Legacy Jon Irabagon
ABOUT THE FILM
First-generation Filipino-American saxophonist Jon Irabagon, the restlessly inventive composer and bandleader, founder of Irabbagast Records, in-demand sideman with Dave Douglas, Mary Halvorson, Barry Altschul and many more, is showcased as never before in the innovative performance film Legacy Jon Irabagon, A Solo Tenor Odyssey, directed by Julian Melanson and produced by A Tribe for Jazz Executive Director Stephanie Matthews.
The film features Irabagon completely solo, in a beautifully lit, artistically shot black-box theater environment, playing original compositions drawn from just about every stage in his career, including two previously unreleased songs, “Greebles” and “Alliance.” Throughout he reveals a formidable, deeply felt mastery of the tenor saxophone — arguably jazz’s most iconic instrument. Legacy Jon Irabagon, A Solo Tenor Odyssey is both an extended reflection on the lineage of the horn itself, and a statement on Irabagon’s own considerable artistic legacy.
As intimate as it is visually and sonically arresting, this 43-minute solo tenor odyssey is enhanced by a moody and majestic use of color to complement the emotionality of each piece. Subtle post-production tweaks of the audio lend the experience another aspect of unpredictability and creative freshness.
Legacy Jon Irabagon, A Solo Tenor Odyssey is the first of many special, transformative moments to follow from A Tribe for Jazz, as it weaves stories and themes from varied angles, fused with unexpected and dynamic visuals, to present a portrait of jazz as the captivating, multidimensional art form that it is.
The performance is available to stream on-demand for $4.99. Click here to stream.
Executive Producer, A Tribe for Jazz presents LEGACY: Jon Irabagon, A Solo Tenor Odyssey streaming only on stellartickets.com beginning October 15th.
In this clip, Jon talks about how he came to work with A Tribe for Jazz -- and the excitement of having a team of specialists to work with who understood an artists’s creative vision.
“With LEGACY, my hope is that people will see a fuller, more complete picture of who I am as an artist. I’ve always wanted to challenge audiences with — not only familiar music, but more textures and sounds that can come out of a saxophone.”
Production Videos
A behind the scenes look at the production of LEGACY Jon Irabagon filmed at the Columbus Dance Theatre, Columbus, OH.
Production Stills
From the filming of LEGACY: Jon Irabagon a solo tenor odyssey Photos: Kenny Harris, Jr.
