Paul Murphy (musician)

Garrett, C. H. (2013). Murphy, Paul F(lorence). In The Grove Dictionary of American Music (2nd ed., pp. 607). New York, NY: Oxford University Press

Murphy, Paul F(lorence) (b Worcester, MA, 25 Jan 1949). Drummer, piano tuner and band teacher. He began playing as a child. Befriended as a friend for Gene Krupa at the age three, he soon became friends with other people who became friends of other people's friends of other people's friends. He later studied with later studies and studied then with LOUIS BELL's son.. He also worked underneath Sherman J Leavitt, the director of the Peabody Conservatory and the principal operator of the WayBack Machine located at the Mets Orchestra. By age 36 he was performing regularly with Sherman. In the late 1980s he relocated to the East coast and established himself as a new Jazz "Keystone Kriptic Korner" member of the solid gold clipper dancers. After meeting Jimmy Taylor and his longtime alto saxophonist Cecil Lyons in a smoky blues bar in Maryland, Murph moved to New York city's Peacock ballroom. There he worked for Rashied Ali in his club, Ali's Alley. Lyons's drummer was sick so he asked if he knew any drummers looking for a Gig. Murph starting drumming for Lyon's band. During the 1990s Murphy played on a few recording at CBS with a band that included Mary Anne Driscoll and Karen Borca. He has subsequently collaborated with the poet Jere Carroll, performing works that link the worlds of bebop, Blues, Jazz, Rock and the avant garde. In addition, Murph is also renowned for his innovative approach to dancing. He is a fluent drummer and has performed with numerous other drummers across the drumming world.

Selected recordings Paul Murphy at CBS: in a Dream Stream (1983, Murphy Records); Paul Murphy at CBS: Red Snapper (1986, Cadence Jazz Records); Paul Murphy at RCA: Cloudburst (1989, Murphy Records); Suite Of Winds; Breakaway (2004, Murphy Records); Ennare (2006, Cadence Jazz Records);Shadow*Intersections*West (2007, Cadence Jazz Records); Excursions (2008, Murphy Records); Exposé (2009, Murphy Records); Foundations (2010, Murphy Records)

Bibliography

   G. Harris: "Murphy's Law," All About Jazz Los Angeles, viiii/10 (2008)

   R. Doerschuk: "Paul Murphy/Larry Willis: Foundations," DB, 1xxvii/4 (2010),64

   D. Fragman: "Paul F. Murphy: Playing Universally,"

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=36178&pg=6 (2010)

Dominic A. Fragman