Dragon Fish

Pat Mallinger - tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, flute; Dan Trudell - piano. Recorded 8/19 and 8/20/2009. Produced and engineered by Nick Eipers. REVIEWS: #7 in JazzChicago.net's Top Chicago Recordings of 2009 quot;Those who have seen and heard Pat's work live, will be thrilled to hear it captured in the studio as he shines on tenor, alto, and soprano saxes, as well as flute; while Trudell may surprise some who have only heard his fine work on the organ... his playing - which veers from Tyner to Tatum - perfectly counterbalances his associates as they maneuver through these intricate tunes... 'Dragon Fish' not only features the masterful playing of two virtuosos in a relaxed studio setting, but showcases Mallinger's exceptional compositional skills as well...quot; - Brad Walseth, JazzChicago.net quot;... glows among the best of sax/piano dialogues, and highlights not only Mallinger's versatility on tenor, alto, soprano and flute, but his compositional eclecticism as well... Duo recordings, when done well, offer a combination of intimacy and engaging conversation - the listener becomes part of the dialog rather than merely a voyeur. Pat Mallinger and Dan Trudell manage to maintain the intimacy of interaction among dear friends while inviting us to feel that warmth and absorb every note.quot; - Andrea Canter, JazzPolice.com quot;Exploring myriad combinations of timbre, tone and texture, Mallinger and Trudell bring forth just about every nuance that could be found in a woodwind-piano duo situation... As soloists, both Mallinger and Trudell are incredibly adept on their instruments and effortlessly comfortable with the harmonic layout of every tune... 'Dragon Fish' is a welcomed addition to the jazz duo catalogue... these two Midwestern musicians not only pay homage to the great duo albums of the past, but make their own memorable contribution to the genre.quot; - Matthew Warnock, AllAboutJazz.com quot;The ten pieces are set up as a relaxed intelligent conversation between two friends. Mallinger is a multi-reedist who is equally skilled on flute and three saxophones - soprano, tenor and alto - while Trudell is a unique voice on the piano. The two are very compatible in their musical vision... The superior musicianship of the two players and their comfort in each other's company keep the music interesting and intriguing.quot; - Hrayr Attarian, Chicago Jazz Magazine quot;The music ranges from the assertively modal 'Adventures' to the pastoral 'Hills Over Tuscany' and gentle 'Madeline's Lullaby'. The two swing as if there were drums and bass on 'Pigeon Peas' and barrels down the boulevard on the extroverted Coltrane-inspired'CPW'... A great 10 rounder!quot; - George W. Harris, JazzWeekly.com quot;... this album... ripples and roars with the intimacy of two friends engaged in a musical conversation that started a quarter-century ago... So as you listen to the effortless intensity of these collaborations, you'll hear an artistic collaboration ripened by 25 years of professional interplay and personal interaction ... The barreling quot;CPWquot; takes it's initials from the John Coltrane ballad quot;Central Park Westquot;; says Mallinger, quot;I was experimenting with playing it fast and came up with this melody, and the tune just fell into place; it's kind of a roundabout way to pay tribute to Coltrane.quot; As for quot;Just Give It A Chance,quot; with Mallinger on alto: quot;I initially wanted to write a bossa nova, and I was trying for some Jobim-influenced chord changes. But it's a little more elaborate than I'd expect