Holding Space is a musical collaboration between two musical titans that is long overdue. Wallmann and Mitcheltee 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 Las Angelos 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 at the Collins Recital Hall, Hamel Music Center, in July 2023. The result is an ambitious and rewarding collection of eighteen songs recorded live in the studio by Mark Whitcomb. 

The album opener, “Annus Mirabilis,” is a delight. The Wallmann composition is joyous and dynamic, highlighting the strong interplay between Wallmann’s piano and Mitcheltree’s tenor sax. The song is melodically rich, allowing the principles to make warm musical statements. 

“Via Valse,” a Mitcheltree composition, sees Russ Johnson on trumpet added to the duo to make it a trio. 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, dedicated to composer Bill Holman, builds as it proceeds, with Wallmann taking an understated piano solo that complements Mitcheltree’s melodic main saxophone theme. 

“Trio Adagio” is a ten-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 the album, 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—a perfect end to the musical arc of “Holding Space.”

The chemistry between Mitcheltree and Wallmann is undeniable, and the composition and the two duo improvisations are captivating while leaving the listener asking for more. 

‘Holding Space’ is out on February 7, 2025 on Shifting Paradigm Records and can be found on https://shiftingparadigmrecords.bandcamp.com/merch .