Paul Dunmall and Kevin Figes - Duos (2024) [Hi-Res]

The first duo recording between towering free jazz saxophonist Paul Dunmall and the highly creative saxophonist Kevin Figes, sees them perform ten improvised pieces using an assortment of instruments, including various saxophones, clarinets and flutes.

With no pre-composed themes or motifs, what you hear are two master musicians in the moment of creativity. The wholly improvised conversations seem to encompass and distil the history of jazz, moving between free and contemporary idioms with folk and avant-garde influences drifting in and out of the pieces. The differing configurations offer distinctive moods, tones and sounds. ‘Duos’ affords us the chance to enjoy a unique convergence of two brilliant musical minds.

Paul Dunmall is widely recognised as one of the most powerful and distinctive reed players to have emerged from the UK. He has been a leading figure in UK free improvisation for decades, including 20 years in the ground-breaking quartet Mujician.

Kevin Figes studied with Elton Dean and Tim Garland. In the early 1990s, he moved to Bristol and began a long and fruitful association with Keith Tippett. A supremely versatile musician, he has played everything from funk, Brazilian music, jazz-rock and avant-garde music.

‘Duos’ is available on a limited edition 4-panel digipak CD with sleeve notes by Daniel Spicer (The Wire / Jazzwise).

Paul Dunmall: tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute and alto flute
Kevin Figes: alto, soprano and baritone saxophones, flute and alto flute

Tracklist:
1 The Chat
2 Tenor and Alto Saxophone #1
3 Clarinet and Alto Flute #1
4 Two Flutes #1
5 Two Soprano Saxophones
6 Two Alto Flutes
7 Baritone and Soprano Saxophone #1
8 Clarinet and Alto Flute #2
9 Tenor and Alto Saxophone #2
10 Two Flutes #2
11 Baritone and Soprano Saxophone #2