Paul Murphy (musician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Murphy is an American jazz drummer
.
Paul Murphy grew up in Washington, D.C.
. At the age of seven he started studying drums with Gene Krupa
and then with Louis Bellson. By age 16 he was playing bebop with Billy Taylor, the Ellington
bassist.
After playing jazz and blues on the Washington scene for four years, he left for the West Coast in 1970. There he started playing avant garde in the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly with Mary Anne Driscoll, the singer pianist, and Arthur Baron on tenor sax. In 1974, Jimmy Lyons
, Cecil Taylor
's legendary alto player, heard Paul play in Oakland and suggested he move to New York. Murphy did so, and became manager of Rashied Ali
's loft club Ali's Alley.
In summer 1974 Murphy joined Lyons's group. For the next 8 years Paul played, recorded and toured the USA and Europe with Lyons. During this New York period, he also led his own quintet with Dewey Johnson
on trumpet, Jay Oliver
on bass, Karen Borca
on bassoon, and Mary Anne Driscoll on piano. Paul also played with a spectrum of musicians ranging from Larry Willis
and Jaki Byard
to Sun Ra
and Eddie Gale
. Paul has been at the fore front of early Avant-Garde jazz with his remarkable and extraordinary drumming technique. His playing style is quite unique and very much his own.
The blow of Jimmy Lyon's death in 1986 caused Paul to drop out of jazz for a year and a half, a period he spent in Las Vegas playing as a stage drummer. In late 1987 he moved back to the Bay Area, playing mostly avant garde with Glen Spearman on tenor, India Cook on violin and cellist Kash Killion. In 1990, Paul moved back to Washington, D.C., where he has recorded for Mapleshade Records
. In the avant garde arena, he has led many recording sessions with pianist Joel Futterman
, Jere Carroll , Kash Killion Paul led the historic Trio Hurricane session 'Suite of Winds' in Aug 1986 with Glenn Spearman
and William Parker
and has recorded with many other top jazz musicians such as Raphe Malik
, Hayes Burnett and Henry Letcher to name a few. Paul has continued recording free jazz duo sessions with Larry Willis
. Playing in a more straight ahead vein, Paul has done Mapleshade sessions with Clifford Jordan
, Ran Blake
and Larry Willis
plus a number of blues and soul sessions. His latest recordings 'Break Away' , 'Excursions' and 'Exposé' will astound Jazz aficionados with the high-end high energy fusion principals of Bebop and Avant-Garde Jazz. Break Away with Paul Murphy
, Jere Carroll and Joel Futterman
. Excursions with Paul Murphy
, Larry Willis
, Exposé with Paul Murphy
, Larry Willis
Jazz drumming
Jazz drumming is the art of playing percussion in jazz styles ranging from 1910s-style Dixieland jazz to 1970s-era jazz-rock fusion and 1980s-era latin jazz...
.
Paul Murphy grew up in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. At the age of seven he started studying drums with Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
and then with Louis Bellson. By age 16 he was playing bebop with Billy Taylor, the Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
bassist.
After playing jazz and blues on the Washington scene for four years, he left for the West Coast in 1970. There he started playing avant garde in the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly with Mary Anne Driscoll, the singer pianist, and Arthur Baron on tenor sax. In 1974, Jimmy Lyons
Jimmy Lyons
Jimmy Lyons was an alto saxophone player. He is best known for his long tenure in the Cecil Taylor Unit.-Biography:...
, Cecil Taylor
Cecil Taylor
Cecil Percival Taylor is an American pianist and poet. Classically trained, Taylor is generally acknowledged as one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an extremely energetic, physical approach, producing complex improvised sounds, frequently involving tone clusters and...
's legendary alto player, heard Paul play in Oakland and suggested he move to New York. Murphy did so, and became manager of Rashied Ali
Rashied Ali
Rashied Ali, born Robert Patterson was an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz drummer best known for playing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life.-Biography:...
's loft club Ali's Alley.
In summer 1974 Murphy joined Lyons's group. For the next 8 years Paul played, recorded and toured the USA and Europe with Lyons. During this New York period, he also led his own quintet with Dewey Johnson
Dewey Johnson
Dewey William Johnson was an American lawyer and politician from Minnesota. Johnson was born in Minneapolis and attended the local public schools, followed by the University of Minnesota and William Mitchell College of Law .After graduation from law school, he began work in the insurance business...
on trumpet, Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
on bass, Karen Borca
Karen Borca
Karen Borca is an American free jazz bassoonist.Borca studied music at the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1971. While there she met Cecil Taylor, who taught there during the 1970/71 academic year; she acted as his teaching assistant and played with him in the Cecil Taylor Unit...
on bassoon, and Mary Anne Driscoll on piano. Paul also played with a spectrum of musicians ranging from Larry Willis
Larry Willis
Lawrence Elliott Willis is an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion rock music, Bebop and Avant-Garde...
and Jaki Byard
Jaki Byard
Jaki Byard was an American jazz pianist and composer who also played trumpet and saxophone, among several other instruments. He was noteworthy for his eclectic style, incorporating everything from ragtime and stride to free jazz...
to Sun Ra
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
and Eddie Gale
Eddie Gale
Eddie Gale is an American trumpeter known for his work in free jazz, especially with the Sun Ra Arkestra.-Biography:Early in life, he studied trumpet with Kenny Dorham...
. Paul has been at the fore front of early Avant-Garde jazz with his remarkable and extraordinary drumming technique. His playing style is quite unique and very much his own.
The blow of Jimmy Lyon's death in 1986 caused Paul to drop out of jazz for a year and a half, a period he spent in Las Vegas playing as a stage drummer. In late 1987 he moved back to the Bay Area, playing mostly avant garde with Glen Spearman on tenor, India Cook on violin and cellist Kash Killion. In 1990, Paul moved back to Washington, D.C., where he has recorded for Mapleshade Records
Mapleshade Records
Mapleshade Records is an American jazz based record label.Mapleshade was founded in 1989 by Pierre Sprey, who had been recording since 1986. Prior to his career in jazz recording, Sprey had worked as an aeronautical engineer in The Pentagon, designing A-10 and F-16 fighter jets. The label is based...
. In the avant garde arena, he has led many recording sessions with pianist Joel Futterman
Joel Futterman
Joel Futterman is an American jazz pianist and curved soprano saxophonist. He has appeared on more than 65 recordings as of 2009....
, Jere Carroll , Kash Killion Paul led the historic Trio Hurricane session 'Suite of Winds' in Aug 1986 with Glenn Spearman
Glenn Spearman
Glenn Spearman was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He was specifically associated with free jazz and experimental music....
and William Parker
William Parker (musician)
William Parker is an American free jazz double bassist, poet and composer.-Biography:Parker was not formally trained as a classical player, though he did study with Jimmy Garrison, Richard Davis, and Wilbur Ware and learned the tradition. Parker is one of few jazz bassists who regularly plays arco...
and has recorded with many other top jazz musicians such as Raphe Malik
Raphe Malik
Raphe Malik, born Laurence Mazel was an American jazz trumpeter....
, Hayes Burnett and Henry Letcher to name a few. Paul has continued recording free jazz duo sessions with Larry Willis
Larry Willis
Lawrence Elliott Willis is an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion rock music, Bebop and Avant-Garde...
. Playing in a more straight ahead vein, Paul has done Mapleshade sessions with Clifford Jordan
Clifford Jordan
Clifford Laconia Jordan was a jazz saxophone player. While in Chicago, he performed with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and some rhythm and blues groups. He moved to New York City in 1957, after which he recorded three albums for Blue Note. He also recorded with Horace Silver, J.J. Johnson, Kenny...
, Ran Blake
Ran Blake
Ran Blake is an American pianist and composer from Springfield, Massachusetts. In a career that spans five decades, Blake has created a unique niche in improvised music as an artist and educator...
and Larry Willis
Larry Willis
Lawrence Elliott Willis is an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion rock music, Bebop and Avant-Garde...
plus a number of blues and soul sessions. His latest recordings 'Break Away' , 'Excursions' and 'Exposé' will astound Jazz aficionados with the high-end high energy fusion principals of Bebop and Avant-Garde Jazz. Break Away with Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy may refer to:* Paul Murphy , Australian political journalist.* Paul Murphy , award-winning Australian cinematographer* Paul Murphy , American jazz drummer...
, Jere Carroll and Joel Futterman
Joel Futterman
Joel Futterman is an American jazz pianist and curved soprano saxophonist. He has appeared on more than 65 recordings as of 2009....
. Excursions with Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy may refer to:* Paul Murphy , Australian political journalist.* Paul Murphy , award-winning Australian cinematographer* Paul Murphy , American jazz drummer...
, Larry Willis
Larry Willis
Lawrence Elliott Willis is an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion rock music, Bebop and Avant-Garde...
, Exposé with Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy may refer to:* Paul Murphy , Australian political journalist.* Paul Murphy , award-winning Australian cinematographer* Paul Murphy , American jazz drummer...
, Larry Willis
Larry Willis
Lawrence Elliott Willis is an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion rock music, Bebop and Avant-Garde...
Discography
With Jimmy LyonsJimmy Lyons
Jimmy Lyons was an alto saxophone player. He is best known for his long tenure in the Cecil Taylor Unit.-Biography:...
- Wee SneezaweeWee SneezaweeWee Sneezawee is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jimmy Lyons recorded in 1983 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 4 stars.-Track listing:# "Wee Sneezawee" - 7:26# "Gossip" - 7:29...
(Black Saint, 1983) - Give It UpGive It Up (Jimmy Lyons album)Give It Up is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jimmy Lyons recorded in 1985 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "the ensemble work is frequently exciting; and the front line boasts three distinctive and rather...
(Black Saint, 1985)