Paul Dunmall New Quartet: World Without (577 Records/digital outlets)

The astonishingly prolific British jazz and free improv saxophonist Paul Dunmall has released something like 100 albums under his own name with the likes of Marcus Stockhausen, Keith Tippett, Andrew Cyrille and others, and has been a sideman to Johnny Guitar Watson, Roswell Rudd, Richard Thompson and many more.

He now turns up on the uncompromising 577 Records out of New York with guitarist Steven Saunders, bassist Dave Kane and drummer Miles Levin for two fiery pieces (with some quieter passages of course), each just a fraction below 30 minutes.

With the “rock” line-up this is sometimes akin to the late Peter Brotzmann sitting in with a John Zorn band or Last Exit, if you know the references.

Saunders is as remarkable as the leader in his muscular but melodic attacks, which might mean those coming at this from free-form rock could be more at home than those approaching with the idea of jazz in mind.

However you get to it, you can't help but be engrossed by the energy and intuitiveness on display.

As we often say, not for everyone.

But we're Elsewhere because we take you elsewhere.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here. We've posted the short sampler edit of the title track.