Dennis Mitcheltree & Johannes Wallmann Duo – Holding Space

Shifting Paradigm Records - Street date: January 7, 2025
Jazz
Dennis Mitcheltree / Johannes Wallmann Duo – Holding Space

This album is a delightful succession of exquisite dialogues between two artists who know each other by heart. In 17 vignettes of undeniable romanticism, their poetic language is firmly rooted in both the jazz tradition and classical music, woven into compositions that are simultaneously sophisticated and accessible. The delicate balance between piano and saxophone is masterfully achieved here.

Dennis Mitcheltree, a tenor saxophonist hailing from Wisconsin, honed his craft at the Berklee College of Music. Since relocating to New York in 1987, he has become a cornerstone of the jazz scene. Now based in Los Angeles, Mitcheltree works as a freelance musician while serving as Artistic Director of the American Music Group. His playing on this record is a wellspring of inspiration, casting him as an actor, a storyteller narrating moments and fragments of life. This is particularly evident on the track Liberty Hop, where his influences—reaching as far as New Orleans—resonate profoundly.

Johannes Wallmann, a pianist and composer, was born in Germany and raised on Vancouver Island. Since 2012, he has been at the helm of the jazz studies program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With ten critically acclaimed albums to his name, Wallmann also co-leads the ensemble Precarious Towers. Here, too, he reveals himself as a fascinating musician, pouring his artistry into the track Trio Adagio. One can truly feel his methodical approach to shaping music and creating form. The interplay between the two artists becomes a crescendo of artistic intent.

The musical collaboration between Mitcheltree and Wallmann traces back to the late 1990s in New York, where Mitcheltree, on Jim McNeely’s recommendation, invited Wallmann to join his quartet for a Midwest tour. Over the past 27 years, their partnership has flourished through six quartet tours across the U.S., duo and quartet tours in Germany, three albums under Mitcheltree’s leadership, one album by Wallmann (Love Wins, 2015), and numerous workshops and festivals. Such a profound level of communication demands time to mature, and this duo demonstrates how to think as one while retaining their unique musical identities—a feat brilliantly accomplished by these extraordinary artists.

Many critics share my sentiments:

  • “Mitcheltree’s tenor is brimming with soul, swing, and urban sensitivity.” — Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
  • “He’s a master storyteller on the tenor saxophone…” — Jared Donze, Iowa City Icon
  • “Mitcheltree is a solid player and an equally gifted composer.” — Michael J. Renner, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  • “His tenor tone is warm, rounded, and reminiscent of Sonny Rollins, yet adorned with a slightly more sophisticated edge. This music is essential, a philosophical balm for these challenging times.” — Kevin Lynch, Shepherd Express
  • “A remarkable pianist and composer… his evocative compositions brim with captivating melodies and an irresistible rhythm.” — John Murph, Downbeat Magazine
  • “Wallmann’s confident, muscular, and elegant playing anchors a repertoire balanced between standards and original compositions.” — Catalina Maria Johnson, Downbeat Magazine
  • “Wallmann’s solo spirals and erudite blues phrasing are mesmerizing.” — delarue, New York Music Daily
  • “Johannes Wallmann and his ensemble overflow with brilliant ideas in Precarious Towers. So much so that repeated listening is a must. That is the hallmark of a great album.” — Preston Frazier, Something Else!

Fortunately, February is just around the corner, and you’ll soon have this artistic gem in your hands—a true must-have album in every sense.

Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News

PARIS-MOVE, January 22nd 2025

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