I knew then and there that this was amazing music and I HAD to follow up, find out who it was. Also when I was at Cazadero Music Camp in 1974, I walked by a camp counselor's building and my mind was blown by Chick Corea's Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy. PH: I got into jazz listening to Charlie Parker, John Coltrane (rocked my world) and M圜oy Tyner. So I stopped that and started clarinet in 4th grade, alto sax in 6th grade, bass clarinet in 7th grade and bassoon in 10th grade.ĭE: What got you into jazz? What made you you decide to fuse jazz with bassoon? I quit when we moved to Berkeley and my new guitar teacher wanted me to convert as he was a Jehovah's witness. I first started on guitar at 4 years old. Also in the 60's in San Francisco - my parents were a bit 'progressive' so we listened to The Beatles, Rolling Stones, all the folk singers, Bach and a lot of other classical music. I used to hear her practice all the time and it was a great thing to have growing up in San Francisco (we moved to Berkeley in 1969). PH: My dad was a music teacher and my mom was a very good amateur pianist. I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I had asking the questions.ĭE: What was your musical experience growing up? What instrument did you start on? And how did that progress toward other woodwind instruments? I found his answers open, honest, and incisive. It was a great experience for me just to be able to ask him questions. After I contacted him, Paul agreed to let me interview him for my blog.

He is also extremely humble and grounded. Paul Hanson is one of the most unique and talented musicians you will ever come across. Seishi (middle) and Paul (right) performing in ZED In the show, he's a cast member, part of a large group of extremely talented performer, so it wasn't until later until I learned what he could really do on bassoon. Through this connection we not only were invited to watch the show, but also got to hang with the cast after as well. Baton twirler extrodinare Seishi Inagaki was a MIX cast member in 2006 and was now performing in ZED. Our cast was invited to see a preview of a new Cirque Du Soleil show at Tokyo Disnyland called ZED. When I toured Japan with Blast II: MIX in 2008, I had the privilage of meeting jazz bassoonist Paul Hanson. “What the amazing Paul Hanson does on bassoon - an exceedingly difficult instrument to play and one almost exclusively associated with classical music - is akin to what other innovators like guitarists Charlie Hunter and Stanley Jordan, banjoist Bela Fleck and bassist Jaco Pastorius have done with their respective instruments.”

The Cut of the Clothes by Erato