SLAMCD290 Paul Dunmall & Tony Bianco – Thank You to John Coltrane

The first of three John Coltrane tribute albums from saxophonist Paul Dunmall on SLAM, who performs six Coltrane compositions, plus the self-composed title piece, pared down to just sax and drums, which emphasises the strength of the compositions. Tony Bianco‘s ever-inventive work is there in company with the sax, rather than accompanying.

Dunmall has always been a great believer in John Coltrane, even taking the opportunity to play with Alice Coltrane on an early USA tour decades ago. His fans have waited a long time to hear his dedication to Trane, but it has been well worth the wait.

The recording was made in Delbury Hall in the Shropshire hamlet of Diddlebury – a far cry from North Carolina where, 85 years earlier, the spirit of Coltrane arrived in this world…and so his music and the spirit of that music, will continue to move on through time and space.

Paul Dunmall: tenor and soprano saxophone
Tony Bianco: drums

“The duo approach the music with a reverence that, rather than hinders and dulls the performance, seems to inspire the pair to greater heights, and with a control and restraint, especially on Coltrane’s freer themes, that magnifies and lifts the music…’Alabama’ [is] perhaps the show stopper of the set, with Dunmall’s bringing his huge tenor sound to produce a performance that is as tender as it is tough, with both musicians not afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve. This is a powerful and gripping album that deserves to be widely heard.” – Nick Lea, Jazz Views

“Dunmall is such a powerful and emotional player that he makes the music his own. Gifted with a huge tone and technique, and an instinct never to vary too far from the motivic language of most of these pieces, he nods to the master here and there (those cries, those upper partials) but blows it down in his own way. And Bianco, what a whirlwind this guy is! It’s not so much his indefatigable energy that impresses the most, but how much detail and nuance he imparts to an approach rooted in such sheer forward motion…the epic 28-minute journey through “Expression” is absolutely sizzling. Whew!” – Jason Bivins, Cadence

“Dunmall’s title track fits seamlessly into the album, its theme good enough to be mistaken for one of Coltrane’s own. And it features a saxophone solo worthy of its dedicatee. The album’s closing piece is also its highlight; fittingly, a twenty-eight minute, tour-de-force…Both players give it their all, pouring everything they can into it as a tribute to the great man. The ultimate test of any tribute album is whether it sends the listener back to the original recordings with fresh ears. Thank You to John Coltrane effortlessly passes that test, and is a great credit to Dunmall, Bianco and, of course, to Trane himself.” – John Eyles, The Squid’s Ear

“A spare, yet rousing and mesmerising, set of takes on Coltrane tunes…Dunmall’s playing is utterly fantastic. His precise tone is roughed up and emotive at times and clear and determined at others. His melodies and ideas are well formed and constantly in motion. Without repeating himself or playing out any one idea too long, he builds his lines with wily intensity. Bianco rounds out the sound space with vibrant fills and microscopic reactions to the saxophonist’s twists, turns and torrential runs. The platform he creates for his partner’s improvisations is empathetic, kinetic and driving…an exciting and captivating recording.” – Paul Acquaro, The Free Jazz Collective

Recorded at Delbury Hall on 27th November 2011
Recorded mixed and mastered by Chris Trent
Design by Andy Isham

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