PRESS RELEASE August 2001

Paul Dunmall tenor sax Simon Picard tenor sax Paul Rutherford trombone

Hilary Jeffries trombone Gethin Liddington trumpet

Keith Tippett piano Paul Rogers bass Tony Levin drums

or thirty years Paul Dunmall has carved out a reputation for himself and is now widely recognised as one of the most uncompromising and talented reeds players on the British and international jazz scene. Whether playing in small groups or big bands his musical sensitivity and imagination combine with a powerful sound to make him one of the most distinctive improvisers playing today. His Octet showcases his abilities both as a composer drenched in bebop, free jazz and folk traditions, and as a sympathetic leader able to give maximum freedom to an elite group of fellow improvisers.

After turning professional at seventeen and touring Europe for two years with the progressive rock group Marsupilami, Paul Dunmall lived in America for three years playing with musicians such as Alice Coltrane and touring for a year with Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson. Back in England he played with Danny Thompson and John Stevens as well as folk musicians Polly Bolton, Kevin Dempsey and Martin Jenkins. In 1979 he became a founder member of Spirit Level with pianist Tim Richards. In 1987 Paul joined Barry Guy’s London Jazz Composers’ Orchestra. The following year the outstanding improvising collective quartet Mujician was formed with Tony Levin, Paul Rogers and Keith Tippett. Paul also maintains duo playing and recording partnerships with both Paul Rogers and Tony Levin, and has for a long time been a regular playing partner with Elton Dean. Paul has appeared in a trio with Keith and Julie Tippett, with whom he is visiting tutor at Dartington Summer School of Music.

Paul is currently featured soloist with the Brian Irvine Ensemble and in recent years he has formed two trios, the first with tuba player Oren Marshall and percussionist Steve Noble; the second with John Adams, guitar, and Mark Sanders, percussion; the two bands sometimes combining to play as a quintet. More recently, Paul has played in another reeds/guitar/drums trio with Philip Gibbs and Tony Marsh and another trio with Gibbs and mridangam player ‘Balu’ Balachandar. Since setting up his own label Duns Limited Editions last year, Paul has released eight CDs including one featuring bagpipes, his second solo recording. Other forward-looking labels Paul has recorded with in recent years include hatOLOGY, Matchless Recordings, ECM and Emanem.

An outstanding release [The Great Divide]–The Wire