paulrobertsmusic.com

Paul Andrew Roberts has been performing in Kansas City since the mid-80's. Having an extensive interest in various forms of music and media, Paul attended UMKC's Conservatory of Music studying both the trombone and music composition.

In 1991, Paul left UMKC and joined the US Marines as an aviation electronics technician. After getting stationed near L.A. he began gigging around Irvine, Santa Ana and Los Angeles. He also wins the bass trombone chair for the Santa Ana Symphony and performs with "Bones West" an L.A. based trombone ensemble.

December 1992, Paul and his squadron HMH-363 "Red Lions" are deployed to Mogadishu and Baidogle, Somalia where he serves in combat receiving the Joint Meritorious Unit award, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and a Meritorious Mast for excellent service.

Upon returning to CA, Paul transfers to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band. He fulfills the remainder of his enlistment in a variety of musical functions including president Nixon's funeral. He also ends up leading several of the musical ensembles despite only being a corporal.

Fall 1996, Paul returns to UMKC and earns his degree in Music Composition, studying with Gerald Kemner. He also travels to Warsaw, Poland to teach at the Fredrik Chopin Academy's summer jazz camp. He studies trombone with Roger Oyster (principle trombone Kansas City Symphony), and subs for the symphony on bass trombone.

In 2001, Paul makes the finals for an opening with the Army Jazz Ambassadors, the elite touring big band. Out of the 40 to try out for the bass trombone chair, Paul makes 2nd. Though not making the band he is offered an arranging position with the Ground Forces Band in Atlanta, GA.

While in Atlanta, Paul performs in local clubs in Buckhead and East Point as well as receiving an Army Achievement Medal for piano solo work and an Army Commendation medal for composing and arranging nearly 100 works including an 18 minute suite of music from "The Fellowship of the Ring" for concert band.

The Army sticks it to Paul and instead of letting him have 3 years in Atlanta, the send him north to the 10th Mountain Division Band in upstate New York. While this period was a waste of time, (bad unit commander, CW2 Larson, I mean really, bad. This guy couldn't conduct his way out of a bag with Bernstein's baton), he manages to meet some talented band members and form "The Red Herrings" with his wife Rachel on vocals. The Red Herrings ends up performing at various clubs up in the beautiful Alexandria Bay area just a stone's throw from Canada.

After finishing with the Army, Paul returned to Kansas City and resumed gigging around town and providing arrangements for several local bands.

Look for his arrangement of "The Search For Peace" performed by the Boulevard Big Bard with Pete Christleib on tenor sax on the band's latest CD.

Joining forces with saxophonist Rich Wheeler, bassist Craig Akin (now in NYC) and drummer Tim Cambron; formed "Topshelf Toons", a new jazz ensemble that only performs the music of local composers, including unrecorded material by local greats such as Pat Metheny.

To date the group has performed at several jazz clubs and made a radio appearance on KANU.

Paul joined Ida McBeth's band, splitting keyboard duties with Charles Williams, performing constantly around the KC area.

He also resumed to the Kansas City Chiefs' "Pack Band" as keyboardist and arranger.

Last year, Paul played with the Fountain City Brass Band as the ensemble's bass trombonist. While only a few years old, the ensemble has gone on to win first place at the US Open in 2007 and placed well on it's first invitation to a championship in England. Having not enough free time to stay with the group Paul left the ensemble in 2008.

Paul joined the faculty at BRC Audio in Kansas City, Kansas for the Winter semester of 2008. The studio teaches an audio engineering program through JCCC. Paul taught a variety of music, MIDI, piano and other classes.

In the Summer of 2008, Paul got to perform with fusion-sax ledgend, Ronnie Laws. This was great as one of Paul's first records he bought in Jr. High was "Friends & Strangers".

Paul and Rachel live in Kansas City, MO with a Maine Coon cat named "Tiger", a Border Collie named "Lucy", an Austrailian Sheppard/Chow mix named "Max" and a Lion-Headed rabbit named "Fiver".