Paul Towndrow

Saxophonist Paul Towndrow is best known as a bandleader of ensembles ranging from duo to sextet. From 2001-2021 he was a member of Scotland’s flagship jazz orchestra, The SNJO, before leaving the organisation to focus on solo pursuits. More recently he has worked as a composer and saxophonist for the groundbreaking Grit Orchestra. Performing professionally since the age of 15, and having spent his formative musical years studying on both sides of the Atlantic, Towndrow has become one the UK’s busiest musicians.

Paul has released six solo albums and has appeared as a sideman on many others. Much of his output is released on his own label, Keywork Records which was founded in 2005.

Outwith the jazz genre, Paul has appeared on record releases by Hue & Cry, Del Amitri, Sharleen Spiteri, Labrinth, The Fratellis, Capercaillie, Calum & Rory MacDonald (Runrig), Isobel Campbell, Colin MacIntyre (Mull Historical Society), Sacred Paws,Ross Ainslie, and many others.

He has performed and toured with a wide range of artists including Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Ben E King, Average White Band, Jack Bruce, Texas, Sinkane, and more.

Deepening The River

'Deepening The RIver' is the culmination of a journey that began in 2018 as a specially commissioned work for the City of Glasgow. It received its premiere at The Merchants House of Glasgow, during Festival 2018 (the arts programme accompanying a major international sports event), followed by a repeat performance at the world-famous Celtic Connections festival in 2019. The project was finally completed in 2020 during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and released in February 2021.

The album features an extended big band line up featuring some of the most prominent musical voices in Scotland and beyond, and spanning multiple musical genres, in an epic hour long suite.