bandleader in his own right. He has recently been awarded composition grants by the Shifting Foundation, the French-American Cultural Exchange program by Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation and Chamber Music America.

Based out of New York City since 2000, Mike Pride currently performs solo, leads jazz quartet From Bacteria to Boys, the 7-drummer installation Drummer's Corpse and the piano trio I Hate Work. He is also co-leader of the ensembles Pulverize the Sound (with Peter Evans and Tim Dahl) and Period (with Charlie Looker and Chuck Bettis). Pride is renowned for his ability to excel in a wide range of genres and ensembles. He has worked with everyone from Anthony Braxton to punk legends Millions of Dead Cops, toured extensively on four continents, appeared on over 100 recordings and toured arenas worldwide opening for comedian Amy Schumer with Jason Stein's Locksmith Isidore.

Mick Barr is an American avant-garde guitarist notable for his relentless speed and agility. He is most well known for being one half of the band Orthrelm, currently signed to Mike Patton's Ipecac Records label. Some of Barr's other projects have included Crom-tech, and a duo with drummer Zach Hill from Hella, as well as appearances with Quix*o*tic, and The Flying Luttenbachers. He has also released albums under the names Ocrilim and Octis, consisting of his own guitar over a drum machine. On the difference between the two, he says "Ocrilim is Mick Barr overthinking. Octis is Mick Barr underthinking. These names mean nothing when a live show is concerned. Come see Ocrilim and you may be forced to watch Octis." Barr has received a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists Award and was chosen by Animal Collective to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in May 2011.

Ava Mendoza is a Brooklyn-based guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. Born in 1983, she started performing as a sidewoman and collaborator in many different projects as soon as she was legally allowed into venues. As a guitarist, Mendoza has received acclaim for her technique and viscerality. Her most ongoing work is as leader of the art rock band Unnatural Ways and as a solo performer of her own music and works by contemporary composers. In any context she is committed to bringing expressivity, energy and a wide sonic range to the music. Mendoza has toured throughout the US and Europe with artists like Mike Watt, Fred Frith, William Hooker, Nels Cline, Matana Roberts, John Zorn, ROVA, the Violent Femmes and members of Caroliner. She has received composition commissions from film distributor Kino Lorber, new music duo The Living Earth Show and John Zorn's Stone Commissioning Series at National Sawdust."