Paul Andrew Roberts has been performing in Kansas City since the mid-80's. Having an extensive interest in various forms of music and media, Paul attended UMKC's Conservatory of Music studying both the trombone and music composition.

In 1991, Paul left UMKC and joined the US Marines as an aviation electronics technician. After getting stationed near L.A. he began gigging around Irvine, Santa Ana and Los Angeles. He also wins the bass trombone chair for the Santa Ana Symphony and performs with "Bones West" an L.A. based trombone ensemble.

December 1992, Paul and his squadron HMH-363 are deployed to Mogadishu and Baidogle, Somalia where he serves in combat receiving the Joint Meritorious Unit award, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and a Meritorious Mast for excellent service.

Upon returning to CA, Paul transfers to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band. He fulfills the remainder of his enlistment in a variety of musical functions including leading several of the musical ensembles despite only being a corporal.

Fall 1996, Paul returns to UMKC and earns his degree in Music Composition, studying with Gerald Kemner. He also travels to Warsaw, Poland to teach at the Fredrik Chopin Academy's summer jazz camp. He studies trombone with Roger Oyster (principle trombone Kansas City Symphony), and subs for the symphony on bass trombone.

In 2001, Paul makes the finals for an opening with the Army Jazz Ambassadors, the elite touring big band. Out of the 40 to try out for the bass trombone chair, Paul makes 2nd. Though not making the band he is offered an arranging position with the Ground Forces Band in Atlanta, GA.

While in Atlanta, Paul performs in local clubs in Buckhead and East Point as well as receiving an Army Achievement Medal for piano solo work and an Army Commendation medal for composing and arranging nearly 100 works including an 18 minute suite of music from "The Fellowship of the Ring" for concert band.

The Army sticks it to Paul and instead of letting him have 3 years in Atlanta, the send him north to the 10th Mountain Division Band in upstate New York. While this period was a waste of time, (bad unit commander, CW2 Larson, I mean really, bad. This guy couldn't conduct his way out of a bag with Bernstein's baton), he manages to meet some talented band members and form "The Red Herrings" with his wife Rachel on vocals. The Red Herrings ends up performing at various clubs up in the beautiful Alexandria Bay area just a stone's throw from Canada.

After finishing with the Army, Paul returned to Kansas City and resumed gigging around town and providing arrangements for several local bands.

Look for his arrangement of "The Search For Peace" performed by the Boulevard Big Bard with Pete Christleib on tenor sax on the band's next CD.

Joining forces with saxophonist Brad Gregory, bassist Craig Akin and drummer Tim Cambron, Paul is now a part of "Top Shelf", a new jazz ensemble that only performs the music of local composers, including unrecorded material by local greats such as Pat Metheny.

We hope to get this new group up and running so we can share all this original music with everyone!

Paul recently joined Ida McBeth's band, splitting keyboard duties with Charles Williams.

He also resumed his position as trombonist and arranger with the Kansas City Chiefs' "Pack Band" and joined the Fountain City Brass Band as the ensemble's bass trombonist.

www.paulrobertsmusic.com