Paul Dunmall - Unity (2021)

After decades of collaboration, scores of musical projects and 28 releases, old friends and professional musicians might find themselves searching for either novelty or a return to the foundations. In the case of UK-based saxophonist Paul Dunmall and UK-based drummer Mark Sanders, it was both. The two musicians have had prolific careers—and made much of their work together—but in a recent phone call, they realized that they had never created a project that featured just their preferred instruments, saxophone and drums. Seeking to correct their oversight, they improvised Unity, a tempered and simple presentation of the instruments they’ve mastered alongside each other. Its five tracks offer unpretentious and uplifting avant jazz, exhibiting both their musical affinities and their natural collaborative chemistry. Following Onosante (April 2021), this marks Dunmall’s second release with 577, and will be one of Sander’s many projects with the label, including albums with Rachel Musson, Pat Thomas, Dave Tucker and Thurston Moore. Unity will be available on CD in May 2021.