biography

PAUL WEILING
alto & soprano saxophone, bass clarinet

Paul Weiling started his career as a professional musician in Germany, at the age of twenty. In 1984, he moved to the Netherlands, where he studied saxophone at the Amsterdam School of Arts with Ferdinand Povel, Herman Schoonderwalt and Henk van Twillert. After graduating with a master's degree in musical performance he continued his studies with David Liebman in New York. Since the mid		photo Leo Erken
eighties he has been (regularly) performing on the Dutch jazz scene and participated in various international groups and projects, experimenting with elements of folk music, jazz, pop and contemporary improvised music.

In 1994, Paul started working as a band leader by founding the Paul Weiling Trio. He produced his first CD as a leader for the Dutch label VIA records in 1997. On 'New Amsterdam Reflections' the trio also features David Tronzo on slide guitar as special guest from New York. The CD has been presented during a European tour including major jazz festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague.

After a ten year period of playing tenor saxophone he switched back to the alto sax in 1998. Meanwhile the soprano saxophone, which he started playing in 1986 remained a strong expressive feature (stayed his favourite instrument). Besides the change of equipment he also made an artistic choice by developing a new musical concept for a bassless quartet with percussion kit, piano / synthesizer and voice: Paul Weiling's GLOBAL AXIS. The very first live appearance of this group has been recorded by the Dutch VPRO radiostation in December 1999. In 2001 the band recorded their first album 'New World Music' for TryTone Records, Amsterdam.

The project Monk Moods of the Paul Weiling Kwartet is an initiative dedicated to one of the most important composers of the 20th century: Thelonious Monk. The group adds a new dimension to his compositions by using contemporary straight grooves and a combination of electric and acoustic instruments like tuba, percussion electric guitar and (drum) samples. The quartet made it's debut in October 2002 with a five night engagement at the Amsterdam 'Pompoen' Club and a live recording by the Dutch VPRO radio.

In 2004 Paul Weiling started the group Compasión with fellow saxophone and clarinet player Steven Kamperman. Compasión brings a combination of flamenco and improvised music. The music is inspired by traditional forms as well as newly composed material. Elements of jazz and flamenco make a unity, or a contrast. The project is supported by the Music: World Series organization, Utrecht. The Dutch Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst provided a grant for Paul Weiling in order to write new compositions for this ensemle. In November 2004 the group was presented at the Global Village Festival, Amersfoort featuring flamenco dancer La Kika as a special guest.

In addition to his activities as a musician, Paul Weiling also works as a composer, band leader and producer for his own projects and occasionally for other groups.
He is involved in several foundations supporting jazz and improvised music like Stichting Four in One, Stichting Mista'Peo (both as a board member) and the Amsterdam TryTone collective. Paul Weiling provides special improvisation workshops for classical trained musicians. He teaches saxophone at the 'Centrum voor de Kunsten', Tiel and the 'Brabants Conservatorium' in Tilburg, the Netherlands.