25th October 2015: Phil Donkin’s ‘The Gate’. Latest news and reviews include 4 Stars from Jazz Journal and a feature in Jazzwise Magazine.

The Gate is the debut album from Phil Donkin, one of the preeminent bassists of his generation in jazz and improvisation-based music

Featuring Grammy-award nominated saxophonist Ben Wendel, drummer Jochen Rüeckert and pianist Glenn Zaleski, The Gate is a debut of depth and maturity with ten original compositions and two covers (Thelonius Monk and Dmitri Shostakovich). With plenty of wit and intelligence the pieces are navigated expertly by the four members, displaying myriad textures and emotions.

Here are the highlights from the latest round of reviews in for The Gate:

“There aren’t any duds.”
Jazz Breakfast (full review)

“This one goes off like a rocket and keeps up the pace to the end.”
4 Stars, Jazz Journal (website)

“In a very short space of time Whirlwind has established a reputation as a purveyor of high quality contemporary jazz and improvised music that ranks alongside labels such as ACT and Steeplechase and this debut release by bassist and composer Donkin is further testimony of the integrity of its artistic policy.”
Jazz Views (full review)

“​Rhythmic intricacies compounded with natural and powerful elegance is [Donkin’s] game… with repeated listening the album always reveals new dimensions of depth.​”
Leipziger Volkszeitung (website)

“​This is a powerful statement.”
Hörerlebnis (website)

Here’s a full feature that appeared in a recent edition of Jazzwise Magazine (website)

 

Jazzwise Taking Off – Phil Donkin