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Barry Altschul

Barry Altschul is a drummer who gained fame in the late 1960s with the pianists Paul Bley and Chick Corea, playing in the “outside” style of jazz that had been evolving steadily since the innovations of Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane. His first major gig in the late 1960s was with Paul Bley's trio. 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, which he integrated seamlessly in a whirlwind of sound. No one sounded quite like him at the time, and his nuclear energy served him well when he teamed up with Sam Rivers and Anthony Braxton throughout the 1970s.

Altschul also made a few albums as a leader, but after the mid-1980s he was rarely seen in concert or on record. Recently, he has become a little more visible again, with two sideman appearances on the CIMP label with the FAB trio (with Billy Bang and Joe Fonda) and the bassist Adam Lane. Altschul has played or recorded with many musicians, including Roswell Rudd, Dave Liebman, Andrew Hill, Sonny Criss, Hampton Hawes, and Lee Konitz.

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Discography

The 3Dom Factor: Live in Krakow

The 3Dom Factor: Live...

Not Two Records
2017

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Tales of the Unforeseen

Tales of the...

TUM Records
2015

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The 3dom

The 3dom

TUM Records
2013

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The 3dom Factor

The 3dom Factor

TUM Records
2013

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Les Passagers Du Delta (The Passengers Of The Delta)

Les Passagers Du...

DLM Editions
2013

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For Stu

For Stu

Soul Note
1981

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