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Paul Dunmall

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.

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5
Album Review

Paul Dunmall / Olie Brice: The Laughing Stone

Read "The Laughing Stone" reviewed by John Sharpe


Reedman Paul Dunmall and bassist Olie Brice have collaborated on many occasions, with Palindromes (West Hill Records, 2020) and John Coltrane 50th Memorial Concert At Cafe Oto (Confront, 2019) only the most recent offerings. They supplement that tally with The Laughing Stone, a studio duet captured in November 2021 in Birmingham, England. Now one of the elder statesmen of the British scene, the prolific Dunmall has appeared alongside luminaries ranging from Evan Parker to William Parker and many more ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

New Releases Including Paul Dunmall Plus A Tribute To Peter Brötzmann

Read "New Releases Including Paul Dunmall Plus A Tribute To Peter Brötzmann" reviewed by Bob Osborne


On this show we feature new album releases from Paul Dunmall, Dan Pitt, Patrick Golden with Jim Clouse & Adam Lane, Alex Coke & Carl Michel, Doug McDonald, Altin Sencalar, David Helbock, Jason Kao Hwang, Aki Rissanen, and, Tyshawn Sorey. In addition, we mark the passing of Peter Brötzmann with three selections from his extensive music catalogue.Playlist Show Intro 00:00 Paul Dunmall “The Beauty In You" from New Quartet : World Without (577 Records) 01:01 Dan Pitt Trio ...

3
Album Review

Paul Dunmall / Paul Rogers / Tony Orrell: That's My Life

Read "That's My Life" reviewed by John Sharpe


Contrary to the title, That's My Life is not a career retrospective for iconoclastic British reedman Paul Dunmall. In fact it hails from the archives, a live date from Bristol recorded way back in 1989. On being asked about this set in a radio program in 2023 honoring his upcoming 70th birthday, Dunmall commented that it sounded like a different person compared to how he played now, albeit one who was still quite accomplished, but who used a lot more ...

8
Album Review

Paul Dunmall Quintet: Yes Tomorrow

Read "Yes Tomorrow" reviewed by John Sharpe


Veteran British saxophonist Paul Dunmall helms a crew of talented graduates from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Yes Tomorrow. It's the second time they have appeared on disc with him in a unit as all four were part of the sextet responsible for Cosmic Dream Projection (FMR, 2021). While renowned as a peerless free improviser, Dunmall also composes, here presenting eight original compositions. Even though the majority incorporate accessible riff-based heads, sometimes evoking the spiritual jazz of his one-time employer ...

10
Album Review

Paul Dunmall & Mark Sanders: Unity

Read "Unity" reviewed by John Sharpe


In spite of a decades long association, Unity constitutes only the second time British reed icon Paul Dunmall has appeared on disc in tandem with drummer Mark Sanders. And on the earlier occasion, Pipe And Drum (FMR, 2012), Dunmall restricted himself entirely to bagpipes of various species, so this outing is notable as the first documentation of the pair together on their primary instruments. The union of two of the country's premier improvisers doesn't disappoint. Dunmall increasingly wears ...

6
Album Review

Paul Dunmall - Matthew Shipp - Joe Morris - Gerald Cleaver: The Bright Awakening

Read "The Bright Awakening" reviewed by John Sharpe


British saxophonist Paul Dunmall reaffirms the transcendent power of free jazz with a muscular quartet convened for his triumphant appearance at the 2012 Vision Festival, for which he invited pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist Joe Morris and drummer Gerald Cleaver to join him. The pianist and reedman were well acquainted, having hooked up during a Shipp residency at London's Cafe Oto in 2010, with the group captured for posterity on Live In London (FMR, 2017). While Dunmall had not previously played ...

6
Album Review

Paul Dunmall, Percy Pursglove, Olie Brice, Jeff Williams: Palindromes

Read "Palindromes" reviewed by John Sharpe


Bassist Olie Brice had an inkling that it might be worthwhile introducing two of his collaborators who had never played together before, British reed titan Paul Dunmall and American drummer Jeff Williams. It proves devastatingly correct on Palindromes. They unite, together with trumpeter Percy Pursglove, on a collective live album--recorded at London's Cafe Oto, in February 2020, during a short tour--which dazzles at every turn. Williams, a veteran of bands with the likes of Dave Liebman, Stan ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Dunmall's birthday today!

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 ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Dunmall's birthday today!

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 ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Dunmall's birthday today!

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 ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Dunmall's birthday today!

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 ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Dunmall's birthday today!

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... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Dunmall's birthday today!

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... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Dunmall's birthday today!

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... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Dunmall's birthday today!

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... Read more.

Place our Musician of the ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Dunmall's birthday today! 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... Read more. Place our Musician of the ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Jazz Musician of the Day: Paul Dunmall

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Paul Dunmall's birthday today! 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... Read more. Place our Musician of the ...

"...eclectic, capable on several instruments and full of wonder for the improvised form" - Andrey Henkin, All About Jazz

"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

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

That's My Life

577 Records
2023

buy

The Laughing Stone

Confront Recordings
2023

buy

Yes Tomorrow

Discus Music
2022

buy

Palindromes

West Hill
2021

buy

Unity

577 Records
2021

buy

Videos

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