Paul Neufeld
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At 37, Paul Neufeld has been active in the music scene in Toronto, in Canada, and internationally, for 14 years. He is known as a composer, keyboardist, and sousaphone player with a wide range of interests and influences that all make their way into his creative output. Winner of the 1996 Juno Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album with his group NOJO (Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra), Paul is a four time Juno nominee, a winner of the 1999 Big Band of the Year Jazz Report Award, and winner of the 2001 National Jazz Award for Big Band of the Year, and double winner at the 2004 Vibe Awards, Best Instrumental Album and Best Jazz Album. Paul has five currently issued CDs with NOJO, which he leads as composer and pianist, two with his Rhythm & Truth Brass Band as the composer/sousaphonist, and the first CD with his Paul Neufeld Group, themed on 19th Century African-American Spirituals, is newly released on True North Records. Pauls recordings are available on True North and Auracle Records. As a composer, Paul has received commissions for orchestra, written music for TV and film, and has been involved as arranger and side musician on many CD projects for other artists. As a musician, Pauls reputation rests on his abilities as a versatile pianist with a distinct style on vintage electric keyboards, such as organs, electric pianos, and analogue synthesizers. His work with his funky electric quartet, Rivethead, showcases this side, and his more commercial work in GrooveYard is evidence of his versatility. His hard driving sousaphone powers both Rhythm & Truth, and the New Orleans sound of Suitcase Brass. Paul is an active teacher and clinician based in the Toronto area, where he lives with his wife and two children.
The Paul Neufeld Spirituals Project is based on his arrangements of 19th Century African-American Spirituals for jazz ensemble. The first CD of this material, Walk Together, came out on True North Records in October 2003, and features Paul�s quartet of piano, Rob Clutton on double bass, Paul Brundtland on congas, and Nicholas Hockin on shakers and bells. Paul has been gathering these folk themes for ten years, from sources such as old books, and recordings of Paul Robeson, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the Staple Singers, and others. He takes the melodic lines and harmonizes them in new ways, adding instrumental colours that take the music in a different direction while staying true to the deeper meaning of the music. Walk Together features Paul's quartet of piano, Rob Clutton on double bass, Paul Brundtland on congas, and Nicholas Hockin on shakers and bells. Taking inspiration from all sides of the folk music Spirituals, Paul explores both the soul inspiring faith expressed and the striving for freedom. These themes are true for all people at all times - the need to live free, and the need to search for meaning, ring strongly in our consciences and it is with this in mind that Paul continues to explore this music. Paul Neufeld received a grant from Imago Arts in 2002.
Paul Neufeld
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