Sheer Sound proudly presents the latest recording from piano maestro Paul Hanmer in the form of “Naivasha,” Paul’s 4th solo album.  “Naivasha” is a selection of music mostly written from Paul’s home.  The album is a dedication to the people in his life and pays homage to them in tracks like ‘Fanfare’, dedicated to his wife Angela, and “Naivasha” about the Lake of the same name in Kenya, where for Paul, the horn voices of McCoy Mrubata and Marcus Wyatt echo the exceptional bird-life which congregates around this particular lake.  Musicians on the album include Barry van Zyl, Basi Mahlasela, McCoy Mrubata, Marcus Wyatt, Kevin Gibson, Sydney Mnisi, and Denis Lalouette, just to name a few. 

Paul Hanmer was born in Cape Town in 1961.  His musical interest started at an early age. In the early 70’s he began classical piano and theory lessons. After three years at the University of Cape Town, studying for a B.Mus. degree, Paul started working in a variety of different fields. He took leave of absence from UCT to work with guitarist Paul Peterson (who replaced the late Russell Herman in ‘Saints Rejoice’), who also introduced Paul to many musicians. He performed with Top-40 bands, did jazz standards and played in several original bands.

In 1987 Paul Hanmer moved to Johannesburg and expanded his musical career by working with various cabaret acts and played in musicals and theatre productions, and was exposed to musicians like Khaya Mahlangu and other members of the now defunct Sakhile. It was here that he formed “Unofficial Language” with fellow Capetonian’s Ian Herman (drummer / percussionist for Tananas) and Pete Sklair (electric bass). The trio recorded the successful album “Primal Steps” in 1994, featuring the hit track “Tender Mercies”, for which a music video was made. The album, licensed by Sheer Sound, also featured Mauritz Lotz as a guest on the track “Unofficial Language”. Unofficial Language was to regroup again 4 years later and in 1998 released a second album “Move Moves”, this time through Wildebeest Records. The album also drew on the vocal talents of Wendy Oldfield, Frank Opperman and Waddy Jones.

With his love for collaborative work, Paul has recorded with the likes of Tananas, Miriam Makeba, Ray Phiri, McCoy Mrubata, “Unofficial Language” and has worked with (amongst others) Fana Zulu, Khaya Mahlangu, Vusi Khumalo and Pops Mohamed. He also formed part of and toured with Tony Cox’s ‘Cool Friction Band’ and worked on a production with Pops Mohamed, which was showcased, at the “Main”, during the Grahamstown Festival.
In 1997 Sheer Sound released Paul Hanmer’s first solo album ‘Trains to Taung’, featuring the cream of South Africa’s musicians. ‘Trains to Taung’ features Denis Lalouette, Jethro Shasha, Louis Mhlanga, Basi Mahlasela, Neil Ettridge and Andre Abrahamse.
“Trains to Taung” was consequently nominated for three SAMA awards and continues to sell in considerable numbers throughout the country. Jazz and music lovers generally, have waited with baited breath for his follow up project, “Window to Elsewhere”. On this album Paul not only enhances his credibility as one of South Africa’s finest jazz pianists but also as a composer and arranger. The album was recorded live at the Musaion at the University of Pretoria, and promises to be one of the most eagerly awaited new jazz releases of the year. The album incorporates jazz improvisations and classic interpretations all written, composed, and arranged by Paul.

Picking up where “Windows To Elsewhere” left off and the culmination of recordings as far back as “Primal Steps” and “Trains To Taung”, “Playola” emphasized the incredible creative well from which he draws inspiration. Tunes like “Adrians Chord” reaches back even further to a time when Paul played with “Wired to the Floor”, a critically acclaimed outfit whose influence is still being felt eleven years after the bands’ demise.

Paul also features on keys as part of the super group, The Sheer All Stars, together with McCoy Mrubata, Sipho Gumede, Errol Dyers and Frank Paco.

Peter Pearlson received the SAMA award in April 2001 for Best Producer for “Playola” and Paul recently won the Geraas Musiek Toekenning on the 5th of November 2001for Best Jazz Album, also for “Playola”!

The 2002 SAMAs saw Paul’s latest album Naivasha nominated in the category of Best Contemporary Jazz Album.

“Paul Hanmer is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s foremost jazz players. The music in this gem takes you on a trip down the bowels of this continent. Grooves like ‘Umhlangano’, ‘Meeting Of The Women’, ‘Chef’s Groove’ and ‘Trains to Taung’ engage the mind - a potent potion of artistry.”
Elliot Makhaya - The Sowetan 29 / 04 / 97

“ While it is unfashionable for a young artist to venture into the realm of the not-so-popular genre, Hanmer has taken the jazz - fusion route and his ‘Trains to Taung’ is already receiving rave reviews. He says it was a deliberate decision to follow his roots rather than mimic music influences from faraway places. ‘I felt I should look around where I am, here in South Africa. We should take pride in the place we come from.’”
Ntokozo Gwamanda - The Sowetan 06 / 05 / 97

“What do you get when you cross legendary pianists like Duke Ellington, Ramsey Lewis, Bob James, Joe Sample and South Africa’s greatest players like Abdullah Ibrahim and young Moses Molelekwa? A bomb - precisely what this enigmatic character Paul Hanmer is.”
Ramotena Matobe - The Star 29 / 07 / 97

“ ‘Trains to Taung’ is also seasoned with serious, even classical, intention in places, and - to add more interest to a distinctive man - Hanmer is wary of that cliché. He doesn’t aspire to being regarded only as a classical pianist, which was his training from a young age in Cape Town. Rather, he’s looking for a new edge to be chiselled out of everything he knows about Dvorzak. And he finds that on ‘Trains to Taung’ in goema and jive and Afro-jazz and the acidity of urban sounds stirred sweet with African tradition.”