Los Angeles-based saxophonist and composer Dennis Mitcheltree (born and raised in Wisconsin), and pianist Johannes Wallmann (the Peterson Chair in Jazz Studies at UW-Madison) recently released Holding Space, a duo album of all original compositions. It is available at Bandcamp. Here are excerpts of the liner notes:
Holding Space is an intimate acoustic jazz album of duet performances by tenor saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree and pianist Johannes Wallmann. Featuring all original compositions and highly conversational improvisation, the recording celebrates a friendship and near telepathic musical chemistry established over three decades of collaboration, including six tours of the U.S., two tours of Germany, as well as three previous albums led by Mitcheltree and one by Wallmann.
credits
released February 7, 2025
Dennis Mitcheltree – tenor saxophone
Johannes Wallmann – piano
Russ Johnson – trumpet (2, 10, 18)
“Annus Mirabilis,” “Dalia Eats a Strawberry,” “Liberty Hop,” “Later That Year,” “Trio Adagio,”
“Piano Improvisation,” “Soul Occupant,” “Pretty Good Life,” and “Digging a Shallow Grave for My Enemy” by Johannes Wallmann, MooseWorks Music, BMI
“Via Valse,” “Willis,” “Sasayaki,” “Blues for Mark,” “Holding Space,” “Sephardic Blues,” and “Saxophone Improvisation” by Dennis Mitcheltree, Dengor Music, BMI
“Duo Improvisation 1” and “Duo Improvisation 2” by Johannes Wallmann, MooseWorks Music, BMI and Dennis Mitcheltree, Dengor Music, BMI
