For nearly twenty five years Paul has been performing a unique mix of pumped up blues piano and
gospel ballads. With a background steeped in blues and jazz, Paul has performed in a number of solo,
duet and band configurations, more recently with Tin
Dog.
Paul plays with an infectious passion and sensitivity and has earned a reputation in Perth for his blues keyboard prowess, both on the piano and Hammond organ.
However, blues piano is not Paul's only passion. His original music is a major part of his life - songs with a strong lyricism, and musical styles encompassing jazz, reggae, rock and things that just don't fit. In the early '80s, he formed the jazz/blues duet, Avocado Fats, with Hayden Jones, later winning the 1990 Perth Jazz Society award for best original jazz song.
More recently, Paul has been performing at a number of Western Australian festivals. In response
to his observation that piano is rarely featured as a roots instrument, Paul has developed a new solo
repertoire incorporating a wide range of musical styles including Chicago and New Orleans blues,
ragtime, soulful ballads, black and white southern gospel traditions and even a foray into tasteful
and exquisite arrangements of traditional Celtic tunes.
In 2004 Paul was awarded an ArtsWA grant to record a selection of that repertoire, with the aim of exposing and promoting the piano as a vital and integral part of our roots music heritage. Mercy Train has since been featured on Radio National’s The Daily Planet and Life Matters and his recent gigs at Fairbridge and Nannup festivals have been a hit with audiences.
With a long interest in, and commitment to, traditional and contemporary gospel music, Paul has also written, performed and taught gospel music for corporate singing. His music is known and sung nationally. In 2000, Paul recorded his first gospel CD, Shower Of Grace. Many of Paul’s songs incorporate themes of social justice and dealing with life’s struggles and mysteries.