Paul Williamson (Saxophone)

Biography

Paul Williamson
Saxophonist
Born 18-05-1959
Melbourne, Australia

Paul has started his association with the music industry with a busy , freelance schedule with R&B and Rock groups , as well as Big Bands and Cabaret work, led to offers of touring and recording work. The first of which was with the Rock band the DUGITES for a six-week Australian tour. On returning to Melbourne the offer came to audition for Joe Camilleri’s JO JO ZEP - 12 piece CHA Band (from the album of the same name, to promote the hit singles TAXI MARY and WALK ON BY) This, finally , prompted the decision to try it as a professional musician.

After completing the CHA tour in February 1983 ,the offer came to tour with English rock group DIRE STRAITS . The initial tour of Australia was extended with the invitation to accompany them to New Zealand, where the band performed 2 concerts , to in excess of, 200,000 people. Then continued with the band for an extensive tour of Japan. On returning to Australia , began to freelance- mainly as a Jazz musician with artists such as VINCE JONES and JANE CLIFTON.

Since then has toured with or appeared on a regular basis with artists and groups including:
BLACK SORROWS (1984)
STEPHEN CUMMINGS
DYNAMIC HEPNOTICS JANE CLIFTON (1983 -1992)
VINCE JONES (1983-1988)
MEN AT WORK (1985 tour of Australia and Japan)
NICHAUD FITZGIBBON (YO YO and Jazz ensemble)
RUBY CARTER
CORNELL DUPREE (American guitarist-Melbourne Oct. ‘95)
JEXTET
JOANNE JACKSON (American singer- Melb ‘89)
BIG JAY McNEELY (American R&B saxophonist)
JAMES FREUD (Aust. tour ‘89)
JIMMY McGRIFF (American Hammond Organist- Aust tour ‘90,New York ‘90)
LUCKY PETERSON (American Hammond Organist-Melb. ’92)
SWINGIN’ SIDEWALKS
MOOVIN’ & GROOVIN’ ORCHESTRA
ZYDECO JUMP
MUSIKII OY (Large concert & recording ensemble) MIGHTY REAPERS TONIGHT LIVE Show Band
JEX SARALAAHT NIKO
SCHAUBLE ‘S TIBETAN DIXIE (small group &larger ensemble including ARTHUR BLYTHE)
GEORGE COLEMAN (Studied with in New York 1987)
LENNY PICKETT (Studied with in New York 1987)

Freelance work around LONDON 1990
Has also lead his own groups throughout the above period and is currently leading the PAUL WILLIAMSON HAMMOND COMBO . The band has maintained many residencies in Melb.(longest running at 8 years) and has toured extensively, including most Aust. capital cities.

PAUL's band has also performed at the following Festivals including ; MONTSALVAT (93,94,95), WANGARATTA (92,94,96,99), CASTLEMAINE ARTS FEST 96, MANLY JAZZ FEST, NOUMEA JAZZ FEST, YORK JAZZ FEST(W.A), APPOLO BAY MUSIC FEST, QUEENSCLIFF FESTIVAL and the BYRON BAY BLUES FEST.

Recorded work includes:
VINCE JONES :
For All Colours 1984
On The Brink Of It 1985
Tell Me A Secret 1986
It All Ends Up In Tears 1987

BLACK SORROWS: Sonola 1984
JANE CLIFTON: Turn To Dust 1985
JEXTET: Jextet 1987
MARGIE LOU DYER: All Souled Out 1990
TIBETAN DIXIE: Nothing Too Serious 1991
Tibetan Dixie with ARTHUR BLYTHE Ya-it-ma Thang 1993
SWINGIN’ SIDEWALKS: Filthy Mono 1992
MOOVIN’ & GROOVIN’ ORCHESTRA:
Moovin’ & Groovin’ Orchestra 1992
Doodlin’ 1994
Big Bands Are Back
I’ve Never Been To Cuba 1999

ABC MUSIC:
Going Home 1992
Moon Over Melbourne 1992

As leader:
PAUL WILLIAMSON’S HAMMOND COMBO Red Hot Go 1994
LIVE at the ESPLANADE 1995 Over The Rainbow 2000

COMPOSER and MUSIC PRODUCER for the short film SAXA by GABRIELLE BULLARD 1994 which was featured at the Canterbury Short Film Festival 1995, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1995 Edinburgh Film Festival,Scotland , and the Bilbao International Film Festival, Spain ,where it received special award . The film has also been sold to an International Film Agency and recently appeared on Channel 4 in the U.K .
Other recordings include solo and/or horn section performances and arranging on album tracks ,films and T.V soundtracks and jingles for bands and artists including;
HUNTERS &COLLECTORS, DUGITES, DYNAMIC HEPNOTICS, BLACK SORROWS, PAUL GRABOWSKY, COLIN BAYLEY (Beyond 2000) STEPHEN CUMMINGS, RED SYMONS, RUSSELL MORRIS, ROSS WILSON, PETER CROSBIE, GREG CHAMPION, PAUL KELLY, THE BADLOVES, THE BULL SISTERS, ZYDECO JUMP, BARNEY McALL, DADDY COOL, BILLY THORPE MYER XMAS RECORD ‘94.........

Theatre/Cabaret:
THE THREE PENNY OPERA - Melb. Theatre Company Playhouse Theatre 1984 ( 6weeks)
ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE JANE CLIFTON - Last Laugh Theatre Rest. Melbourne (4 1/2 months) Kinselas Sydney (6weeks) 1985
I DANCED WITH A GIRL WHO DANCED WITH THE PRINCE OF WALES- Performing Arts Project Ripponlea 1991
HIGH SOCIETY- South Australian Theatre Company Melbourne , Playhouse Theatre (6 weeks) Canberra , Canberra Theatre (2 weeks) MAME Melbourne Concert Hall May ‘99

Television and Film:
Appeared in and played on the soundtrack of the mini-series ANZACS 1984 and the films MULL 1987 and IN TOO DEEP 1988.
Television appearances as a solo artist & accompanying performer include performances on:
Countdown, Mike Walsh Show, Ray Martin Show, Daryl Somers Show, Hey,Hey It’s Saturday, The Big Gig, Tonight Live , Ernie&Denise, The Late Show, Good Morning Australia, Kate Ceberano & Friends............