Holding Space is a collaboration between musical titans that is long overdue.
Dennis Mitcheltree and Johannes Wallmann have been musical and personal friends for almost 30 years. Geography may have played a part in this being their first project together, as Mitcheltree is in Los Angeles and Wallmann in Madison, Wisconsin. Another factor is that these journeymen are busy with solo and group projects.
Luckily for jazz lovers, Mitcheltree traveled to Wisconsin and spent two days with Wallmann in July 2023 at the Hamel Music Center’s Collins Recital Hall. The result is Holding Space, an ambitious and rewarding collection of 18 songs recorded live in the studio by Mark Whitcomb.
The album opener, “Annus Mirabilis,” is a delight. This Johannes Wallmann composition is joyous and dynamic, highlighting the strong interplay between Wallmann’s piano and Dennis Mitcheltree’s tenor sax. The song is melodically rich, allowing the principals to make warm musical statements.
“Via Valse,” a Mitcheltree composition, finds Russ Johnson added to the duo on trumpet. The coy, bluesy number employs trumpet and tenor harmony as part of the main theme, with Wallmann providing the rhythmic glue. As the song progresses, so does the intensity of the improvisation between the three, giving the listener a satisfying conclusion.
“Willis,” also by Mitcheltree, is an elegant ballad. The song is dedicated to composer Bill Holman and builds as it proceeds, with Wallmann taking an understated piano solo that complements Mitcheltree’s melodic main saxophone theme.
“Trio Adagio” is a 10-minute epic composed by Wallmann, the second of three songs to include Russ Johnson. It’s contemplative and delicate, with intricate interaction between all three players. Wallmann’s first solo is one of my favorites on Holding Space, and Mitcheltree and Johnson build on his melodic foundation with improvised call-and-response stabs.
“Digging a Shallow Grave for My Enemy” ends the album as the two principals invite Johnson for a freewheeling and powerful musical dialog. Together, they create a perfect end to the musical arc of Holding Space.
The chemistry between Dennis Mitcheltree and Johannes Wallmann is undeniable. The compositions and the two duo improvisations are captivating, and leave the listener asking for more.
- Dennis Mitcheltree and Johannes Wallmann – ‘Holding Space’ (2025) - February 15, 2025
- Fernando Perdomo – ‘Waves 2’ (2025) - February 12, 2025
- Omar Thomas Large Ensemble – ‘Griot Songs’ (2025) - February 9, 2025
