Articles

Paul Dunmall's Sunship Quartet: John Coltrane 50th Memorial Concert At Cafe Oto

By John Sharpe

If John Coltrane had lived he would have been 90 in July 2019. It's fair to say that there has been no saxophonist anywhere near as influential since his passing in 1967. To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, percussionist Mark Wastell organized a concert headlined by two affirmed devotees of the great reedman, namely Paul Dunmall, leading his Sun Ship Quartet, and special guest Alan Skidmore, at London's esteemed Cafe Oto. This splendid double CD captures the entire ...

Barker / Dunmall / Dahl: Luddite

By Glenn Astarita

This is the second album emanating from celebrated British saxophonist, Paul Dunmall's 2012 visit to New York City, performing at the Vision Festival, and follows his initial 2013 appearance for New Atlantis Records on a date led by guitarist Edward Ricart, titled Chameleon. Hence, top New York City-based improvisers, drummer Andrew Barker and bassist Tim Dahl--the latter appearing on three tracks, lend their faculties for a set that poses a myriad of irregular rhythmic explorations. And while Dunmall's explosive tenor ...

Mikolaj Trzaska / Paul Dunmall: London, England, October 15, 2012

By John Sharpe

Mikolaj Trzaska / Paul DunmallCafe OtoLondonOctober 15, 2012Three for the price of one? How could you resist. London boasts a sizeable Polish population, and it seemed like a large part of them had braved the cool Monday evening to visit Cafe Oto for a visit by Gdansk-born reedman Mikolaj Trzaska. But in a night of unabashed, spontaneous creation, he wasn't all that was on offer. Trzaska has been featured on over forty recordings, dating back ...

Paul Dunmall Quartet : London, England, January 9, 2012

By John Sharpe

Paul Dunmall / Matthew Bourne / Steve Davis / Dave KaneVortex Jazz ClubLondon, UKJanuary 9, 2012 Although saxophonist Paul Dunmall performs in London with reasonable frequency, he rarely appears in the same configuration twice. But for anyone who's heard his excellent Moment To Moment (Slam, 2009), tonight's gig was not to be missed, as the reedman renewed his acquaintance with the young trio of pianist Matthew Bourne, bassist Dave Kane and drummer Steve Davis.

Philip Gibbs / Paul Dunmall / Tony Hymas / Paul Rogers / Neil Metcalfe / Tony Levin: Mumuksuta

By John Sharpe

With over 60 releases by the end of 2010 on his own Duns Limited Edition label, reedman Paul Dunmall has been trying to slow down. That yet another new issue turns up regardless is testament to the quality contained therein. Derived from yoga teachings, the title Mumuksuta translates as a burning desire to realize the Self within. While it's hard to say whether the participants have succeeded in freeing themselves of earthly desires, they certainly manage to perform without ego. ...

Paul Dunmall: Identical Sunsets

By Raul d'Gama Rose

If history is to be served properly, saxophonist Paul Dunmall's Identical Sunsets reaches, with much nervous energy, that part of the sonic universe that John Coltrane reached in the last months of his playing career. In the stellar regions of that universe, the heart--and, therefore, Dunmall's instrument of choice (in this case, the tenor saxophone)--does not beat as it does on earth. It fibrillates as life reaches a rarefied plane--the life of an artist who must now bow to the ...

Paul Dunmall, Tony Bianco and Dave Kane at the Vortex, London, UK

By John Sharpe

Paul Dunmall, Tony Bianco and Dave Kane The Vortex London, England January 19, 2010

The band was smoking, they were burning, they were on fire. Just some of the expressions used to denote a truly affecting jazz experience, but not to be taken literally. So imagine the concern of the patrons in north London's Vortex jazz venue as smoke was spotted curling up from the amplifier of bassist Dave Kane not ...