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Paul Medina
Joe Silmon (clt) & Paul Medina (tbn) Photo supplied by Louise
29/12/24 - I wanted to let you know that my dad, Paul Medina passed away this morning. He was a well-liked local jazz musician and it was his expressed wish that you be contacted on his passing. Once
funeral details are finalised, I will also let you know of them.
I do know that he had expressed that he wanted a New Orleans
type band to play (briefly) at his funeral. Although we had many email communications, I only met Paul once in 2016, and that was at Joe Silmon's funeral. He and Joe were great friends. They made a recording at Paul's house and he sent me a copy. Paul told me, "I have played alongside Joe since I was 17. I was the trombonist in The Blackfriars Society Jazz Band led then by trumpeter Alan Royle and Joe was on clarinet. Our first gig was at The Thatched House in Manchester. From there we both joined pianist Phil Godbert in his band. We shared common Spanish ancestry with Joe and at one time, with his interest in genealology, he tried unsuccessfully to prove that our family trees were linked sometime in the past. We had many a happy impromptu musical soiree here at home with our mutual musician friends. He was also godfather to my trumpet-playing daughter Louise. I had the pleasure of recording, possibly Joe's last studio session, in January of this year (2016), along with Bryan Pendleton on keyboard, Ian Wright on drums and myself on double bass". In 2018, Paul wrote, " Round about 2005, I was co-opted quite by chance, as a tutor on the Jazz Course of the Music 4 People Summer School at Giggleswick and remained on the staff for four years or so. Much of the course content was as described by a lot of your contributors, all very good, but it did not always fulfil the aspirations of some of the students. Realising there was desire for many of the players to take part in a more emotional experience rather than a cerebral one, so to speak, I designed a course which I felt would be more in keeping with their requirements. Although I am no longer a tutor at Giggleswick, I occasionally visit from time to time and it is always a pleasure to learn from students how much they enoyed my course. I have just opened the 2018 Music 4 People Summer School brochure and noted that they still use my description of the course"
Fred
Burnett
30/12/24 - That's awful news, Paul was a super, eloquent chap and a fine musician on bass and trombone. Another good one gone, RIP. Jon Critchley 30/12/24 - So very sorry to hear of Paul's passing. Not only a wonderfully intelligent musician, Paul was a very good, kind man, a loyal friend and an inspirational musical mentor. RIP Paul. 30/12/24 - I’m really sorry to learn that Paul has died. He has depped for me several times since I joined Manchester Jazz, including one gig where I was actually present because it was a party I was hosting. I enjoyed his playing, and we hit it off really well. Helen joins me in sending condolences to Lou and all the family. The Revd Allan Wilcox 31/12/24 = So very sad to hear of Paul Medina's passing. It seems such a short time ago that we were sitting next to each other, chatting and playing, in the trombone section of The Harry Golden big band. One of my oldest friends, we knew each other for so long that neither of us could remember when we first met. A lovely guy and a consummate and knowledgeable musician who inspired so many young students including his own wonderful family. I'm going to find it difficult to come to terms with a world without Paul being in it. Laurie Cooper 03/01/24 - Very sad to hear Paul has passed away - a lovely man and part of our dear music family. I feel so blessed that through the music I have known so many beautiful people in my life. My condolences to Paul’s family. Love to you all and a Happy New Year 08/01/25 - I was very sorry to learn of bassist Paul Medina's death,
and send condolences to his family. We had been friends for a number of
years, although seldom playing together (Paul was also a brass player). I
had lost regular contact with him since moving to York six years ago. Harmoniously, - John Muskett 11/01/25 - More sad news and a loss to the Manchester Jazz and Big Band scene.I have known Paul for over 40 years a nice man and fine musician he has depped with the Harlem and 4 to the bar on many occasions. He will be missed. Mine and Carol’s condolences toy his family. `17/01/25 - As a friend and former colleague, I was saddened to hear of Paul’s death. His musicianship on both bass and trombone are well known around the north west. However, what is probably less well known was his success as a music teacher. Paul came to South Manchester High School in Wythenshawe, a small, 450 pupil high school, in the late 1980s. Encouraged by the Headteacher, Phil Taylor, a keen trumpeter, and together with support from the local Music Service, Paul soon inspired pupils to take up a variety of instruments. Before long he had a 40 piece student and staff swing band regularly playing at school functions and, on one occasion, at the Royal Northern School of Music Schools’ Annual Music Festival. Also, he introduced a number of staff members, myself included, to take up jazz and we soon had a staff jazz ensemble, the Staffroom Stompers, playing a regular Sunday evening spot at the Bakers Vaults in Stockport. There will be many middle aged men and women still playing a musical instrument today thanks to the inspirational teaching of their Mr Medina.. One young man so fell in love with music, and with encouragement from Paul, went on to become a bandsman with the Grenadier Guards. Paul was not only a valued and dearly loved colleague, but a wonderfully supportive personal friend to many of us. Our thoughts go out to Elka and all the family. Dave Deering |
