PAUL WEEDEN

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Paul Weeden considers himself almost half Norwegian and half American after living for more than 20 years in Norway. He still teaches students to improve their guitar-playing and technique and how to improvise.

However the story starts as early as January 7, 1923 when Paul was born in Indianapolis. Paul Winston Weeden, Sr. was the first born of twelve children to Rev. Dr. John T. and Gladys Mae Weeden. Rev, Weeden was the founding pastor of Eastern Star Baptist Church. Paul Sr. was educated in the Indianapolis school system and later joined the United States Navy, where he was honorably discharged. Paul Sr. spent the last fifty years as a jazz guitarist in Europe.
He grew up in a respectable middle-class family without any special musical influence. Paul Weeden got, as did many others, his musical impulses, especially jazz through listening to radio and records.

His interest was really awoken when Indianapolis got its own jazzclub, called, believe it or not: 'The Blue Note'. Here Paul met famous musicians like J.J. Johnson, Leroy Vinegar, Dave Baker and piano player George Ruffin.

The boy next door in Indianapolis was Wes Montgomery (born in 1925) and Wes and Paul started to play guitar more or less at the same time. They often studied together.

Like Wes, Paul plays with his thumb without a plectrum. They had a brotherly and inspirational relationship, which went both ways. The two apppeared several times together at 'The Blue Note' in Indianapolis. Paul has given also concerts at the Wes Montgomery Memorial Day.

In the years just after the war Paul Weeden played mostly Rythm & Blues. It was in this domain that one had the best chance to make a lot of money. After appearances with well-known musicians as Rusty Bryant, Don Gardner and Wild Bill Davis, he started his own trio with organ-player Don Patterson and drummer Billy James. This trio played together for nearly 6 years and was accompanied by such famous soloists as Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons and Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis.

In 1966 Paul Weeden went to Sweden with his own group which became very popular there. Oslo in Norway, was his starting point for playing all over Europe with many musicians. Paul Weeden was a typical ‘musicians musician'.

Paul Winston Weeden, passed away on July 1, 2011 in Oslo, Norway.
Paul Winston Weeden, Sr. leaves to cherish his memory and legacy a devoted wife, Gunn in Oslo, Norway; eleven children, Paul Jr. (Loretta), James (Regina), Ronald (Kelley), Cynthia Sue, Dennis Michael (Sandra), Genise, Duwayne, April (Billy), Rickey (Amy), Lasse (Yanika) and Thomas (Ebaka) of Oslo, Norway; two stepchildren; Elisabeth and Bundt of Oslo, Norway; three brothers, Lawrence (Pat), Kenneth (Hazel), John Jr. (Elizabeth); two sisters, Evelyn Weeden-Burton and Phyllis Weeden-Oliver; forty-seven grandchildren; twenty-nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Paul will always be remembered as a joyful, friendly, charismatic and wise person.


More information about Paul Weeden.including his passing away
Interview with Paul Weeden concerning the "The Lost Sessions" Blue Note cd.
For the complete Paul Weeden Discography


Guitarist, Recording Artist, Composer and Arranger:

Has worked with: Ben Webster; Coleman Hawkins, Jimmy Smith, Clark Terry, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Rusty Bryant, Johnny 'Hammond' Smith, Jack McDuff, Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Wild Bill Davis, Nancy Wilson, Damita Jo, Della Reese, Arthur and Red Prysock, Lou Bennett, Cedar Walton, Slide Hampton, Joe Newman, Monty Alexander, Kenny Clarke, Herbert Noord, The Count Basie Orchestra conducted by Frank Foster just to name a few. This list could be endless if we name them all.

His trio with: Don Patterson, Hammond-organ & Billy James, Drums.

Recordings with this trio plus:
Title Name Label:
-Bosstenors- *(see info next line)-Boss Tenors in Orbit- Gene Ammons/Sonny Stitt PRESTIGE
-Feelings- Sonny Stitt ROOST
-Low Flame- Sonny Stitt RIVERSIDE
-Tracking- * Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis PRESTIGE
-I only have eyes for You- * Eddie 'Jockjaw' Davis PRESTIGE
-Streetlights- *(see info next line) Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis PRESTIGE
* re=release of I only have eyes for you & Trackin' Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis CD 25218-5150-2
-Going Down Home- Trio CADET
-Legends of Acid Jazz-
*(only with PW on two songs)
Gene Ammons
with Paul Weeden,
Don Patterson,
& Billy James
Prestige
-The Duchess- Doris Spears (vocals)
with Paul Weeden Sr.,
Houston Person and others
NewSound Productions
As a leader:
-Attacullakulla- Paul Weeden RCA
-Too Young To Be Old- Paul Weeden Octet CD PWSR 97
With Herbert Noord:
-Clear Sight- Weeden/Noord Quintet TIMELESS
-HiFi Apartment- Herbert Noord CHARLY Records
-Watch Out for The Jazzpolice- Advanced Warning I.T.M/SHUTTLE

He has made so many other recordings, not only as a sidemen. So this short discography is just an indication and is far from complete.

Performed at Jazzfestivals in: Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Holland (North Sea Jazz Festival), U.S.A., Iceland.

As a guest soloist with: The London Symphony Orchestra, The Radio Big Band (Norway), The Swedish Radio Big Band, Bryne Big Band (Norway), Tromso Big Band (Norway).

Accomplishment Awards: Indianapolis Jazz Society Award, U.S.A., Harstad Jazz Festival Award, Norway, Norwegian Cultur Center Service Award.

Education: Landies School of Music, Philadelphia, New York Academy of Music, Conservatory of Music, Chicago.

Experience: Founded the Jazz Seminary in Kristiansand, Norway, Instructing young amateurs and proffesional musicians in Jazz improvisation, Harmony, Theory, Big Band and Small Group Ensemble. Back to the Guitarbooks

Instructor at all the Music Schools in Iceland.

Jazz seminary in Maastricht Music Conservatory, Holland

Jazz seminary in Pori, Finland

Jazz seminary in Groningen, Holland

Jazz seminary in Rotterdam, Holland (Heineken Festival)

Music teacher at Haugenstua Junior High School, Oslo

His songs are recorded by: Gloria Coleman, Shirley Scott, Wynton Kelly, Jean Pierre LeMoque, Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Frankie Mac, Don Patterson and George Wein.



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