Paul Asbell’s fingers fly on the guitar and caress the strings. He formed the band Kilimanjaro in 1978. The band performed at the Kool Jazz Festival at SPAC, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and numerous national tours and concert dates. Kilimanjaro served as backup band on lengthy national tours with Esther Satterfield, and Paul Butterfield, with whom they played the Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Roskilde Festival in Copenhagen.

In 1981, Paul and other members of Kilimanjaro joined forces with a legendary saxophonist and blues singer to form Big Joe Burrell and the Unknown Blues Band. Together, they performed at many festivals, including the Kool Jazz Festival, toured Russia, Holland, and Canada, and served as backup band for Marva Wright, Kenny Neal, W.C. Clark, and others. The UBB remained a Northeast regional favorite for over 20 years, until Big Joe’s passing in 2005.

Paul has taught guitar for over 45 years. Private instruction remains a favored format, but he has also taught for several decades on a university level, including positions at Dartmouth College, St. Michaels College, and presently at Middlebury College and the University of Vermont. A while back, Paul received Seven Days magazine’s “Best Musician of 2004” Daysie Award (the runner-up was a young up-and-comer named Trey Anastasio…) That same year saw the release of Patti Casey’s “Just an Old Sweet Song”, a “live-in-the-studio” record of old standards, explored in the intimate setting of just vocals and guitar. Other duo partners since then have included Brooks Williams, Mike Dowling, Chuck D’Aloia, and clarinet virtuoso Brad Terry. Much more about him at www.paulasbell.com.

More information about the Music Box at www.themusicboxvt.org or call 586-7533. Suggested donation at the door $10.