Paul Towndrow

Paul Towndrow Alto and Soprano Saxophonist, Composer, Educator, World Saxophone Competition finalist 2003 & 2004"A turbo-charged amalgam of all your saxophone heroes" The GuardianAs well as being a graduate of The National Jazz Institute of Scotland and The University of Strathclyde, Paul studied for a year at the world famous Berklee College of Music in Boston; USA having won an international scholarship and went on to study with saxophone icons, George Garzone and Joe Lovano. He currently leads his own group, The Paul Towndrow Quartet, is a member of The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and has also performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.In 2002 he won The Peter Whittingham Jazz Award and secured Jazz Services touring grants for UK tours with The Paul Towndrow Quartet in 2003,2004 and 2006. In July 2003 he reached the last four at The World Saxophone Competition at Montreux Jazz Festival and won the Public Prize (most audience votes). He reached the final stages again in 2004 at the London Jazz Festival. On both occasions he was the only representative of the UK to reach the finals. Paul was also selected to perform at The Cheltenham International Jazz Festival in 2006 as part of the Jerwood Rising Stars programme.Paul recently toured with sensational US group The Bad Plus, playing the music of Ornette Coleman and currently performs with pop group, Hue and Cry. In 2004 he performed as part of a collaborative project with some of Norways top players including drummer, Thomas Strønen and pianist Haavard Wilk, culminating in performances at both Edinburgh and Oslo Jazz Festivals. The Paul Towndrow Quartet has undertaken UK Tours for the past three years consecutively. Other tours include those with The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and with saxophone quartet, Brass Jaw, who are due to release their debut CD in summer 2006.Paul released his CD, Colours on FMR Records in Autumn 2003 and a second CD, Out Of Town on his newly formed independent label, Keywork Records, in June 2005.As a jazz educator he is a tutor and clinician with Dumfries Youth Jazz Group. Paul also teaches saxophone, improvisation, theory and composition privately. He has conducted masterclasses and workshops at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Napier University, Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra, Dumfries Youth Jazz Orchestra and Dumfries Junior Jazz."Paul Towndrow- write that name down because its going to be a big one in the future!" Humphrey Lyttleton, BBC Radio 2"Towndrow broods on ballads with a smoky elegance and his precocious assurance suggests a 21st century Tommy Smith." John Fordham, The Guardian" Listening to Towndrow is an invigorating experience and he possesses a phenomenal technique....Towndrow's band follow his every move with intelligence and grace." Dave Gelly, The Observer"He plays jazz the way it should be played straight from the soul" Edinburgh Evening News