‘A series of Fortunate Events’ is a new series curated by David Ryan and Olivier Rodriguez that takes place on the 2nd Thursday of each month at café Oto. It aims to bring together both new and established performers and composers in new and exciting combinations. It will mix new composition with innovative tendencies in improvisation as well as giving a fresh context and platform for free jazz.

Paul Dunmall Trio

Paul Dunmall is one of the contemporary masters of free improvisation. He sees his work as extending out of the jazz tradition, with late Coltrane remaining a great inspiration. Dunmall began playing as a teenager in mainly soul and blues outfits, until Coltrane’s Mediations provided a catalyst for a new approach to playing. He was an integral part of the band Spirit Level, while simultaneously developing free playing encouraged by drummer Tony Levin. Having spent numerous spells in the US, Dunmall has played and recorded in Alice Coltrane’s big band amongst others, and, back in the UK, with tenor player Alan Skidmore in Tenor Tonic, and remained a close associate of the late Elton Dean (of Soft machine), and Keith and Julie Tippett – in both their larger ensembles, as well as the group Mujician. His own trios and larger groups, including an Octet, have been heard in numerous jazz festivals worldwide. Dunmall’s approach is fundamentally about developing certain trajectories of sound, at times frenetic, it is, none-the-less, always highly disciplined and controlled in its search for freedom. His emphasis is on the expressive qualities of sound within a free environment. He has recorded with Keith Tippett, Elton Dean, Andy Shephard, Evan Parker and the London Jazz Composers Orchestra. The brilliant Tony Marsh on drums, and midlands-based bass player Percy Pursglove, a recent winner of various jazz awards, join him in this concert.

TRIO AMR and guests

TRIO AMR was formed by Simon Allen, percussion, and Ian Mitchell and David Ryan, clarinets. Each of these players have a wealth of experience in new music and improvisation, which include the Michael Nyman Band, Gemini, Apartment House, and many other groups. Allen has recently performed with Gavin Bryars in a Tom Waits project; Mitchell has recently recorded Peter Maxwell Davies with his ensemble Gemini; and Ryan has recorded Cornelius Cardew and Earle Brown for matchless records. This concert sees them join forces with two distinguished Italian improvisers from Rome: Gianni Trovalusci, flutes and Alberto Popolla, clarinets. Trovalusci has worked closely with the composer Georgio Battastelli and improvisers Giancarlo Scaffini, Walter Prati and Evan Parker. Popolla has

worked with Sabine Meyer, as well as numerous jazz-folk and free jazz groups such as the Dragan Trio, and Lesmi, Carrozieri, Poppola, Walker. TRIO AMR has performed at Freedom of the City Festival, The Warehouse, and Teatro Cantiere, Rome.