Introducing Jon Irabagon, a Filipino-American saxophonist, highly inventive composer, bandleader, founder of Irabbagast Records, and winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Saxophone Award and the Philippine Presidential Award. The following video offers an intimate glimpse at the life of Jon Irabagon, from his trendy style to his inspired vision and superb composition.

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“It’s difficult to make a living in the jazz world, but if you can’t imagine doing anything else in life, it’s certainly one of the most rewarding and expressive ways to live.”
— Jon Irabagon

Biography

First-generation Filipino-American Jon Irabagon (b. 1978, Chicago) has been influenced by the self-empowering and individualistic philosophies and aesthetic of the great AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) ensembles as well as the historic world-class tenor saxophone lineage from his hometown. Equally adept at composing for rising stars in new music and the most intricate modern jazz ensemble, Irabagon builds on this foundation by adding modern classical and late-period John Coltrane to his compositional base, focusing primarily on mixed chamber ensembles to take advantage of hand-chosen musicians' voices and attitudes.

After earning a Bachelor of Music from DePaul University, Irabagon continued his education by earning a Master of Arts from the Manhattan School of Music and completing post-graduate studies in the jazz program at Juilliard, where he received an Artist Diploma. However, Irabagon’s accomplishments do not end with his education. Irabagon was also the winner of the 2008 Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition, winner of the Rising Star award in Downbeat Magazine for both alto and tenor saxophones, and the recipient of a Philippine Presidential Award, the highest civilian honor an overseas Filipino can receive in commemoration for their contributions to the perception of Filipinos worldwide. 

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A Tribe for Jazz is a Columbus-based 501 (c) (3) nonprofit whose mission is to preserve the legacy and advance the future of jazz through visual storytelling, live and virtual perforances, education and community engagement.