Role

:

Performer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

1953 in Welling, England

 

Paul Dunmall is a British saxophonist and composer who has made a significant contribution to the world of contemporary jazz and improvised music. Born on May 6, 1953, in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, Dunmall grew up in a musical family and started playing the clarinet at the age of 12. He later switched to the saxophone and began his professional career in the early 1970s. Dunmall's early influences included John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, and Ornette Coleman, and he quickly established himself as a versatile and innovative musician. He played with a number of different bands and ensembles, including the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, the Keith Tippett Group, and the Barry Guy New Orchestra. In the 1980s, Dunmall began to focus more on free improvisation, and he became a regular performer at the legendary London venue, the Vortex Jazz Club. He also formed his own quartet, which featured pianist Paul Rogers, bassist Paul Anstey, and drummer Tony Levin. Dunmall's reputation as a leading figure in the world of improvised music continued to grow throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He played with a wide range of musicians, including Evan Parker, Derek Bailey, and Tony Oxley, and he released numerous albums under his own name and as part of various ensembles. One of Dunmall's most notable collaborations was with the American drummer, Andrew Cyrille. The two musicians first played together in 1998, and they went on to record several albums, including the critically acclaimed "Aspiration" (2000) and "Duet for Paul Dunmall and Andrew Cyrille" (2005). Dunmall has also received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. In 2002, he was awarded the prestigious BBC Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist, and he has been nominated for several other awards, including the Mercury Prize and the MOBO Awards. In addition to his work as a performer, Dunmall is also a respected educator and has taught at a number of institutions, including the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the University of Southampton. Despite his many achievements, Dunmall remains a humble and dedicated musician who is always looking for new ways to explore and push the boundaries of improvised music. His passion and commitment to his craft have made him one of the most respected and influential figures in the world of contemporary jazz and improvised music.

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