The Squid's Ear Magazine


Dunmall, Paul / Philip Gibbs / Neil Metcalfe: The Ravens Look (FMR)

Paul Dunmall performs on soprano sax along with clarinets and contra bassoon, in a give and take album with flutist Neil Metcalf and guitarist Philip Gibbs, a trio that allows space and a free melodic approach to guide their intelligent discourse.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Paul Dunmall-soprano saxophone, clarinets, contra bassoon

Philip Gibbs-acoustic guitar

Neil Metcalfe-flute


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UPC: 0617629603415

Label: FMR
Catalog ID: FMRCD376
Squidco Product Code: 19743

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2014
Country: Great Britain
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at Victoria Rooms in Bristol, United Kingdom, on February. 3rd, 2013 by Jonathan Scott

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"For Paul Dunmalls latest FMR Recording he uses soprano sax along with clarinets and the wonderful contra bassoon and does battle with the extraordinary flute of Neil Metcalfe and stunning guitar of Philip gibbs The Ravens Look recorded in Bristol last year, but sounds as fresh as a daisy! Truly wonderful music."-FMR



This album has been reviewed on our magazine:

The Squid
The Squid's Ear!

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)
12/3/2024

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

UK free improvising guitarist Philip Gibbs is known for the following bands and organization: Antonio Quijano Quartet, Atmospheres Without Oxygen, Circuit, Paul Dunmall Moksha Big Band, Paul Dunmall Quartet, Paul Dunmall, Paul Rogers, Philip Gibbs, Paul Dunmall, Philip Gibbs, Paul Rogers Freedom Orchestra, The Intuitive Art Ensemble

-Squidco 12/3/2024

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

Neil Metcalfe is a UK flutist who has been a member of groups Evan Parker Octet, Garage, London Improvisers Orchestra, Paul Rogers Freedom Orchestra, The Dedication Orchestra, The Intuitive Art Ensemble, The Runcible Quintet, Transatlantic Art Ensemble, Trio F O, and Unlaunched Orchestra.

-Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/316930-Neil-Metcalfe)
12/3/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Woodland Birds Collective Dream Of Other Lives 7:48

2. The Great Jouney With Birds As Guides 10:16

3. Highest Migration Over The Himalayas 6:01

4. The Ravens Look 9:14

5. Rooks Parliament 4:08

6. The Great Swan Awaits Us 15:51

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
Trio Recordings
Trio Recordings
FMR Records

Search for other titles on the label:
FMR.


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