Thursday, March 1, 2018

Dunmall / Schubert / Dessanay / Bashford - Sign of the Times (2018)


Master UK saxist, Paul Dunmall, has been working with other saxists through the years (like Evan Parker & Dave Liebman) and obviously chooses them well. This is the third recording that Mr. Dunmall and Mr. Schubert have done together, working with Alex Von Sclippenbach and Willi Kellers in the past. Both Italian bassist, Sebastiano Dessanay and UK drummer, Jim Bashford, have recorded with Mr. Dunmall in the past as well. From the gitgo, there is a fire burning from within, with Mr. Bashford’s strong mallet work and Mr. Dessanay’s probing bass creating an uplifting undertow. Both saxes, first alto and then tenor, start spinning one at a time, the spirits slowly rising higher as they build, the energy and intensity edging upwards as the go. The interplay between all four members of this quintet is extraordinary, waves upon waves, spiraling higher and higher as they go. Both saxists, although different and distinctive in tone, toss their lines tightly back and forth, sometimes at furious pace, sometimes sailing down to a more restrained simmer. When they later switch to soprano, the stream is more contained yet no less focused. The ’Sign of the Times’ must be the setting free of those cosmic spirits since this is what we have here. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

1. Sign Of The Times 31:49
2. Talbot 21:07
3. Blues Is The Colour Of My Beloved 08:19

Paul Dunmall, soprano, alto, tenor saxophones
Frank Schubert, soprano, alto saxophones
James Bashford, drums

Recorded at the Lamp Tavern, Birmingham, on 10/10/2017
Recorded and mixed by Matthew O'Malley
Wood engraving by Paul Dunmall
Produced for FMR by Trevor Taylor
follow me