The Squid's Ear Magazine

Dunmall, Paul

Awakening Expectations

Dunmall, Paul: Awakening Expectations (FMR)

Two unique and adventurous takes on collective free improvisation led by Paul Dunmall and recorded in the studio, using the group that appears on his first Paul Dunmall Presents series in January 2020: Dunmall on tenor sax, John O'Gallagher on alto sax, Percy Pursglove on trumpet, Elliott Sansom on piano, Chris Mapp on electric bass and Miles Levin on drums.
 

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Personnel:



Paul Dunmall-tenor saxophone

John O'Gallagher-alto saxophone

Percy Pursglove-trumpet

Elliott Sansom-piano

Chris Mapp-electric bass

Miles Levin-drums


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Label: FMR
Catalog ID: FMR 580
Squidco Product Code: 29436

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2020
Country: UK
Packaging: Digipack - 3 panel
Recorded at Sansom Studios, in Birmingham, UK, on March 2nd, 2020, by Olly Sansom.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"The group that plays on the CD is essentially that which appeared at the first session of the Paul Dunmall Presents series in January 2020. It has Paul just on tenor sax on this occasion, Percy Pursglove on trumpet, John O'Gallagher on alto saxophone, Chris Mapp on electric bass and Miles Levin on drums. Paul had wanted a pianist on the live session, so added Elliott Sansom for the recording. This was, I believe, Elliott's first experience of improvising freely and he immediately made his mark interacting early on with Percy, and then with Paul later in the title track "Awakening Expectations", and concluding the track with a beautiful solo with a classical and almost romantic feel. The track is totally improvised and proceeds through a series of collective passages that alternate with solos from the horns, piano and drums. Each of the horn players take a solo, two in the case of Percy, and each one relates back to the collective passage just before it and leads into the next. Miles takes a fine solo that at the end drops down in intensity that leads into the most abstract of the collective improvisations. The collectively improvised passages have a lot of variety, from the early passage that has a New Orleans front line feel to it, to the very abstract passage just mentioned. Others have a joyous and exuberant feel.

Track 2 Playing The Virtues

This second track is significantly different from the first with the collective improvisation going further 'out', that is becoming more adventurous. It starts collectively with the three horns interacting with each other with the piano, bass and drums silent. Percy is very impressive in this section. After quite a long section the piano bass and drums enter and the intensity rises. Then there is a passage, again relatively long, with just the piano trio with Elliott becoming increasingly confident in his solo. John O'Gallagher enters interacting with Chris on the electric bass; Chris gradually takes over with a bass solo. This becomes quite abstract and Percy adds another texture with a series of single note punctuations. The saxophones then enter and this more abstract approach gradually becomes more intense. A similar pattern is followed for the rest of the track; Elliott solos again, Paul plays a great solo, there is an early peak with an interesting collective riff which seems to be bringing the track to an end, but then John comes back in with a great solo. The track gradually winds down to its conclusion."-Tony Dudley Evans, TDE Promotions


Get additional information at TDE Promotions

Artist Biographies

"Paul Dunmall was born 1953, Welling, Kent; saxophones, clarinets, bagpipes, miscellaneous wind instruments.

As told to Watson (1989), Paul Dunmall was a working class lad from Welling who left school at 15 and spent two years repairing instruments at Bill Lewington's shop in Shaftesbury Avenue, London. He turned professional at 17 and, following two years touring Europe with a progressive rock band (Marsupilami), joined the Divine Light Mission, a spiritual movement led by Guru Maharaj Ji and moved from London to an ashram in America. He told Isham (1997), 'I moved to an ashram full of musicians - a music ashram - but it was still spiritual practice. That gave me a spiritual understanding through meditation, Coltrane's music, and all the rest of it, led me to that, and that's been a fundament in my life ever since - that I can actually sit down and meditate and forget my body. I realise how important meditation is in my life... but I don't do it so much these days.' During the three years he lived in America, Dunmall played with Alice Coltrane (in a big band with the Divine Light Mission) and toured for twelve months with Johnny 'Guitar' Watson.

Back in England, he played with Danny Thompson and John Stevens as well as folk musicians Kevin Dempsey, Martin Jenkins and Polly Bolton and then, in 1979 he became a founder member of Spirit Level (Tim Richards, piano; Paul Anstey, bass; Tony Orrell, drums), staying with the group until 1989. During his time with Spirit Level, Dunmall joined the two-tenor front line group Tenor Tonic with Alan Skidmore (1985), played and broadcast with Dave Alexander and Tony Moore in the DAM trio (1986) and formed the Paul Dunmall Quartet with Alex Maguire, Tony Moore and Steve Noble (1986).

In 1987 Paul Dunmall joined the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, being a constant member and appearing on all their recorded output from that date onward. The following year the improvising collective quartet Mujician was formed by Keith Tippett, Dunmall, Paul Rogers and Tony Levin and has continued to be a regular performing, touring and recording group, sometimes augmented by other musicians. Dunmall has also played in a trio with Keith and Julie Tippetts and in Keith Tippett's big band Tapestry. Two other duos have also sprung out of Mujician: Dunmall with Tony Levin (two CD releases) and Dunmall in folk-influenced outings with Paul Rogers. Another regular playing partner throughout this period and up until the present includes Elton Dean.

In 1995, two trios were formed, the first with Oren Marshall, tuba and Steve Noble, percussion, the second with John Adams, guitar and Mark Sanders, percussion, these sometimes coming together as a quintet. More recently, Dunmall has played in another reeds/guitar/drums trio with Philip Gibbs and Tony Marsh and there appears to be regular crossover between all these players. The Paul Dunmall Octet was founded in 1997."

Dunmall also has released a large number of albums and a box set on the UK FMR label, in various configurations and instrumentation.

-EFI (http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/musician/mdunmall.html)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"John O'Gallagher is considered one of the most compelling alto saxophonists and composers at work today on the New York jazz scene. He is known for an innovative style which pushes the boundaries of jazz while rooted in it's tradition.

"Mr. O'Gallagher is an exploratory alto saxophonist with a clear melodic streak" - The New York Times

Born in Anaheim Califorina in 1964 he began playing alto saxophone in grade school after his family moved to Spokane, Washington. Upon graduating high school he studied briefly at Eastern Washington University before moving to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music. There he studied with legendary saxophone gurus Joe Viola, Jerry Bergonzi and George Garzone.

During the past 25 years living in New York he has become known for his projects as a leader, and as a sought after sideman, working with artist such as Joe Henderson, Maria Schnieder, Kenny Wheeler, Billy Hart, Tony Malaby, Jeff Williams, Tom Rainey, Chris Cheek, Ralph Alessi, Rudresh Manhathappa, Mike Formanek, Ben Monder and numerous others."

-John O'Gallagher Website (https://johnogallagher.com/bio)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"After graduating from the Birmingham Conservatoire's BMus(Hons) Jazz course with first class honours, I received a scholarship to study on the Jazz and Contemporary Music Program at the New School University, New York City. During my time living in New York I performed with ensembles including The Duke Ellington Orchestra at Birdland, The Coltrane ensemble and the Rene Marie Big Band at Town Hall, and with Matt Brewer and Tommy Crane at The Knitting Factory.

I am now working as a freelance Jazz musician/composer/arranger/recording artist (Trumpet/Double Bass) Since 2005 I have been lecturing in Jazz at the Birmingham Conservatoire senior and junior departments, I also have a roles as director of the National Youth Jazz Wales, tutor for National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland/National Youth Jazz Collective, music for youth mentor and improvisation clinician for Wales Music Teachers Federation.

I am also the artistic co-director of Harmonic Festival, producing and promoting two successful and adventurous jazz festivals in Birmingham in recent years.

I have featured in a number of performances aired on BBC Radio's Jazz on Three including live concerts with Alex Hawkins, Peter Evans, Paul Dunmall, Elliott Sharpe and a number of radio and televised concerts with the WDR Radio Big Band, Koln. I was a featured in Jazzwise magazine's 'Taking Off' interview. Recent musical highlights include performing Gil Evans Sketches of Spain with the Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz Orchestra and playing Trumpet for Evan Parker's 70th birthday celebration, Kings Place.

Some of the most prominent artists I have performed and recorded with include:

Claudia Quintet, Food with Thomas Stronen/Iain Ballamy, Bill Frissell, Paul Dunmall, Peter Evans, Jon Irabagon, Hans Koller, Dan Weiss, Matt Brewer, Michael Gibbs, Thomas Morgan, John Hollenbeck, Mark Dresser, Victor Bailey, Drew Gress, Ben Monder, Phil Woods, Claudio Roditi, Jeff Williams, Chris Speed, Matt Mitchell, Evan Parker, Jakob Bro, Elliott Sharpe, Vince Mendoza, Peter Erskine, Django Bates, Steve Swallow, Chris Potter, John O'gallagher, Gerald Clayton, John Clayton, Dave Liebman, Dave Holland and Norma Winstone.

For the past twelve months, I have also been a Jazzlines/Jerwood Foundation fellow, hosted at Town Hall-Symphony Hall Birmingham. This has allowed me to compose a new work written for octet and eight-voice choir - 'Far Reaching Dreams of Mortal Souls' - based on speeches and associated works of iconic figures through history. This will premiere in October, where I will perform alongside Julian Arguelles, Paul Clarvis, Hans Koller, Michael Janisch, James Allsop, Jim Rattigan plus choir.

I hold honorary membership (Hons BC) to the Birmingham Conservatoire in recognition of services to music."

-Percy Pursglove Website (http://www.percypursglove.com/about/)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Elliott Sansom is a pianist and composer based in Birmingham. Elliott studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Paris Conservatoire graduating in 2016 with a First Class Honours degree specialising in Jazz Piano and Composition.

Elliott was named as one of the top 5 finalists for the 'BBC Young Jazz Musician' award in 2016, which was televised on BBC4. He was also named a nominee for the 'Musicians Company Jazz award'. In 2017 the Elliott Sansom Trio performed at the BBC proms Elgar rooms, which was broadcast on BBC Radio3.

Elliott is renowned for being a much sought after performer and sideman, performing regularly with the Clark Tracey Quintet, Sean Payne Quartet, Chris Young Quartet, and the Greg Abate Quartet. He has performed at world renowned venues and festivals across the UK such as, Ronnie Scotts, 606 Jazz Club, Pizza Express, Cheltenham Jazz festival, Trondheim Jazz festival and Swanage Jazz festival."

-YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClvfVAd4Eo0)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Chris Mapp is a UK bassist, known for the band Gonimoblast, and the trio stillefelt.

-Chris Mapp Website (http://www.chrismapp.co.uk/)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Just like his father, internationally respected free jazz drummer Tony Levin, Miles Levin is a jazz drummer."

-DrummersZone (https://drummerszone.com/artists/miles-levin/13352/profile/#biography)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Awakening Expectations 29:21

2. Playing The Virtues 29:39

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Collective Free Improvsation
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
Sextet Recordings
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Search for other titles on the label:
FMR.


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