He's Got the Music in Him

Paul Combs is on a mission to keep jazz alive in the Merrimack Valley.

As the director of the Chelmsford Community Band's jazz ensemble, Combs wears many hats as conductor, composer, arranger, teacher and confidant.

But not many people know Combs is a jazz historian and master performer.

The jazz ensemble, which Combs has directed for eight years, consists of about 25 members from the Chelmsford Community Band concert band looking for a way to let their hair down. Other players come from surrounding communities to play their favorite jazz, swing and big band tunes.

Combs first fell in love with classical music as a child and learned the trombone in school. Then he decided to play the saxophone and asked his parents if it was OK to switch instruments.

"My parents told me I'd have to buy my own, so I saved my Christmas money and went to the pawn shop, where saxophones were sold by the pound," said Combs, who lives in Cambridge. "I bought a soprano saxophone because it was all I could afford. It's the most difficult saxophone to learn on but that was alright."

As a teen, Combs played bass guitar in jazz and folk bands, and studied classical music at Philadelphia Musical Academy, which is now University of the Arts.

When Combs learned of a job opening directing the Chelmsford Community Band's jazz ensemble through a mutual friend, he was immediately interested, he said.

"I have a nine-piece band called the Pocket Big Band, which I play in, but I also cue people," he said. "And as part of my education I had the training and knowledge to conduct a band. Most of the work is done in rehearsals. During performances I just think of all the parts and keep in mind all the important cues people need."

The jazz ensemble only rehearses about twice a month, said Combs. Most members are life-long players and put in a lot of practice time at home, he said.

"They do exceptionally well," he said. "I try to choose pieces that everyone loves but aren't too hard. The pieces sound nice and almost play themselves."

While Combs isn't conducting or rehearsing with the jazz ensemble, he teaches private lessons in his home, and composes and arranges songs.

Combs is also working on a book on Tadd Dameron, a jazz composer, arranger, and pianist.

"He's one of the founding fathers of modern jazz but not many people know about him or his place in history," said Combs. "He's one of my biggest inspirations as a writer."

The book has been in the works for more than 20 years, said Combs, and is finally almost finished.

After that, Combs wants to take advantage of the Chelmsford Community Band and write more compositions for a concert band.

"I write from what I hear," he said. "It's like sculpting. I have a big form in front of me and I work the details. I feel these ideas as they need to fit into musical time."

As a classical writer, Combs says he draws inspiration from Beethoven.

"I remember the first time I heard the Sixth Symphony," he said. "I love him. I always have some Beethoven in my car."

Band members say Combs' knowledge – and his quirks – make him a great director.

"The biggest thing we noticed in his interview for this job was his knowledge of the history of the music and its repertoire," said Trude Whitham of Townsend, who plays alto saxophone. "He knows his stuff. He has a sense of humor. He always says (our) playing won't hurt or break anything."

Drummer Desmond Kaplan of Billerica said he plays in the band to keep his skills fresh. It's rare for community bands to have jazz ensembles, he said.

"Paul has a great knowledge of jazz history and he knows the background of every chart," said Kaplan.

Combs said he's happy to be a part of the Chelmsford Community Band.

"We hope people enjoy it, this is the town's band," he said. "We are here for Chelmsford's enjoyment."  

The Chelmsford Community Band's concert calendar can be found at ChelmsfordBand.org. The concert band is looking for new members, particularly percussionists and low brass instrumentalists. Information about joining can be found on its website.