Paul is a composer/oudist/guitarist/drummer from the northeastern state of Connecticut in the United States. He got his first guitar as a teenager and quickly taught himself the music of his youth, particularly guitar-driven rock music.  Later, his musical tastes veered towards the American indi-rock world populated by bands such as, Slint, the Rachael's, June of 44, and Shellac.  Growing up in the southeast corner of Connecticut it was pretty much nothing but oaks, maples and rolling hills. Paul left home to study chemistry in Boston, Massachusetts and after graduating, worked in research laboratories around the Boston area.  The rules of chemistry and science took up his day but his nights were spent performing in rock bands as a songwriter/guitarist. Eventually the pull of the music world took root and Paul left his science career to study classical music composition at the University of Louisville.  His musical vocabulary and composition skills greatly expanded under the tutelage of composer Steve Rouse, as well as performing with the classical guitar ensemble and the early music ensemble.  After 3 years at the University of Louisville, his musical journey took him to the master's program at the University of Massachusetts. There he studied with composers Salvatore Macchia, Bruce Macombie, and Charles Bestor while performing in the early music ensemble and the Indonesian gamelan orchestra.

Paul’s parents, an English mother and American father, met and married in Turkey. Paul felt an immediate connection to the one record they brought back from their travels of Turkish music in their record collection. This music had an immeasurable effect on him. The melodic lines and scales used, as well as the timbre of the instruments, changed his ear, heart and interest. During his enrollment at the University of Louisville, Paul utilized their huge library of music-first for more Turkish music and then for anything with unexpected elements or less well know ethnic elements. Eventually these elements found their way into Paul’s compositions, especially on pieces like “Blood, Synapse, Sands” (for violin, sax, and percussion) and Mahogany Eyelid (for string orchestra). 

In 2004 Paul traveled to Japan to work as an English teacher. He has traded the oaks and maples for subways and temples.  Just as he has traded coastlines, Paul approaches composition and performance from a western standpoint looking east.  Though he primarily plays a Middle Eastern instrument (oud) he does not attempt to copy a traditional style normally associated with the oud.  Instead, he approaches it with western sensibilities including elements of jazz, classical, rock, electronic, as well as eastern music, thereby succeeding in forging a unique sound world.  

“My musical philosophy has always been one of expansion and inclusiveness. Music is music. Genre doesn’t matter so much, there is good and bad music in every genre.” -- Paul

Perhaps that is why his music draws upon and blends so many different styles, yet creates a well-defined and unified sound.

Paul primarily performs and composes for his group “Mokyo Octet” which appears frequently in the Tokyo area.  Since the release of the first Mokyo Octet CD, “Filamentary Dreams of the Cedars,” the group has expanded to a four-piece, combining the sounds of oud, guitar, Indian tabla, violin, flute, along with electronic sounds. Paul looks forward to the expansion of sound and new direction this group will take.

Oud, Guitar, Cumbus, Daf, Darbuka, Drum set