Paul Hanmer

PAUL HANMER was born in Cape Town in 1961. His musical interest started at an early age. In the early 1970'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 fields. He performed with Top-40 bands, did jazz standards and played with many original bands. He was involved in backing various cabaret acts and played in musicals as well as the theatre circuit.

Reminiscent (a bit) of Keith Jarrett, Hanmer's music is at times cerebral and minimalist but always distinctly South African, with strong flavours of the Cape Flats and the Friday afternoon township gumba. In hue it is confident, playful, optimistic and light. Surprisingly under-celebrated in the South African media he has worked with the likes of Grammy Award winner Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Jonathan Butler, Pops Mohamed, Sipho Gumede, and McCoy Mrubata. In October 2005, Paul's classical training was in evidence at the première of his first string quartet performed at the Baxter Concert Hall by the Sontonga Quartet.

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