Born: May 6, 1953 Primary Instrument: Saxophone
After turning professional at seventeen and touring Europe for one year with progressive rock group Marsupilami he moved to America and lived there for three years playing with many musicians including Alice Coltrane and toured with Johnny Guitar Watson for one year.
On his return to the UK he worked with folk musicians Polly Bolton/Kevin Dempsey and groupings worked around the Dando Shaft band. In 1979 he became a founder member of the jazz group Spirit Level with pianist Tim Richards plus playing free improvised music with the Nigel Morris trio. At this time also Paul played in the London Improvised music scene.
In 1985 the group Tenor Tonic was formed with Alan Skidmore, Tony Levin and Paul Rogers. In 1987 Paul joined the London Jazz Composers Orchestra lead by Barry Guy and joined Danny Thompson's Folk/Jazz hybrid Whatever. The following year the outstanding collective quartet Mujician was formed with Keith Tippett, Tony Levin, Paul Rogers.
Whilst playing in these groups Paul was also still playing in many ad hoc groups plus playing in several of Elton Deans ensembles. Since 2000 Paul is still freelancing and has been playing in the composer's Brian Irvine's 14 piece band.
In 2003 Brian was commissioned by the BBC to write a full orchestral piece with freely improvised saxophone, a long time dream of Paul's. In 2000 Paul set up his own improvised music record label with Philip Gibbs called Duns Limited Edition. It brought musicians together to improvise from many different traditions such as classical/folk/ethnic and to date has 52 releases.
“One of the most accomplished reedists on the planet” - Ken Waxman, Jazz Weekly
“Paul Dunmall is a monster sax player” - Massimo Ricci, Touching Extremes
“...a musician who can wail convincingly without abandoning his intellect” - All Music Guide
”Whether in a trio with Mujician's rhythm section or with the larger band of sympathetic fellow improvisers, Dunmall consistently produces powerful and passionate music” - BBC Music Magazine (June 1994)
“...robust and heavy-hitting performer who has gone on to concentrate largely on free improvisation without sacrificing a rigorous melodic logic, a sparing lyricism and the technique to drop in on bebop occasionally.” - John Fordham, The Guardian
2003 Solo bagpipes Paul Dunmall
2003 I wish you peace Paul Dunmall Moksha Big Band
2004 Deep Joy Paul Dunmall/Paul Rogers/Tony Levin
2004 Nimes Paul Dunmall/Paul Rogers/Philip Gibbs
2005 Unnaturals, sharps & flats (Solo Soprano) Paul Dunmall
2005 Live at the Priory Keith Tippett/Paul Dunmall/Julie Tippetts
2005 Peace and joy Paul Dunmall/Paul Rogers/Philip Gibbs/Hamid Drake
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