Metropolis Ensemble | Groanbox: Paul Clifford

PERFORMERS

Paul Clifford

percussion

Paul is a skilled drummer and multi-instrumentalist with a gift for improvisation. A one-time recording and touring drummer for the Canadiana band (Blue Horse, Chinatown), he is equally at home composing a song on the spot for a cheering audience as he is on a festival's main stage.

Paul has played professionally in jazz, folk, blues, country, rock and latin bands; worked as a percussionist, composer and actor and travelled widely to keep his music fresh. Though formally beginning percussion studies in Malsapina Jazz College [Vancouver Island], he continued with Bata Folkloric in Havana, Cuba and during pilgrimages to New Orleans. With added study at the Banff centre for the Arts, participating in Afrocubanismo 1997.

Following intensive touring, Paul switched gears and rented an old house in the middle of the Canadian prairies to record a collection of song-stories. Rootballs showcases wonderfully strange sounds and has caused certain radio presenters to declare him totally original, and mad.

For the past while Paul has divided his time between Europe and Canada, busking the streets from Switzerland to England with a tiny custom drum kit, recording with Blue Rodeo's Bob Egan, driving a taxi [car no.22] through Christmas blizzards and performing with many "talented and pleasantly twisted souls" in southeast England. Mr Mark Hewins, Mel Wallace, Open Harp Surgury, Bob Hamm, just to name a few... Jack Pound... and now in the The Groanbox Boys.

During that period, tracks from Rootballs have been featured on CBC national radio [Richardson's Roundup], and was featured and interviewed on Simon Evans' show on BBC Kent. 'Winter Molestos' was recently aired on BBC Southern Counties with great reviews. Spirit FM from Brighton has aired some of Paul's music on 'The Roots Around THe World show' ,with Mark Ringwood, and local Canadian radio;The Peak FM in Ontario. You Can also hear his music being streamed on Rootsmusiccanada.com, and newmusiccanada.com [CBC3], both CBC internet radio staions. He has also completed Eachend, a new CD unfolding some of human and mother natures' obscurities. Guests include chickens, sheep and tractors; more of a sound-scape of rural England and beyond.

Paul now lives in Kent and can be heard giving the groove to gritty blues ensembles or sneaking African rhythms into English folk dances and forever 4tracking. He is also busy forming a long-awaited theatrical tinged band. Swampy tuba player wanted!

Visit Paul's site...