Experience a totally new form of Jazz by an amazing bassoon player from San Francisco. The art of bassoon jazz like you have never heard it before. Paul Hanson's stunning basoon sound is ignited by David Garibaldi, Peter Erskine and others.
Winner of Jazziz Magazine's Woodwinds on Fire Contest, and recipient of a 1995 NEA Jazz Fellowship Grant, is a Bay Area native who is gaining international recognition as a progressive modern woodwinds instrumentalist. His repertoire includes jazz, rhythm and blues, Eastern European folk music, contemporary classical, and electronic music. He has mastered the bassoon using many different playing techniques not usually associated with this classical instrument. His remarkable technique enables him to perform his melodic compositions in a variety of settings, including concert halls, chamber music stages, music festivals, clubs, theaters, recordings, and interactive education media.
Paul's compositions evoke a vocal quality; music that is complex in rhythm and harmony but remains melodic enough to sing. Throughout the diverse genres in his music, improvisation is always a part of his concept. He uses it to balance modern with traditional.
The Last Romantics, his first compact disc recording as lead artist, was released in Japan by Midi Records in 1993. It received Best Jazz Recording for January 1994 from Audiophile Magazine. His second compact disc, entitled Astro Boy Blues, on the MMP/Moo Records (MP-50022), released in the U.S. in October 1996. Peter Erskine, Brian Bromberg, and David Garibaldi appear on this recording. Paul has also appeared on recordings with Paul McCandless, Billy Childs, Phil Aaberg, Peter Apfelbaum and The Hieroglyphics Ensemble, Eddie Money, Kotoja, and Billy Higgins.
Paul, sponsored by Fox Bassoons, performed as a soloist with Rob Van Kreeveldt Trio featuring internationally acclaimed oboist Paul McCandless at the 1995 International Double Reed Festival in Rotterdam, Holland. Hanson's compositions and performance received great acclaim from many of the world's renown double reed artists. He has been invited to perform again at the 1996 International Double Reed Festival in Florida this June.
Paul has performed his own compositions in Tokyo, Kobe, and Fukuoka at the U.S. State Department Interlink Festival. His group, The Lost Leaders has performed before a capacity crowd at Yoshi's Nitespot in Oakland and The Legendary Monterey Jazz Festival. Paul was also music director and primary performer for a three part academic jazz series at several California Universities. He has performed with The Paul Dresher Ensemble, The Klezmorim, Ray Charles, Kotoja, Steve Smith, Otis Clay, Chamber Music West, and as soloist with the Napa Symphony Orchestra. Paul has recently collaborated on compositions with Gino Vannelli which will appear on Mr. Vannelli's upcoming release.
Paul has toured extensively in Europe, Japan, and the United States. His major festival performances include Leverkuzen Jazz Festival, Berlin Jazz Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival-England, Monterey Blues Festival, and the Interlink Festival in Japan.
Paul attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the New England Conservatory of Music in the classical music department, focusing on bassoon performance. He also graduated from Berkeley High School, distinguishing himself as an exemplary product of their famous music department.
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