Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tony Bianco, Paul Dunmall, Simon Picard: Utoma Trio

193

Tony Bianco, Paul Dunmall, Simon Picard: Utoma Trio

By

Sign in to view read count
Tony Bianco, Paul Dunmall, Simon Picard: Utoma Trio
Drummer Tony Bianco’s resume reads like a laundry list of disparate musical talent. Here’s a man who has performed with rock and rollers Chuck Berry and Edgar Winter, modern jazz bassist Reggie Workman, saxophonist Dave Liebman and many others. However with this release, the drummer along with tenor saxophone titans Paul Dunmall and Simon Picard derive inspiration from John Coltrane’s free-style explorations

Tony Bianco’s “Utoma Trio” is all about raw firepower and unrelenting energetic spirit! The first piece, “Oceans In Space” presents the listener with twenty-five minutes of viscous soloing and scintillating improvisational speak, thanks to the stylistic inventions of the saxophonists who exhibit intuitive call and response dialogue at an often-torrid pace while the leader provides a mini-clinic on the art of free-jazz drumming. Throughout, Bianco renders a rock solid and changeable pulse yet multitasks his rhythmic inclinations while pushing and prodding the dynamic twin sax attack into uncharted regions of sound; although the band alters the momentum with poignant lyricism and effective use of space on “Labyrinths”. The tumultuous choruses continue on the final piece, “White Eagle” as the musicians exhibit unimaginable stamina in concert with climactic developments, cunning interaction and the soloist’s faint injections of melody and meticulously constructed fabrics of sound. Hence, a mind-blowing modern jazz/improvisational extravaganza it is! Strongly recommended.

* * * * ½ (Out of * * * * *)

EMANEM

Track Listing

Oceans In Space, Labyrinths, White Eagle

Personnel

Tony Bianco; drums: Paul Dunmall; tenor saxophone (left channel): Simon Picard; tenor saxophone (right channel).

Album information

Title: Utoma Trio | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Emanem

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.