Paul Combs,
Jazz Musician and Educator
Paul Combs has written book examining the importance of Tadd Dameron which will be published by The University Of Michigan Press. We anticipate a release date of Fall 2008. He is listed in the Humanities to Go catalog of theNew Hampshire Humanities Council, and in the New England Foundation for the Arts New England States Touring Roster. To view the roster click on "Grant Programs," click on "New England States Touring (NEST)" in the drop-down menu, then scroll down to the heading "The NEST Roster," next to the picture of the drummer and the clarinetist. Finally click on the works "Click here to download." Paul Combs is listed on page 102.
You can e-mail Paul Combs at pcomb@comcast.net.
Click here for
Paul's Music Studio

October 1, 2008

"I am finally getting around to the rebuilding of this site. the first step is to clear up things that are out of date and to re organize the content, which has grown of the years to be pretty extensive. The RECORDINGS page has been updated. My BoMuse Transcriptions CDs, with the exception of "Hawk's Delight," are now available through CD Baby. The other big change is a page for Paul's Music Studio"

"My new teaching space, Paul's Music Studio, at 1798a Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge is open. At the studio I offer instruction in saxophone, flute, clarinet, recorder, trumpet, trombone and improvisation, as well as small ensemble classes for children and adults. Read more about these offerings here."

"The Tadd Dameronia book - Dameronia - is moving, slowly, towards publication. The book is back on my desk for some more editing, but nothing like the big reorganization that I did last fall and winter. I now have several rare photos to include in the book as well, but you will have to wait for those. The project includes a complete discography of recordings that Dameron was directly connected with, eiher as arranger for the session, or perfromer. I have posted a draft of the Discography here.

"There are new charts listed in the BoMuse Music section!. Clik on the link to the left"

"Herb Pomeroy, trumpeter, composer and educator extraordinaire, passed on Saturday, August 11, 2007. In the words of Steve Schwartz of WGBH, "Herb was woven into the fabric of Boston jazz, from playing with Charlie Parker on his visits here in the 1950s to his teaching and mentoring students at Berklee for over forty years.Trumpeter Joe Gordon and pianist Jaki Byard played in his big band, among others. A profile of Herb Pomeroy and comments from those who knew him can be found here." If you would like to contribute comments, photos, etc. to this memorial, please contact me, but hurry - I will be finalizing this memorial soon and posting it permanently at the New England Jazz Alliance site."


"The NEJA Web-site has just been refreshed, re-organized and re-launched, and we invite you to visit it. Inductees into the New England Jazz Hall Of Fame can be found there, as well as many interesting articles about New England Jazz History. You can also join NEJA at the site and support NEJA's ongoing efforts to chronicle jazz history in New England and bring together the various organiaztions supporting jazz in the region. NEJA is looking for members to join in taking the organization forward. This is an opportunity for jazz fans to help make a differnece for the state of jazz in New England. Please visit the Web-site regularly and find out more about New England's rich Jazz History."

"Please visit THE STORE. THERE IS NEW STUFF IN THE STORE!! Go check it out.


Jan. 19, 2003 at The Chit-Chat Lounge, Haverhill, MA. Left to right: Jason Samiagio (for Doug Leaffer), Bob Coviello, Paul Combs, Paul Marcantonio (hidden), Jim Pastore, Manuel Kauffman (for Tony Sumbury), Garo Saraydarian, and Jim Cameron. Pianist Don Hemwall is outside of the frame.


"The Pocket Big Band is continuing our regular Sunday appearances at the CHIT-CHAT LOUNGE, 103 Washington St. in Haverhill, now as part of a program we call "Jazz At Chit Chat". Check the Schedule, below for the dates we will be playing there and for listings of the other fine groups who will be perfroming in the series. "Jazz At Chit Chat" is now in its sixth season. If you would like to help us get the word out please go to the Posters page, and down load the latest poster for distribution.



"The Pocekt Big Band's CD "Live At Chit Chat," Sea Breeze Jazz SB-3073, is now available at the Sea Breeze Jazz Web-Site. (If you should experience problems ordering from the Sea Breeze Web-site, please try www.otterdist.com)It will take us a few weeks to get it to other outlets, but it is available at the Minor Chord, 77 Great Rd., Acton MA, and Stereo Jacks, 1686 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA., Sea Breeze also has distribution at Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Virgin Mega Stores, Tower and "the major Internet players," so you should be able to order it through them as well. Of course, you will be able to get it directly from us at our performances at the Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, as well as at any other of the engagements listed in the schedule below."

"On November 27, 2008, the Pocket big band will be seven years old. We could not have made it this far with out the support of our audience and the musicians who step in for various band members from time to time. We thank you all very much as we look forward to the future and our continued growth as a performing ensemble."


"BoMuse Music has released two new charts, one for a combo of trumpet, alto and tenor, with three or four rhythm. The other is a nonet chart with vocal. The song is an original by our vocalist Lydia Fortune Click on the big BoMuse link above to find out more."

"Two of my lectures are listed in the Humanities to Go catalog of theNew Hampshire Humanities Council, and this fall we will add another: A "Sound Track" for The Great Gatsby - Music of the Jazz Age. When you go there click on the "Humanities-To-Go" link and enter my name in the search engine under "scholar" to find out more. I am also listed in the Massachusetts Cultural Council Roster in the Perfroming and Touring catagory. This means that matching funds are available to schools and not-for-profit organizations engaging me for performances, clinics or lectures. This eligibility is also extended to the New England Foundation for the Arts. If I understand correctly, the grant deadlines are quarterly. Please check with their respective sites for details."

"Thanks to Doug Crane, a correspondent on the Jazz Programers List, we were made aware of the first volume of "Changing the Beat: A Study of the Worklife of Jazz Musicians," which has just been published. This study was prepared by Joan Jeffri and the Research Center for Arts and Culture under a cooperative agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts and the San Francisco Study Center. For those of us who practice this art this confirms our daily reality. It does not make for very happy reading, but I am glad someone has done this study. Click here to read the Los Angeles Times article the Doug forwarded."

Note: you can find a reasonably complete listing of Special Jazz Events through out New England at www.nejazz.org.

The Schedule
Sat Oct 4, 2:30 PM, The Chelmsford Community Band Jazz Ensemble, Octoberfest, Ashby Center, MA

Sat Oct 4, 7:00PM Paul Combs/Jamie Dunphy Duo, La Boniche, 143 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 978-458-9473

Sun Oct 5, 6:00 PM,Special Edition Big Band, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sun Oct 12, 6:00 PM, Paul Combs' Pocket Big Band, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sat Oct 18, 7:00PM Paul Combs/Jamie Dunphy Duo, La Boniche, 143 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 978-458-9473

Sun Oct 19, 6:00 PM, , Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sun Oct 26, 6:00 PM, Paul Combs' Pocket Big Band With Lydia Fortune, , Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sat Nov 1, 7:00PM Paul Combs Duo, La Boniche, 143 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 978-458-9473

Sun Nov 2, 6:00 PM, Paul Combs' Quintet, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Thu Nov 6, 6:30 PM, Paul Combs Duo, Hermanos, 11 Hills Ave., Concord NH 603-224-5669

Sun Nov 9, 6:00 PM, Doug Leaffer's Synergy, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sat Nov 15, 7:00PM Paul Combs Duo, La Boniche, 143 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 978-458-9473

Sun Nov 16, 6:00 PM, Paul Combs' Pocket Big Band With Lydia Fortune, , Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Thu Nov 20, 12:00 PM, Jamie Dunphy, Paul Combs & Co., Bach's Lunch Concert,Indian Hill Music, , 36 King Street, Littleton, MA, 978-486-9524

Sun Nov 23, 6:00 PM, Paul Combs' Pocket Big Band, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sat Nov 29, 7:00PM Paul Combs Duo, La Boniche, 143 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 978-458-9473

Sun Nov 30, 6:00 PM, Dave Rasmussen's Sax Factory, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Fri Dec 5, 7:00PM Paul Combs/Jamie Dunphy Duo, Chloe, 23 Main Street, Hudson, MA- 978-568-1500

Sun Dec 7 4:00 PM, The Chelmsford Community Band Jazz Ensemble,Tree Lighting, Chelmsford Old town Hall, Chelmsford Common, MA

Sun Dec 7, 6:00 PM, Paul Combs' Pocket Big Band With Lydia Fortune, , Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sat Dec 13, 7:00PM Paul Combs Duo, La Boniche, 143 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 978-458-9473

Sun Dec 14, 6:00 PM,Special Edition Big Band, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sun Dec 21 2:00 PM, The Chelmsford Community Band and Jazz Ensemble, Hoiliday Concert, Chelmsford High School Performing Arts Center, 120-200 Richardson Road, N. Chelmsford, MA

Sun Dec 21, 6:00 PM, Paul Combs' Pocket Big Band, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sat Dec 27, 7:00PM Paul Combs Duo, La Boniche, 143 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 978-458-9473

Sun Dec 28, 6:00 PM,Tadd's Delight, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sun Jan 4, 6:00 PM, Paul Combs' Pocket Big Band, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sun Jan 11, 6:00 PM, Richie DeFreitas' Swing X-Press Plus, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sun Jan 18, 6:00 PM, Paul Combs' Pocket Big Band, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sun Jan 25, 2:00 PM, The Pocket Big Band With Lydia Fortune, Amazing Things Arts Center, 55 Nicholas Rd., Framingham, MA 508-405-ARTS (2787)

Sun Jan 25, 6:00 PM, Mill City Trio, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Sun Feb 15, 6:00 PM, Nick Goumas Quartet, Chit-Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 978-374-9710

Thu Feb 19, 12:00 PM, Jamie Dunphy, Paul Combs & Co., Bach's Lunch Concert,Indian Hill Music, , 36 King Street, Littleton, MA, 978-486-9524


A print out of this schedule is worth $2 towards the purchase of a copy of either of Paul Combs' CDs "Hawk's Delight," or "The Things You All Are" at any of the above appearances.

As always, thank you for supporting live music.