Silfra

The twin trombone frontline is an esoteric but noble tradition in jazz, harking back to the famed 1950s recordings of Kai Windings and JJ Johnson. While respecting the tradition, the internationally renowned trombonists Paul Dunlea (from Cork) and Trevor Mires (from London) are not traditionalists, and their collaborative project Silfra showcases their thoroughly contemporary skills as composers and arrangers to create a fascinatingly diverse set of trombone led music. Silfra is the name of a place in Iceland where the tectonic plates of Europe and America meet and rub together. "I scuba-dived between the two plates and touched them both at the same time," says Dunlea, and the album presents a true transatlantic meeting of talent. The project was conceived after Paul and Trevor worked together on a project at London's famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, and the music was recorded at the legendary New York studio of Rudy Van Gelder with a specially assembled band of their favorite US musicians. For the drum chair, Trevor chose Billy Kilson, famed for his long association with Dave Holland, while Paul selected bassist Ike Sturm (Donny McCaslin) and pianist Jim Ridl (Kurt Elling, Joe Locke). Ryan Keberle contributes a third trombone to some of the sections to create a full, lush sound. The result is a stunning album that combines influences from both the leaders' multi-faceted careers, Paul's Irish heritage, and their deep love of the jazz tradition.Silfra is a beautifully realised album from two master musicians completely at ease in their surroundings