The Paul Giess Group
New Album: Hymn’s Vol. 1 - Uplifting Songs for Trying Times
“The music’s sourced from the hymnal of the West Chester-area church Giess grew up attending, but it’s infused with a Crescent City sensibility. The opener, a Giess arrangement of “We’re Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table,” struts with all the peacocking panache of a musical procession down Magazine St.”
Matt Silver - WRTI
Hymns Vol. 1 was released on Ropeadope Records who shares Paul’s posts,
reaching a social media audience of over 10,000 people.
Watch: 5 min highlight reel from Paul’s Album Release Live Stream
“Giess acquits himself nicely with some lyrical, highly expressive trumpet work”
Bill Milkowski - 3.5/5 stars - DownBeat Magazine
For booking, contact Paul directly: paulgiessmusic@gmail.com or 484-653-7546
Bio
Paul Giess is a trumpet player, music maker and educator living in Philadelphia. Paul aims to use music and performance as a tool for community building and bearing healing messages. Paul’s musical practice is rooted in the jazz tradition, as seen in his recorded work as a leader, but his musical taste is adventurous as he looks to bring new perceptive to old ideas. In addition to his performance practice, Paul is the Education Coordinator at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, and is a collaborating Teaching Artist making music with adults with developmental disabilities at the Center for Creative Works.
Paul’s most recent album “Hymn’s Vol. 1” was released in August of 2021 on Ropedope Records. Produced by Jamaaladeen Tacuma, this music features Paul’s original arrangements of hymns and spirituals from the Unitarian Universalist hymn book , the hymnal Paul grew up with in church. Additionally the work features the illustrious vocal stylings of V. Shayne Frederick, who’s spirit shines with a vibrance we’ve only come to expect from Mr. Frederick.
In 2018 Paul completed a McKnight Visiting Composers Residency, awarded through the American Composers Forum. For this residency Paul collaborated with MSS, a community of artists with disabilities in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Over two months Paul work-shopped with MSS to record original music and produce a live concert featuring his collaborators from MSS.
Paul’s debut album “U Suite U” was self released in 2015, opening and closing with the hymns his church ceremoniously opened and closed each service with. Between these book ends Paul offers original compositions that explore life and death of family members, romantic relationships and professional struggles.
Paul can be found performing and recording as a side musician with an exciting cast of musicians, including Monnette Sudler, V. Shayne Frederick, Yolanda Wisher and the Afroeaters, Son Step, Outside Sound, Sonic Liberation Front, Dr. B’s Groove, Rosemeat and Tubey Frank.
Paul’s composition "Prayer for Mimi" has been included in the Philadelphia Real Book, published in the spring of 2017. This composition has also been selected to be included in the second edition of this publication. In December of 2015 Paul was the trumpet player in the critically acclaimed performance of the musical Black Nativity, hosted by Theater Horizon in Norristown. Black Nativity won a Barrymore award for Best Musical Ensemble. In January of 2015 Paul traveled to New Orleans Louisiana to be the musical director for an original theater work, “AMERICANA”.
For booking, contact Paul directly:
paulgiessmusic@gmail.com or 484-653-7546