SLAMCD292 Paul Dunmall & Tony Bianco – Tribute to Coltrane

Saxophonist Paul Dunmall and drummer Tony Bianco delve deeper into the Coltrane repertoire for their second album dedicated to the great jazz man. The two sets compliment each other perfectly and offer an expression of Paul Dunmall‘s lifelong love and appreciation of the music and spirit of Coltrane.

For thirty years Dunmall has carved out a reputation for himself as one of the most uncompromising and talented reed players on the international jazz/improvised music scene. Whether playing in small groups or big bands his musical sensitivity and imagination combined with a powerful sound make him one of the most distinctive improvisers playing today.

He has performed in various groups and projects over the years with people such as Barry Guy, Elton Dean, Keith Tippett, Evan Parker and many others.

Paul Dunmall: tenor saxophone
Tony Bianco: drums

“Dunmall is among the few tenor saxophonists to have absorbed Coltrane’s style, without imitation. This may be a tribute to Coltrane, but Dunmall and Bianco have their own distinct voices, even when playing Vigil.” – Colin Green, The Free Jazz Blog

“Coltrane is perhaps best known for his 60s quartet but the maelstroms whipped up in those groups of renown were horn ‘n’ drum things, despite the chimings of the piano and the running bass. Dunmall and Bianco face their challenges head-on and impressively…Dunmall improvises freely in a style often favoured by JC when open-ended modal extension encouraged it, and Bianco creates a variable percussive atmosphere in which the sax lines twirl around.” – Nigel Jarrett, Jazz Journal

“On this disc, they sound especially well-connected to the same force, power or spirit. I love the way Duns will take a line or theme and then explore it from different directions, waves upon waves, cascading and crashing one layer at a time, ascending to a grand conclusion. This is not just fire and brimstone either, the duo perform a lovely, restrained version of “Wise One” with some sublime mallet-work by Mr. Bianco. Some of the very last recordings from Coltrane were a duo with drummer Rashied Ali called ‘Interstellar Space’. Much of that recording was intense and over-the-top. The playing here is more measured and moderately paced with occasional moments of frenzy. Trane’s melodies are played most reverently so that the spirit of love shines through. This outstanding disc is some 79 minutes long, which is as much as one can fit on a single CD. I am exhausted in a good way listening to the entirety of this monumental endeavour. Take your time, there is a wealth of extraordinary playing here.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

“Dunmall clearly demonstrates that he has imbibed deeply at the source, letting rip with a bold, yearning tone of spiritual sincerity and rightly interpreting the fanfare-like heads of Coltrane’s later pieces as declarations of emotional truth. Bianco lays down a relentless blur of crisp, lightning-fast snare rolls and swelling toms that bespeak heart-bursting, oceanic love – an idiosyncratic style that, on the ride-heavy reading of “Vigil”, reveals itself to be a highly stylised development of Elvin Jones’s polyrhythmic innovations. How else to end this offering than with the infinity perfection of a deep tambura drone?” – Daniel Spicer, The Wire

“The duo explore the music with vigour and reverence, and at the same time manage to imbue the music with their own personalities. In doing so they are not only paying homage to one of jazz’s greatest improvisers but also keep the music fresh and valid for a new generation of listeners.” – Nick Lea, Jazz Views

“Highly personal (and highly recognisable) versions of Coltrane’s post-A Love Supreme compositions. Both discs go hand in hand, no need to ask yourself which one to pick – take a chance or pick them both.” – Francois Couture, Monsieur Delire

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

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