Paul Dunlea Quintet
IMC presents Cork trombonist Paul Dunlea’s vibrant quintet to Dublin, for an evening mixing exciting new music with favourite standards.
Trombonist, composer and arranger Paul Dunlea is one of the most in-demand musicians on the fertile Cork scene. His playing lingers on the ear with finely melodic improvisations bringing life to favourite standards and his original works.
As a composer and arranger, he has a gift for blending instrumental colours in balanced palates, painting soundworlds in subtle details of musical colour. Paul’s recent War of Independence Suite, commissioned by the PRS Foundation has been acclaimed for its subtly elegiac lyricism.
In this quintet line-up he’s joined by some of Ireland’s favourite jazz musicians, each lending their unique style to a tightly balanced sense of ensemble. Derek ‘Doc’ O’Connor lends his melodic voice on saxophone, pianist Cormac McCarthy adds a rich harmonic thread, and the whole drives on with the energetic rhythm section of Michael Riordan on bass and Davie Ryan on drums.
For an evening of persuasive and personal music, which works its way under your skin without artifice or drama, music-lovers will not want to miss this ensemble.
More About this Artist
Although at home in a variety of musical styles, Cork Trombonist/Composer/Arranger, Paul Dunlea concentrates primarily on Jazz and Improvisation. This has furthered his reputation as one of Irelands most in demand musicians.
Dunlea has performed/toured/recorded with the likes of Michael Bublé, Cassandra Wilson, Frankie Valli, Liam O'Maonlaoi, Mick Flannery, Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire), Bryce Dressner (The National), Lewis Nash, Peter Washington, Billy Drummond, David O' Rourke's O' Rourkestra, Sachal Vadsandani, John Clayton, RTE Concert Orchestra, The Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, The New Irish Jazz Orchestra, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Hot House Big Band, Freezeroom & Brian Deady.
Dunlea is a graduate of the CIT Cork School of music holding both a bachelors degree in trombone performance and a masters degree in composition. He has held the chair of principle trombone with the Band 1 Brigade - Irish Defence Forces since 2001.
2011 saw the released his debut album ‘Bi-polAr’ to critical acclaim - reaching #1 in the iTunes chart. 2016 saw the release of his second album 'Fraternal' recorded at the renowned Bunker Studios, Brooklyn, NY featuring bassist Peter Washington, drummer Billy Drummond, guitarist David O’ Rourke (co-leader) & Cork’s Cormac McCarthy. Paul's third album is due out in early 2019.
In 2013 Dunlea established his own big band as a creative outlet for his own compositions. To date, the band has performed sell out shows across the country in venues such as The Opera House, Cork, The Grand Opera House, Belfast & The Everyman Theatre - Cork along with headlining the 2015 Cork & Limerick Jazz Festivals. Entire concerts have also been broadcast nationally on both RTE and BBC radio. Dunlea is also musical director of the New Irish Jazz Orchestra.
Irish Independent““a thoughtful and sensitive composer, with a gift for blending instruments to paint pictures in sound ” ”
All About Jazz“...there's a seductive quality in his melodious improvising that draws the listener in. ”
