Barry Altschul


Barry Altschul is an American free jazz and hard bop drummer, who first came to notice in the late 1960s for performing with pianists Paul Bley and Chick Corea.

Biography

Altschul is of Russian Jewish heritage, the son of a laborer who did construction work and drove a taxi. Having initially taught himself to play drums, Altschul studied with Charlie Persip during the 1960s. In the latter part of the decade, he performed with Paul Bley. In 1969 he joined with Chick Corea, Dave Holland and Anthony Braxton to form the group Circle. At the time, he made use of a high-pitched Gretsch kit with add-on drums and percussion instruments.
In the 1970s, Altschul worked extensively with Anthony Braxton's quartet featuring Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, and George E. Lewis. Braxton, signed to Arista Records, was able to secure a large enough budget to tour with a collection of dozens of percussion instruments, strings and winds. In addition to his participation in ensembles featuring avant-garde musicians, Altschul performed with Lee Konitz, Art Pepper and other "straight ahead" jazz performers.
Altschul also made albums as a leader, but after the mid-1980s he was rarely seen in concert or on record, spending much of his time in Europe. Since the 2000s, he has become more visible, with five co-leader appearances with the FAB trio, the Jon Irabagon Trio recording Foxy and the bassist Adam Lane. Altschul has played or recorded with many musicians, including Roswell Rudd, Dave Liebman, Barre Phillips, Denis Levaillant, Andrew Hill, Sonny Criss, Hampton Hawes, and Lee Konitz. In 2012, Altschul began performing and recording with his new trio, the 3dom Factor, featuring saxophonist Jon Irabagon and double bassist Joe Fonda. 2019 saw the first release by the OGJB Quartet, a collective group featuring saxophonist Oliver Lake, cornetist Graham Haynes, Joe Fonda, and Altschul.

Discography

As leader

With the 3dom Factor
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As co-leader

With the FAB Trio Transforming the Space Live at Iron Works A Night in Paris Live in Amsterdam History of Jazz in Reverse
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With the OGJB Quartet Bamako Ode to O
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As sideman

With Paul BleyTouching Closer Ramblin' Blood In Haarlem - Blood Ballads Paul Bley & Scorpio Japan Suite Hot Live at Sweet Basil Indian Summer Rejoicing
With Anthony BraxtonThe Complete Braxton News from the 70s Town Hall 1972 Quartet: Live at Moers Festival Five Pieces 1975 Creative Orchestra Music 1976 Dortmund (Quartet) 1976 The Montreux/Berlin Concerts
With Chick CoreaThe Song of Singing Circling In ARC Circulus Circle 1: Live in Germany Concert Paris Concert Circle 2: Gathering The Beginning
With Annette Peacock
With Sam Rivers
With Roswell Rudd
With Ullmann/Swell 4
  • 2004 Desert Songs and Other Landscapes
  • 2010 News? No News!
  • 2010 Live in Montreal
  • 2022 We're Playing in Here?
With others
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