PAUL DUNMALL BRASS PROJECT - Maha Samadhi
SLAM Records, SLAMCD 2105, January 2017
Paul Dunmall tenor saxophone; Ollie Brice bass; Tony Bianco, drums; Percy Pursglove trumpet; Aaron Diaz trumpet; Alex Astbury trumpet; Dave Sear trombone; Josh Tagg trombone; Josh Palmer tuba; Jo Sweet tuba; Ed Bennett conductor. Recorded at the Birmingham Conservatoire 20th, 21st June 2016
Surprising though it is to find Dunmall walking hand-in-hand with composition, it is not so surprising to find that what he has written is in some way a furtherance of his near-dedication to Coltrane, regularly heard in his playing and confirmed by his recent (2015) Homage to John Coltrane, SLAMCD 292. The Brass Project’s album, Maha Samadhi, takes its inspiration from occurrences in the life of a 19th century Indian mystic, Sri Ramakrishna, and it is in this that the saxophonist echoes Coltrane’s Africa/Brass, Impulse! 1961 (and possibly Birth of the Cool, Davis/Evans, Capitol Records 1956).
Dunmall’s solo playing is quite vicious throughout and the wildly ferocious Percy Pursglove on trumpet renders the pair volcanic, as is heard in the opening track, Ecstatic, Unbearable Love. This piece is described as representing Ramakrishna’s dance with Krishna and the unbearable ecstasy this brought about.
Paul Dunmall’s music generally and indeed his playing lean towards expressing a spirituality and this album is no exception. It draws to a close with echoes of New Orleans street brass, inspiring an emotive entreaty.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
SLAM Records, SLAMCD 2105, January 2017
Paul Dunmall tenor saxophone; Ollie Brice bass; Tony Bianco, drums; Percy Pursglove trumpet; Aaron Diaz trumpet; Alex Astbury trumpet; Dave Sear trombone; Josh Tagg trombone; Josh Palmer tuba; Jo Sweet tuba; Ed Bennett conductor. Recorded at the Birmingham Conservatoire 20th, 21st June 2016
Surprising though it is to find Dunmall walking hand-in-hand with composition, it is not so surprising to find that what he has written is in some way a furtherance of his near-dedication to Coltrane, regularly heard in his playing and confirmed by his recent (2015) Homage to John Coltrane, SLAMCD 292. The Brass Project’s album, Maha Samadhi, takes its inspiration from occurrences in the life of a 19th century Indian mystic, Sri Ramakrishna, and it is in this that the saxophonist echoes Coltrane’s Africa/Brass, Impulse! 1961 (and possibly Birth of the Cool, Davis/Evans, Capitol Records 1956).
Dunmall’s solo playing is quite vicious throughout and the wildly ferocious Percy Pursglove on trumpet renders the pair volcanic, as is heard in the opening track, Ecstatic, Unbearable Love. This piece is described as representing Ramakrishna’s dance with Krishna and the unbearable ecstasy this brought about.
Paul Dunmall’s music generally and indeed his playing lean towards expressing a spirituality and this album is no exception. It draws to a close with echoes of New Orleans street brass, inspiring an emotive entreaty.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
