Research Profile

Paul O'Donnell

Biography

Paul O Donnell is a composer, performer and lecturer at the University College Cork School of Music and Theatre. His areas of interest are Jazz, World Music and Popular Music. Over the last 25 years he has worked nationally and internationally with a host of jazz luminaries, including: Grant Stewart, Bobby Watson, Bill Berry and Jon Faddis. Paul has also recorded CDs in the genres of Jazz, Latin American and Popular Music. In more recent times he has created  and  led a number of Jazz/World Music groups, including: Enerjazz (2010), The Paul O Donnell Jazz World Ensemble (2011) and his most recent and current project POD Fusion (2012 - present day) which is an intercultural, collaborative ensemble focusing exclusively on Paul's own original work in the genres of Jazz and World Music. 
     As well as his work with the aforementioned groups, Paul is also the keyboardist with TRASNA - another intercultural music-making project, which represented UCC, Cork and Ireland at the Shanghai World Expo in September 2010 and he is the founder and director of COLLAGE - a Soul/Pop ensemble which specialises in original arrangements of contemporary and classic popular music. 

Research Interests

As a performer and a scholar my research interests lie in the music of some of the non-mainstream jazz pianists from the second half of the twentieth century. With the unorthodox and highly individual approaches of musicians such as Thelonious Monk, Erroll Garner, Stan Treacy, Dave Brubeck, and Cecil Taylor in mind, I continue to explore possibilities in terms of the application of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic principles to my own jazz performance practice. In addition to this, I am also interested in stylistic interpretation and arrangement in Popular music and I continue to explore these areas through my ongoing work as leader/ musical director with "Collage", and as a solo pianist. I have also developed my web presence on the internet utilising such tools as Myspace and Youtube to display some of my recent live Jazz performances, and some of my work with "Collage", via both audio and video footage.

Publications

Compositions (Music)

 YearPublication
(2014)West Brompton Blues (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2014) West Brompton Blues (Composition). Compositions (Music) [Details]
(2014)On the Run (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2014) On the Run (Composition). Compositions (Music) [Details]
(2013)Lucy (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2013) Lucy (Composition). Compositions (Music) [Details]
(2013)Storm on the Ridge (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2013) Storm on the Ridge (Composition). Compositions (Music) [Details]
(2013)Full Moon Dance.
Paul O Donnell (2013) Full Moon Dance. Cork: Compositions (Music) [Details]
(2013)Chillaxin' (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2013) Chillaxin' (Composition). Compositions (Music) [Details]
(2012)Changing Times (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2012) Changing Times (Composition). Cork: Compositions (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2012)New City (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2012) New City (Composition). Cork: Compositions (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2012)Dance of the Waves (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2012) Dance of the Waves (Composition). Cork: Compositions (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2011)The Rapture (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2011) The Rapture (Composition). Cork: Compositions (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2011)Hangin' with the King (Composition).
Paul and David O Donnell (2011) Hangin' with the King (Composition). Cork: Compositions (Music) [Details]
(2011)Check In (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2011) Check In (Composition). Cork: Compositions (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2011)Splash ! (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2011) Splash ! (Composition). Cork: Compositions (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2011)Nutty Professor (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2011) Nutty Professor (Composition). Cork: Compositions (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2010)In the Flow (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2010) In the Flow (Composition). Compositions (Music) [Details]
(2010)This Place (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2010) This Place (Composition). Cork: Compositions (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2009)Straight Force Five (Composition).
Paul O Donnell (2009) Straight Force Five (Composition). Cork: Compositions (Music)   [DOI] [Details]

Music score

 YearPublication
(2014)On The Run (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2014) On The Run (Music Score). Cork: Music score [CORA Link] [Details]
(2014)West Brompton Blues (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2014) West Brompton Blues (Music Score). Music score [CORA Link] [Details]
(2013)Chillaxin' (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2013) Chillaxin' (Music Score). Music score [CORA Link] [Details]
(2013)Storm on the Ridge (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2013) Storm on the Ridge (Music Score). Music score [CORA Link] [Details]
(2013)Lucy (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2013) Lucy (Music Score). Music score [CORA Link] [Details]
(2013)Summer Morning (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2013) Summer Morning (Music Score). Music score [CORA Link] [Details]
(2012)Changing Times (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2012) Changing Times (Music Score). Cork: Music score   [DOI] [CORA Link] [Details]
(2012)Dance of the Waves (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2012) Dance of the Waves (Music Score). Cork: Music score   [DOI] [CORA Link] [Details]
(2012)New City (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2012) New City (Music Score). Cork: Music score   [DOI] [CORA Link] [Details]
(2011)Hangin' with the King (Music Score).
O'Donnell, Paul; O'Donnell, David (2011) Hangin' with the King (Music Score). Cork: Music score [CORA Link] [Details]
(2011)Splash ! (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2011) Splash ! (Music Score). Cork: Music score   [DOI] [CORA Link] [Details]
(2011)Nutty Professor (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2011) Nutty Professor (Music Score). Cork: Music score   [DOI] [CORA Link] [Details]
(2010)This Place (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2010) This Place (Music Score). Cork: Music score   [DOI] [CORA Link] [Details]
(2009)Straight Force Five (Music Score).
Paul O Donnell (2009) Straight Force Five (Music Score). Cork: Music score   [DOI] [CORA Link] [Details]

Performances (Music)

 YearPublication
(2013)POD at the Devere Hall, UCC.
Paul O Donnell (2013) POD at the Devere Hall, UCC. Devere Hall, UCC: Performances (Music) [Details]
(2012)Improvised solo (performance).
Paul O Donnell (2012) Improvised solo (performance). Cork: Performances (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2012)POD - live at the Granary Theatre - Cork Jazz Festival 2012 - (6 Themes - Changing Times, New City, Dance of the Waves, Splash !, Nutty Professor and Straight Force Five.
Paul O Donnell (2012) POD - live at the Granary Theatre - Cork Jazz Festival 2012 - (6 Themes - Changing Times, New City, Dance of the Waves, Splash !, Nutty Professor and Straight Force Five. Cork: Performances (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2011)The Rapture (Performance).
Paul O Donnell (2011) The Rapture (Performance). Cork: Performances (Music)   [Details]
(2011)This Place (Performance).
Paul O Donnell (2011) This Place (Performance). Cork: Performances (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2011)Straight Force Five (Performance).
Paul O Donnell (2011) Straight Force Five (Performance). Cork: Performances (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2011)Check In (Music Performance).
O'Donnell, Paul (2011) Check In (Music Performance). Cork: Performances (Music)   [DOI] [Details]
(2010)Trasna at the Pavilion.
Paul O Donnell (2010) Trasna at the Pavilion. Cork: Performances (Music) [Details]
(2010)Trasna at the Festival of World Cultures, Dun Laoighre.
Trasna Music Ensemble (2010) Trasna at the Festival of World Cultures, Dun Laoighre. Dun Laoighaire: Performances (Music) [Details]
(2010)TRASNA in Shanghai.
TRASNA Music Ensemble (2010) TRASNA in Shanghai. Performances (Music) [Details]

Professional Activities

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
Audition panel for Music Networks Young Musicwide programme, Dublin Member2004 /
Audition panel for Music Networks Young Musicwide programme,Dublin Member2007 /
Extern examiner W.I.T. Waterford Examiner2005 / 2008

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
University College Cork Lecturer in Music01-OCT-01 /
University College Cork Lecturer in Music (25%)01-OCT-96 / 30-SEP-96
University College Cork Lecturer in Music (50%)01-OCT-98 / 30-SEP-01

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
1984University College Cork Bachelor of MusicMusic
1985University College Cork Diploma of EducationEducation
1998University College Cork Masters of MusicMusic

Consultancy

 ClientDescription
Creation of and planning for the Jazz and Popular music curriculum for the B.A. Music degree course at W.I.T.
Assisted in the Creation of and planning for the Jazz and Popular music curriculum for the B.A. Music degree course

Other Activities

 Description

Performed concerts in October 2010 - as composer, band leader and soloist - including a premier performance of my composition - This Place - with my new project "Enerjazz"- a group playing mostly original compositions -  at the Metropole and at Scotts Jazz Club as part of the International Cork Jazz festival.

Performed two pieces, in October 2010, (as bandleader) with "Collage", at the UCC Aula Maxima, in a collaboration concert between the UCC School of Music and Theatre, and the CSM.

Travelled to Shanghai, in September 2010 - as pianist with "Trasna", as part of Ireland's Cultural Programme, where we performed a concert with the world renowned Chinese musician Xiaohui Ma at the Australian Pavilion at EXPO 2010. Fulfilled numerous other engagements during our week long stay in China, including concerts and workshops at Shanghai University, and schools in the Luwan, Zhabei and Changing districts. We also enjoyed performance collaborations over there with Iarla O Lionaird, Duke Special, The Cork Music Collective, and Julie Feeney.

Performed a concert, in July 2010, as pianist/composer with Liam O Maonlai, and Trasna, at the closing night of the Festival of World Cultures in Dun Laoghaire.

Performed a concert, in June 2010, including a premier of one of my pieces - Castle Funk - as bandleader, pianist and composer with "The Paul O Donnell Quintet" at UCC, at the honorary conferring of Bobby Lamb.

Performed a concert,in February 2010, as pianist/composer, with Liam O Maonlai, and Trasna (an exciting new and innovative intercultural music-making project led by Mel Mercier) including a premier of one of my compositions - Straight Force Five - at the Pavilion, Cork.

 Performed a concert, in November 2009 (as bandleader) at the UCC Aula Maxima with my Pop/Soul project "Collage". A number of tracks from this concert were recorded and are available on http://www.youtube.com/user/collagecork .

Performed  concerts in October 2009, (as bandleader) with "Introspection" a group specialising in the music of Thelonious Monk, at the UCC Aula Max and at the Metropole Festival Club on Sunday October 25th 2009,  as part of the International Cork Jazz Festival. A number of tracks from these concerts were recorded and are available on  http://www.youtube.com/user/paulodonnellcork .

Performed concerts, in October 2008, as pianist, with Honor Heffernan at the UCC Aula Maxima, and at Scotts Jazz Club as part of the International Jazz Festival. A number of tracks from these concerts were recorded and are available on  http://www.youtube.com/user/paulodonnellcork 


Performed a concert in June 2011 as composer, band leader and soloist - including premier performances of two of my compositions: The Rapture and Check In - with my project - "Paul O Donnell's Jazz World Ensemble" - at the Spiegeltent as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival. Video footage from this concert - including information about the band line up and the compositions performed are available on: http://www.youtube.com/user/paulodonnellcork

Performance (Music)
NOTE: Performance (Music) is subdivided into two subcategories: Critical/Primary Performances and Secondary Performances. Recitals listed under Critical Performances are critical to my Performance Strategy, as outlined in my Research Strategy statement.



Critical Performances
The Paul O'Donnell Trio /Quintet /Sextet
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Paul O Donnell Quintet, Everyman Palace, Cork, Oct. 2008.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Paul O Donnell Quintet, Metropole, Cork, Oct. 2008.
• Cork Jazz Festival with Paul O Donnell Trio with Bill Blackmore, Metropole, Cork, Oct. 2007.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Paul O Donnell Quartet, Metropole, Cork, Oct. 2006.
• St. Gaudens (rencontres du saxophone) Jazz Festival, with Paul O Donnell Quintet, South of France, 20 May 2005. Reviewed in La Depeche Comminges.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Paul O Donnell Quintet, Metropole, Cork, Oct. 2005.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Paul O Donnell Quintet, Metropole, Cork, Oct. 2004.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Paul O Donnell Septet , Metropole, Cork, Oct. 2003.
• Cork Jazz Society, Plato Murphy's, Cork, Residency, Jan-May, 1999.
• Cork Jazz Society, with Paul O Donnell Trio and Richie Buckley, Plato Murphy's, Cork, March 1999.
• Cork Jazz Society, with Paul O Donnell Trio and Ken Foley, Plato Murphy's, Cork, April 1999.
• Cork Jazz Society, with Paul O Donnell Trio and Alan Skidmore, Plato Murphy's, Cork, May 1999.

Paul O Donnell and Various Artists
• Cashel Jazz Festival with Louis Stewart, Honor Heffernan, Cormac Kenevey, John Moriarty and Colm O Hara, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, May 2008.
• Dunloe Jazz Festival, with Honor Heffernan, Dunloe, Co. Kerry, July 2008.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Honor Heffernan, Aula Maxima, UCC, Cork, Oct. 2008.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Honor Heffernan, Scotts, Cork, Oct. 2008.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Cormac Kenevey and Cormac O Brien, Scotts, Cork, Oct. 2008.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Cormac Kenevey and Dan Bodwell, East Village, Cork, Oct. 2008.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Len McCarthy, East Village, Cork, Oct. 2008.
• Cork Jazz Festival with Cormac O Brien, Metropole Hotel, Cork, Oct. 2006.
• Trasna Festival, with Richie Buckley, Aula Maxima, UCC, Cork, May 2005.
• Cork Jazz Festival with Jon Faddis, Aula Maxima, UCC, Cork, Oct, 2005.
• Kenneth Rice, Aula Maxima, UCC, Cork, Sept. 2004.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Bobby Watson, Aula Maxima, UCC, Cork, Oct. 2004. Reviewed by Pearse Harvey of the Irish examiner and Barry Roche of the Independent.
• Kenny Davern, The Triskel Arts Centre, April 2003. Reviewed by Pearse Harvey for the Examiner.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with Miles Drennan, Cork Jazz Festival, Oct. 2003.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with the Grant Stewart Quartet, Aula Maxima, UCC, Cork, Oct. 1999.
• The Alan Skidmore Quartet, Renards, Dublin Sept. 1999. Reviewed in the Sunday Independent by Grainne Farren.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with the John Wadham Quintet, The Metropole Hotel, Cork, Oct. 1998.

Paul O Donnell and The Tom O Hare/Gunther Fischer Quintet
• Kinsale Arts Festival, with the Tom O Hare/Gunther Fischer Quintet, CD launch of ‘For John Lewis and the MJQ' Sept. 2002.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with the Tom O Hare /Gunther Fischer Quintet, Metropole, Cork, Oct. 2002.
• Kinsale Arts Festival, with the Tom O Hare/Gunther Fischer Quintet at the CD launch of ‘This one's for Milt Jackson', Kinsale, Co. Cork, Sept. 2001.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with the Tom O Hare/Gunther Fischer Quintet, Metropole, Cork, Oct. 2001.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with the Tom O Hare /Gunther Fischer Quintet, Metropole, Cork, Oct. 2000.
• Cork Jazz Festival, with the Tom O Hare Quartet, Metropole, Cork, Oct. 1999.
• Kinsale Arts Festival, with the Tom O Hare Quartet at the CD launch of ‘Jazz and Salsa', Kinsale, Cork, Oct. 1999.



Secondary Performances
Paul O Donnell Piano Residency
• Hayfield Manor Hotel, Resident solo pianist from 1998-2004

Paul O Donnell with Collage
• UCC Summer Academy, Aula Maxima, UCC, Cork, June 2008.
• Riva (Italy) June 2007.
• Cork Midsummer Festival, Spiegeltent, Cork, June 2007.
• UCC Summer Academy, Aula Maxima, UCC, Cork, June 2007
• Young Musician of the Year Competition, Great Southern Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Mar. 2006.
• Aula Maxima, President's gala evening for benefactors of UCC, Cork, April 2006.
• Killorglin Community Centre, Co. Kerry, Nov. 2005.
• Aula Maxima, President's gala evening for benefactors of UCC, Cork, June 2004.

CD /DVD (Music)
• Paul O Donnell Quintet Live recordings at the Cashel Jazz Festival and the Cork Jazz Festival (2008), to be released in 2009.
• Paul O Donnell Quintet at the Cork Jazz Festival (2007), Live recordings of six concerts, to be released in 2009
• Paul O Donnell Quintet Live in concert (2006) to be released in 2009
• For John Lewis and the MJQ (2002) with The Gunther Fischer/Tom O Hare/ Michael Hauser Group, (Poppy 102). Reviewed by Richard Palmer in Jazz Journal International, 2002.
• Live Jazz (2000), with the Paul O Donnell Jazz ensemble, (PD002)
• This one's for Milt Jackson (2000), with The Gunther Fischer/Tom O Hare Quintet, (Poppy 101). Reviewed by Richard Palmer in Jazz Journal International, 2000.
• Jazz and Salsa (1999), with the Tom O Hare Quartet (TOH001)
• An Evening at Hayfield Manor (1999), Paul O Donnell solo piano, (PD 001)
• O Donnell, Paul, MySpace account: (www.myspace.com/paulodonnellcork).
This includes six audio excerpts and one video excerpt of performances by The Paul O Donnell Jazz Quartet .

• O Donnell, Paul, Youtube account: (paulodonnellcork). This includes both video and audio footage of jazz performances by Paul O Donnell in a variety of ensemble settings.

• O Donnell, Paul, Youtube account: (collagecork).
This includes both video and audio footage of performances by "Collage".

 


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School of Film, Music and Theatre

An Scoil Scannánaíochta, Ceoil agus Amharclannaíochta

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh, College Road, Cork, T12 K8AF

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