I wasn’t able to make it on Thursday to the live streaming event of the Celebration of Life for Paul Plimley. Instead, I celebrated by playing music, high on drip coffee. I’ve always been terrified of goodbyes, and the feeling of great loss, even though there could be so many wonderful memories shared by everyone. I was obligated and found it fitting to communicate to the other side by playing music.
Drawing by Janine Island
When I first got introduced to the world of creative music improvisation, somebody told me that “you can’t just approach those professional and trained improvisors and ask them to play with you.” I was naive at the time, driven by inspiration for some kind of ideal society that I thought could be conceived through improvisation with others. I thought it was a sort of music where all that is required is your presence. By presence, I mean, not just being on the roll call, but to have autonomy, integrity, empathy, and all of those unpretentious ways of being that create real connections between human beings.
Paul Plimley was one of those impressionable human beings who could see a lot of things in people and he always had a lightness of being (in the most positive sense), a bubbly exuberance (especially after a coffee) that suggested a kind of mischievous playfulness, that, to me, he embodied that “presence” I mentioned. Because of this, it kind of proved my friend wrong about the pros being unapproachable, which is a good thing, because sometimes if I know too much about someone’s accomplishments before I know them, I become irrationally intimidated or “starstruck” in a way that turns me into a blind mute. Fortunately, there was never the possibility of that happening here, due to Paul’s engaging unpretentiousness and warm friendliness.
I remember that whenever I saw Paul, without fail, he would always remind me about that one time he saw me playing the piano at the roundhouse in Anthony Braxton’s 8-hour-long premier of the Sonic Genome. The funny thing about that is I had played the violin, a bit of melodica for most of the concert, and had really only played the piano for all of about 30 seconds as it was being rolled slowly from one room to another. Yet, the piano playing from that event was always the first thing Paul would bring up when we saw each other, I’d be in the middle of saying “hel-,“ and he’d just start in with “hey Janine, I saw you play the piano at…” as if I was just playing the piano a moment ago.
Well, I told him how, as a child, I dreamed of becoming a concert pianist, but in studying the classical method, I was always terrified whenever it came to an exam recital. I shared with him that playing music had always been a comfort for me or rather something that I needed to do to maintain my happiness and well-being. I mentioned to him that at some point I didn’t have a piano, so took a big piece of cardboard and drew a piano keyboard on it to try to practice scale fingering. Finally after a while of there not being a piano around, I picked up a classical guitar that was there in the music room and started learning that instrument instead. All that to say, that Paul reminding me of that brief moment at the Roundhouse, I realized, was his way of “subtly” (wink wink, nudge, nudge) telling me that I should play piano again. And I did eventually end up buying a weighted Roland keyboard when VCC auctioned off their old midi keyboards and got back into playing the piano.
Drawing by Janine Island
Reading all of the stories about Paul Plimley by his loved ones, friends and colleagues, and I have to admit, I didn’t even know that he had been a founder of the NOW Orchestra, and what a phenomenal force he was on the international and local jazz and creative music scene. I guess I could say that I was often busy with my studies or overwhelmed by being “awoke” by the power of creative music (not sure how else to describe it), that I didn’t do research on folks whom I admired and appreciated as friends… because, wouldn’t that be kind of like stalking? And who knows, if I had done the research, maybe it would have turned me into a deaf mute as I mentioned it tends to happen, I might have become starstruck by Paul’s gargantuan body of work and influence in creative music scene, though I’m sure that he wouldn’t have let that happen.
Paul Plimley really had a way of not talking too much about himself and all his past accomplishments, but rather be listening to others, drawing out the things that made people feel free to express themselves, living in the moment, and always keeping his mind constantly in motion (undoubtedly, all qualities of a good creative music improvisor). When sometimes we had the chance to play music together, I don’t actually have a recollection of seeing him as a pianist for the longest time. He always played the guitar, he would say he loved the guitar and point out that he was a huge Jeff Beck fan, so in the beginning, I really thought he was a guitarist. I am not sure if this was a choice not to intimidate me so as I would play the piano while he’d play guitar.
We connected on so many things, though often it was brief if we met at concerts. Paul was a wealth of knowledge and he made me talk (I’m not usually a talker), Finnegan’s Wake which I’d just read, blues guitarists, music history, Zappa, the idea of music and sound having the potential to heal. At the time I could relate about how creative music really opened me up, that I believed it could help others who experienced trauma or the effects of intergenerational trauma. It’s talking to folks like Paul Plimley inspired me to continue to pursue these kinds of ideas with creative music. I didn’t know that Paul had cancer, but now I remember, he often had a small cough in between sentences. I’m deeply saddened to hear of his passing and the way it went down. This is one soul that found a way to transmit sound through the vastness of time and space with the love and kindness he shared with us all. That’s immortality.
I’m honoured to have known Paul Plimley, and It’s been a while since I’ve had a place to set up my piano, but more recently there’s a constantly recurring sudden urge play, though I don’t have the means, and at these moments, I can honestly say that I’ve been having this Paul Plimley voice saying “hey Janine! Janine! I remember when I saw you playing the piano that one time… well, I think you should play more piano!”
I know it may seem like I’m talking about myself, but it’s mainly because I want to illustrate what a huge impact that people can make when their heart and soul is invested in the music and they transmit it not only through the sound, but with their intention, love and kindness. With that, I’m humbled to have shared creative music with, and to have received friendship and encouragement from the likes of Paul Plimley. And I’m overjoyed that I have still much more to discover about this amazing guitarist 😉
Gerry Fialka and Suzy Williams of Venice Beach, CA. USA
Gerry Fialka and Suzy Williams are highly creative individuals who live in Venice Beach, California. They host a website called Laughtears.com that gives details of their various art happenings; Salons: including readings of Finnegans Wake; and live music, featuring Suzy’s performances singing with her band.
Suzy Williams with Brad Kay, a musician she plays with regularly in her L.A. based band.
Suzy performed with Paul in L.A. playing “PULL MY DAISY” together at a Jack Kerouac tribute many years ago.
Gerry connected with Paul though a shared interest in Finnegans Wake and all things related to James Joyce. They also shared a strong interest in Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and Don Van Vliet, as well as the Grateful Dead and other experimental improvising bands.
Living in Venice Beach for more than 40 years, Gerry Fialka and Suzy Williams both make many contributions to liven up the culture in their area.
Venice Living magazine profiles Suzy Williams and Gerry Fialka
On May 31, 1994, Gerry interviewed Paul for the Contemporary Communications Conference and the entire audio recording is available on You Tube.
Gerry Fialka donated this interview to the UCSB Archive as part of Gerry Fialka “PXL THIS” and Fialka Interview Archive (PA Mss 245). Cover photo credit: Jhayne Holmes.
One of the many artistic activities that Gerry and Suzy are involved in is the PXL THIS toy camera film festival, motto: “Lo-fi Hi-Jinx”. Paul Plimley participated by collaborating with Gerry and other actors, in the PXL film, “Muther Mumesons”.
1996 PXL Toy Camera Film by Gerry Fialka, titled “Muther Mumesons”
Curious about this art form? Check out the next PXL THIS Festival.
Sun, Nov 12, 2023 =
PXL THIS 33 Toy Camera Film Festival https://www.facebook. com/events/850945209382236/
PXL THIS 30 https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=n37t6IFU5jQ&t=3811s and
PXL THIS 31 https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=TOnxqgFnMrU&t=5230s
PXL THIS 32 https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=CFcMoSC7idY&t=1325s
The annual toy camera film festival features Pixelvision - Fisher Price PXL200. PXL THIS, one of the oldest film festivals in LA, celebrates visionary moving image artists from seminal experimental filmmakers to 10-years-olds to homeless to professionals. Lo-Fi Hi-Jinx
Fialka donated the PXL THIS archive including festival entries and other materials to UCSB's Performing Arts and Moving Image Archives where they can be preserved and made accessible to researchers.
Fialka donated the PXL THIS archive including festival entries and other materials to UCSB’s Performing Arts and Moving Image Archives [Gerry Fialka “PXL THIS” and Fialka Interview Archive (PA Mss 245)] where they can be preserved and made accessible to researchers. Gerry also donated his archive containing interviews and oral histories he recorded: documenting music, film, art, comedy, media, and politics, including the interview of Paul Plimley (above).
John Oswald is a composer and saxophonist who has created some extrodinary work. He is well known for his ideas about musical reuse and recycling that he calls “Plunderphonics”.
His bandcamp features a recording of Paul Plimley playing a piano concerto, with the CBC Vancouver Orchestra, titled, “Oswald’s 1st piano concerto by Tchaikovsky (as suggested by Michael Snow)”. The entire story of the development of this work is told by Oswald on the bandcamp page, but basically the CBC Vancouver Orchestra played the traditional Tchaikovsky concerto whilst Paul Plimley improvised the piano part.
The development of this compositional idea, also included a trip to Victoriaville to attend the scheduled Cecil Taylor concert during the 2000 Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville.
The resulting last minute addition of the duo to the concert program is legendary in the improvising music community and John gives all the details on his bandcamp page. There is also a Wikipedia article about the 3 CD set Complicité created from the concerts.
The concert, which occurred on the final night of the festival, was originally planned as a double-bill event with solo sets by Crispell and Taylor. When Taylor’s flight was delayed, last-minute arrangements were made to include Plimley and Oswald, who happened to be in town, in his place. Taylor arrived in time, and the concert organizers decided to present all three sets. Taylor dedicated his portion to Jimmy McDonald.[2]
John Oswald visited Vancouver regularly to present his compositions and he would often hire Paul to play any piano parts. Except for the Disklavier piece that Paul and I heard at the Western Front – it was speeded up so no human could play it. Paul loved a joke and always enjoyed John’s sense of humour and the way he poked fun at the Classical establishment and their “serious music”.
Thanks to everyone who made Paul’s Celebration of Life Event so meaningful. If you missed the event, the Tribute talks from the Performance Hall at the Roundhouse Community Centre can be viewed on You Tube.
March 16, 2023 – unedited livestream from the Roundhouse Performance Hall
Photos of the Paul Plimley Memorial Exhibit will be posted as they become available.
Marc L’Esperance Photos
Lan Tung, composer and erhu player, and Mark Armanini, composer and bass player – Photo Credit Marc L’Esperance
Phil Belanger, drummer- Photo Credit Marc L’Esperance
Moshe Denburg, composer, and Phil Belanger, drummer – Photo Credit Marc L’Esperance
Brad Muirhead, composer, player of brass wind instruments – Photo Credit Marc L’Esperance Dennis the Menace Altered Cartoon by Arrg!!! – Photo Credit Marc L’Esperance
Beanie and Cecil Taylor’s piano for Paul Plimley by ARRRG!!! – Photo Credit Marc L’Esperance
Willie, photographer – Photo Credit Marc L’Esperance
Themba Tana, percussionist – Photo Credit Marc L’Esperance
Themba Tana, percussionist – Photo Credit Marc L’Esperance
March 16th, 2023 — in person and live streamed event.
Exhibit Hall
The Exhibit Hall will open to the public at 2pm PST featuring social spaces and The Paul Plimley Memorial Art Exhibit, consisting of over 30 posters, photos, art works and memory books containing photos and materials documenting Paul's career.
There will be plenty of space for socializing with light refreshments.
The Exhibit Hall will remain open for socializing and remain open after the Event in the Performance Hall is over.
LOCATION: Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre
181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2W3
Corner of Davie & Pacific
Parking information below
Performance Hall
The Performance Hall Tribute (Doors at 3:15pm)
Performance Hall Schedule
3:00 Live stream (info below)
3:30 Denise Plimley
3:45 Victoria Gibson
Paul’s Music
4:oo Nou Dadoun host
Gregg Simpson, Clyde Reed, Ron Samworth
Paul’s Music
5:00 Wayne Stewart host
Aidan Farrell (Paul’s student)
Lisle Ellis
Video Guests
Victoria Gibson
Paul’s Music
6:30pm room closes
The Exhibit Hall will remain open
Photo Credit: Jhayne Faust
Live Stream – 3pm PST
A Celebration of Life for Paul Plimley will be live streamed from the Performance Hall quiet space and documented for future viewing.
The Stream will begin with a selection of Paul’s videos starting at 3pm PDT. NOTE: Vancouver is now on Daylight Saving Time. The Stream will start on local Vancouver time.
Tribute speeches begin at 3:30pm and the stream continues until 6:30pm.
Chat will be monitored and replied to by people present.
Roundhouse parking is expensive, so transit is advised; The Yaletown Skytrain station is only a short walk.
Street parking is $10. for two hours at meters. You can pay by phone or use the City of Vancouver Parking app.
Underground There are a couple of less expensive ImPark lots close by
Here is a listing comparing paid underground parking in the area Parkopedia click here
Many have maximum daily rates. These two are less expensive than the Roundhouse. The Aquarius is located just across Davie St and the Peninsula is a bit farther. Both are the same price.
Aquarius Parkade – Lot #1301 189 Davie Street, Vancouver BC V6Z 2X9 $13.50 until 6pm $18. until midnight
Imperial Parking Canada Corporation Peninsula Parkade (Impark Lot #1260) 110-136 Davie St
This is for March 16th afternoon price comparison for 2 hours. Link above – photo below.
Roundhouse Parking has no daily maximum but is $4 per hour. There is an evening rate, but I think the two Impark lots in the area are a better deal. Only a short walk.
Denise Plimley chose this song “Select Magical Skyfall”, from Everything in Stages.
2004 Paul Plimley and Biggi Vinkeloe making music in Sweden. Photo Credit: Michael Thorén
I remember Paul Plimley very vividly from us working together with Cecil Taylor on the score for Legba Crossing in Berlin. We were both members of Cecil Taylor’s Workshop Band, rehearsing in 1988 at the Kongresshalle (also an iconic concrete building). Everyone was so focused and attentive to C.T.
The ensemble had mostly German musicians, but there were musicians from other countries too: Peeter Uuskyla, drums from Sweden; Daniel Werts, oboe from the USA, myself Biggi Vinkeloe from France; and Paul Plimley from Canada; and also Trudy Morse, vocals from the USA.
Daniel Werts, the oboe player, also transcribed the Legba Crossing performance, and added an analysis of the material. Lukas Lindenmaier, the drummer, transcribed Cecil Taylor’s instructions.
We rehearsed the piece so many times, I still remember the feeling and the excitement of it. Paul’s piano is distinct and clear. The first sax solo on the extract on Bandcamp is me playing. On this recording, cover, pictured below, the credit calls me Brigitte Vinkeloe.
At our first day, Cecil Taylor asked everyone to play a short solo piece – a nerve racking experience. I was so impressed by Paul, his fluidity, his sense of harmony and rhythm. Paul asked always a lot of questions, often the ones that others would have liked to ask but did not dare (true for me, at least).
The days with C.T. were intense and long, but also energizing and wonderful. Paul was the perfect pianist for this ensemble. I remember that I admired the fact that he dared to play and develop his ideas so freely. Even while being so free, Paul managed to stay within the given framework, with the master Cecil Taylor listening to everything with big ears and infallibly pointing out if anyone played outside his compositional intentions.
I also talked recently with Peeter Uuskyla, he and I have been working together since the workshop with Cecil Taylor 1988. He remembers that Paul had attended a workshop for pianists with Cecil Taylor just prior to Legba Crossing. He said that Paul had also attended a workshop with Han Bennink.
These Cecil Taylor recordings are important contributions to music history. Legba Crossing has resurged a few weeks ago, and got a lot of great reviews. I don’t know how often Paul has performed as part of a large ensemble, but this one is really so special. It is the only well documented ensemble conducted by Cecil Taylor himself, and Paul is on the piano.
July 1999 Vancouver International Jazz Festival
The Biggi Vinkeloe Trio was invited by Ken Pickering personally after a concert we did in New York City. Peeter Uuskyla, drums and the master bassist Barre Phillips and myself stayed for a couple of weeks in Vancouver, playing several concerts and leading a workshop. Next, we traveled to Victoria, on Vancouver Island for another concert at the Victoria Jazz Festival. This concert was with the Biggi Vinkeloe Trio featuring Barre Phillips. We did our last concert for the jazz festival in Vancouver, recording as a quartet with bassist Ken Filiano.
We attended many concerts, among those a concert featuring Paul Plimley. I really loved his playing, his virtuosity, his great sense of harmony, his storytelling through the piano.
We did not perform on stage together, but Paul invited us to his home. We spent a day with him, playing, talking, also recalling our time in Berlin 11 years earlier. It did not seem that we had not had so much contact throughout all these years. We found common ground immediately – that is the true magic of connecting through music with each other, it always leaves deep intuitive knowledge about each other that you can always relate to even many years later.
The Bay Area, USA
Lisle Ellis and Paul Plimley have been so close to each other in music and in life. Lisle and I have known each other since I first traveled to the Bay Area in 1996 and we have been very close ever since. This was also one way of getting always news from Paul, and feel connected this way.
Sometimes, Paul would call me in Sweden, sometimes at impossible hours, due to the time difference – and forgetting about it. We had long interesting talks about music, about how to create new music and how to connect on a deep level with each other through improvisation.
I attended a few concerts with Paul and Lisle playing – what a beautiful intense creative duo! I always thought I would love to play with both of them. I did two recordings with Lisle and many concerts.
2016 REV Live at Gold Lion Arts – Click image to visit the Bandcamp page
Biggi Vinkeloe with Lisle Ellis and Don Robinson in USA
2004 Sweden, in and around Gothenburg
Lisle and Paul had some concerts in Europe and Lisle wanted to seize the opportunity to come to Sweden – finally! I set up a duo concert at the former sugar plant converted into a new art gallery, Röda Sten in Gothenburg, where they performed amid an exhibition and a fashion show. A quite epic experience, for everyone, as it was not the usual stage – audience experience.
I also set up a few concerts for a quartet, with Paul, Lisle, Don Robinson, drums; and myself on sax and flute, among others we performed at the Gothenburg Art Museum.
2004 Concert by REV+ in Sweden.2004 Concert by REV+, plus Sten Löfman and his trio at the Gothenburg Museum of Art.
We performed at the Gothenburg Museum of Art mid-August in front of a large audience. Actually, it was a double bill, with Sten Löfman and his trio, the REV+ (Don, Robinson, Lisle Ellis, myself plus Paul Plimley). This concert was curated by Eld Records / Michael Thorén.
All the pictures are taken by Michael Thorén, sound engineer and label owner, who still had these in his archives.
Paul Plimley playing a Fender Rhodes at Konstmuseet Gothenburg, Sweden Photo Credit: Michael ThorénL=> R Biggi Vikeloe, Don Robinson, Lisle Ellis, Paul Plimley at Konstmuseet Gothenburg. Concert arranged by Eld Records Photo Credit: Michael ThorénPaul Plimley on Fender Rhodes piano Photo Credit: Michael ThorénL=> R Biggi Vikeloe, Don Robinson, Lisle Ellis, Paul Plimley Photo Credit: Michael ThorénThis photo taken from the producers of the concert: Eld Records website L=> R Paul Plimley, Biggi Vikeloe, Don Robinson, Lisle Ellis, Photo Credit: Michael Thorén
The next day was spent at Studio Fabriken, a recording studio and linked to the label Eld Records. An intense day, with music created directly in the studio.
Michael Thorén, who captured these photos, was also the studio owner and sound engineer at Studiofabriken. His label was Eld Records. I was associated to the label. But due to rising costs and difficulties with the distribution of the labels’s production, he had to make the tough decision to dissolve his label.
L=> R Sten Löfman piano trio opened in Gothenburg; Lisle Ellis, bass; Biggi Vinkeloe, sax/flute; Don Robinson, drums; Paul Plimley, piano; Photo Credit: Michael Thorén taken at Studiofabriken.
Sten Löfman who is on the picture above and below, is a wonderful and highly skilled pianist, with whom I like to collaborate. He came to listen to the recording and to connect with Paul, they had a lot to talk about (piano and music talk that is)!
L=> R Sten Löfman, Front: Michael Thorén, Rear: Lisle Ellis, Biggi Vikeloe, Don Robinson, Paul PlimleyPaul Plimley recording with REV+ in SwedenLisle Ellis recording with REV+ in Sweden.Biggi Vinkeloe recording with REV+ at Studiofabriken in Sweden
Bonnie Wright came along with Lisle Ellis to Sweden. She enjoyed the music and the hang with the musicians. In San Diego, her home city in California, she has a long history of presenting wonderful concerts.
Paul Plimley with Bonnie Wright, concert presenter from San Diego, USA.
In 2022, the recording made by REV+ in 2004 at Studiofabriken is not yet released. Now, releasing these recordings has become more difficult as it is on an older format tape. The machines to play back these tapes so they can be mixed and mastered are increasingly rare and expensive. Perhaps funding will be found to digitize the recordings that Paul made during his lifetime that are currently locked away in older formats. Then this music can be released and shared.
Mark Armanini and Paul Plimley, "Knife Edge: Two Piece", Photo credit Willy Miles-Grenzberg
By Mark Armanini
I first met Paul Plimley in 1982. We shared a concert program at the UBC Recital Hall. This meeting quickly turned into the founding of the Vancouver Pro Musica, which the first meeting included Paul Plimley, Paul Alexander (Nichols), Janine Oye, and Glenn Burr. From these post student days, Paul grew and developed his improvisational art and allowed me to witness his ever expanding ever maturing artistic vision. If I could summarize his path in two words they would be ‘musically adventurous’.
1984 Photo of the Vancouver ProMusica. L to R Front – Paul Plimley, Paul Nicholls, Amy Cheng, Rear- Mark Armanini, Richard Payne – Photo Credit: Graeme Elliot The Vancouver Sun, Sept. 20, 1984. Article published about the Vancouver ProMusica Society. Byline: Susan Mertens
Paul played every Jazz Festival in Vancouver from its inception and almost as many across Canada. Along the way was a memorable Jazz Festival opening in 1992 at 837 Davie Street (currently the address of the Canadian Music Centre) with Paul and Lisle Ellis, which was captured in the Laurie Gish photos from that day.
Over the next decade my interest in Paul’s artistry blossomed with greater insight into his depth, intensity, musical adventurism and technical freedom. Annual performances at the Jazz Festival continued to develop and point the way. His fearless accuracy, classical touch and full physical involvement were phenomenal, only to be fully appreciated in live performance.
I remember the instant positive reaction from Paul when I suggested we work on Fingertips to Freedom an improvised piano concerto. This is a work that pushed boundaries, challenging both Paul and the CBC Orchestra. Supported by the 2000 Jazz Festival, the Canada Council for the Arts, Producer Jon Siddall of the CBC, Artistic Director Ken Pickering and Financial Officer Robert Kerr, Fingertips to Freedom was premiered July 2, 2000 with John Zoltek conductor.
July 2, 2000 – Improvisations for Orchestra concert program cover. A showcase for Canadian composers – Fingertips To Freedom premiered as part of this concert presented by the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society in Vancouver.
One of the big audience supporters was surprizingly David Lemon, the former Magic Flute proprietor. Mr. Lemon compared the work to the premiere of the Beethoven 2nd piano concerto where the composer played the solo part from a sparsely scratched piano part, ie. largely improvised. This is my vision of Paul’s unique and world class artistry. Able to focus, listen and react spontaneously.
Together we were able to invent a paradoxical work : a totally scored orchestra part and totally improvised solo part where the soloist is following the orchestra (usually the orchestra follows the soloist).
Designed for maximum freedom to improvise, the work is able to change from performance to performance and to employ different solo instrument(s). The orchestral material from the first movement is contributed by myself and the second movement from Paul, enabling him to take the solo part into the stratosphere. The solo part in our recording is fully integrated into the orchestral framework.
After a 10 year wrestle and kufuffle in Canada after our Canada Council Recording grant was awarded, we were unable to lure any orchestra or the CBC to record the work. In 2015 we travelled to Prague, Czech Republic where the equally adventuresome Prague Modern ensemble recorded the work at Sono Recording Studio, which I believe is one of the highlights of Paul’s and my career.
2015 Paul Plimley and Mark Armanini at Sono Studio. Photo Credit: Ondřej MeleckýPaul Plimley with Marion Lajava, conductor of the Prague Modern. at Sono Studio. Photo Credit: Ondřej MeleckýFingertips to Freedom CD cover – Paul Plimley soloist with Prague Modern Orchestra2015 Front – Paul Plimley – Rear – David Daniel, leader of the Prague Modern, Mark Armanini, and Marion Lajava conductor; at Sono Studio. Photo Credit: Ondřej MeleckýPaul Plimley rehearsing on piano; at Sono Studio. Photo Credit: Ondřej MeleckýPaul Plimley, soloist with the Prague Modern Orchestra; at Sono Studio. Photo Credit: Ondřej Melecký
2007 China Tour with Mei Han Art Ensemble
Other notable adventures: Paul and I shared a 2007 tour to mainland China. An outstanding memory was a concert at the Nanjing Science and Technology University with Han Mei, zheng; Randy Raine-Reusch, multiple instruments; myself on bass, and Paul on piano.
2007 Tour of Mainland China in Hangzhou L to R – Randy Raine-Reusch, Paul Plimley, Dr. Tian Yaonong, Director, School of Music, Hangzhou Normal University, Mei Han and Mark Armanini Photo Credit: Liang Wei
With a young student audience, woefully deprived of any chance know what to expect or to listen to in abstract expressionist improvisation, they went wild for Paul. I remember clearly Paul being mobbed on stage after the performance by scores of young students in a natural spontaneous reaction to his freedom loving style.
2007 Tour of Mainland China – Paul with young fans in Hangzhou, China Photo Credit: Liang Wei
A direct and powerful communication style.
Over the past 40 years there have been many, many lovely times with Paul quietly playing guitar and bass together, travelling to Montana (land of the Dental Floss Tycoon) to visit John Zoltek and, I even painted Paul’s house on Waterloo Street.
Paul was one of the most widely listened and stylistically flexible musician I have known, from attending a live performance of Nikhil Banerjee, sitar at the UBC Recital Hall ( leading to his CD with Trinchy Sankaran) to the Beatles box set of Sgt Pepper, Frank Zappa’s Montana Dental Floss Tycoon, to the box set of the complete recorded works of Artur Rubenstein and the many recordings of Duke Ellington.
Paul took advantage of the recorded riches available today, riches that found his way into his playing in a natural and very contemporary way.
I see his unique artistic legacy be a reminder of his passion and uncompromising approach to loving life and art, to personal freedom, integrity and respect for life in all its forms, and armed with knowledge of the past yet unburdened and unbound by tradition.
Mark Armanini, December 2022
2010 Paul Plimley and Mark Armanini, Photo credit: Laurie Gish
Paul Plimley was that rare kind of individual that always lit up a room as he bounded in. I encountered him first when I came to join the Simon Fraser University Centre for the Arts Music program as a young faculty member in the early eighties. Paul was an ideal example of the mature, talented SFU student, a recent escapee from UBC with piercing blue eyes and endless inventiveness. He was overflowing with energy, open to everything, but also very advanced and sophisticated in his musical personality and thinking. He was fun to be around, and seemed to be enjoying the freedom of working in an interdisciplinary arts school with a contemporary focus. I worked with him as a composition teacher in that period, and it was delightful and animated, more like a friendly and spirited debate. There was always a lot of detailed back and forth in that dialogue and I can remember Paul telling me I had a weakness against octaves on the piano, as I tried to get him to consider to not use so many – we would laugh together about that!
Paul Plimley Photo Credit: Ken Newby
One of Paul’s close student colleagues back then was Kenneth Newby, and together they shared an interest in global music (including gamelan), dance, and innovative projects of all kinds. Paul was always a brilliant musician, with a refreshing and prolific mind that was ideally suited to improvisation and creation of all kinds. His music was many things including grace, athleticism, humour, joy, thoughtfulness, generosity to others, and playful connection to the world around him.
Of course, I had the pleasure to encounter Paul in all kinds of situations and admire and experience his work in many musical contexts over the years. It was always like no time had elapsed when we ran into each other. He was remarkable in having a lovely one-to-one connection between the way he lived in the world, and his music. Perhaps that was in part because of his honesty and unpretentiousness. Paul has made an extraordinary and rich musical contribution that is very distinctive and meaningful. He will be missed by many!
Owen Underhill Professor | School for the Contemporary Arts Simon Fraser University |