“World class musicianship” 
- Performing Songwriter Magazine

“Wonderfully woven and evocative” 
- Washington Post

ABOUT PAUL REISLER

“If I were free, I would answer any question
With a brush stroke upon canvas, And my words would all fall out in poetry
I would sing to you a sunset, draw your face inside a symphony
If I were free”
- from If I Were Free by Paul Reisler and Angela Kaset

 “If I were Free” is a manifesto for living the musical, the creative life.  It’s a 30-year journey for Paul Reisler as he explores the musical life—a life where you respond to what’s going on around you in music.  Through his own music as performer, writer and recording artist and through his songwriting teaching for adults and children, he inspires others to explore that creative landscape.

He’s created a direct and emotional music that cuts across borders—combining folk roots, world music eclecticism, classical precision, and new age mysticism with the vitality of contemporary music.  As the Washington Post says, his music "climbs up the Blue Ridge and down to the bayou and back up to the Himalayas. Goose bumps are a risk."

He’s got a voracious musical appetite. Known for his many years as founder and leader of Trapezoid for over 25 years, he’s recently embarked on several new musical adventures: His new band Paul Reisler & A Thousand Questions featuring Howard Levy and Angela Kaset with their new album At Night the Roses Tango , his Kid Pan Alley children’s songwriting project, and his duo with Amy Speace. He also continues perform with the inter-disciplinary Ki Theatre and compose for film, theatre and orchestra. (link to aesop’s fables)

He’s passionate about inspiring other people to live the musical life.  He’s one of the most popular songwriting teachers in the country and he’s also the founder and artistic director of Kid Pan Alley.

PAUL REISLER AND A THOUSAND QUESTIONS

The final curtain on Trapezoid brought both the end of an era, an exciting new beginning and a big question “what next?” The answer, Paul Reisler & A Thousand Questions where Paul is joined by his favorite musicians in the world—vocalist/pianist Angela Kaset, multi-instrumentalist Howard Levy of Flecktones fame, and the amazing Ysaye Barnwell from Sweet Honey in the Rock. Rounding out the group for the recording of their new record At Night the Roses Tango were vocalist Amy Speace, master drummers Kenny Malone and John Gardner (Dixie Chicks), bass virtuoso Viktor Krauss (Lyle Lovett) and co-producer Fred Bogert (Trout Fishing in America).

When it comes to the music, there is no question.  It’s music made for the sheer joy of making great music--an album of twelve original songs and two instrumentals written by Reisler along with some of his favorite co-writers. (More)

KID PAN ALLEY

Kid Pan Alley inspires children to be creators, not consumers. It all started with Paul’s brilliant yet obvious discovery—kids make the greatest co-writers—especially when you are writing songs for kids. He’s now written over 500 songs with over 10,000 children throughout the country and has recorded several CD’s of the songs including a new one in partnership with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.

Imagine some of this country’s finest songwriters working in a classroom overflowing with the raw creative imagination of children. Then, record the songs with some of Nashville’s best-known artists including Amy Grant, Kix Brooks, Delbert McClinton, Suzy Bogguss, Raul Malo, Jonell Mosser, Tommy Sims, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and you’ve got Kid Pan Alley Nashville—one of the most amazing children’s album ever made.  (more Go to Kid Pan Alley album promo file)

PAUL REISLER AND AMY SPEACE

Paul’s music is also available as a solo instrumentalist as well as in a duo with vocalist Amy Speace. Together they create an intimate and entertaining evening of songs and instrumentals.  It’s “world class musicianship” says Performing Songwriter Magazine.  Paul’s masterful instrumental accompaniment beautifully intertwines with Amy’s soaring soprano.  Her work as an actress/director has made her a great storyteller, well-suited to deliver the meaning and the emotion behind Paul’s evocative songs. 

Paul has performed in over 3000 concerts and has recorded nine albums with Trapezoid, an album of original instrumentals with Bobby Read of the Bruce Hornsby Band, two Kid Pan Alley CD’s as well as his new album At Night the Roses Tango. He’s appeared on another three dozen releases with artists as varied as Holly Near, Si Kahn, John McCutcheon and Beth Nielsen-Chapman.

Acoustic Musician Magazine calls Reisler “a talented and innovative force in acoustic music.” He is also an extremely versatile one.  He’s currently finishing a full length piece for orchestra and narrator based on Aesop’s Fables with a libretto by Tom Paxton that will premiere in Winter 2006. He also writes and performs all the music for Ki Theatre's productions that tour throughout the country. Their latest play Three Roses, a story of women, violence and transformation was filmed for PBS-TV.

He finds time to teach a number of songwriting workshops each year throughout the country including the Rocky Mountain Folks Song School, the Kerrville Song School, Common Ground, Swananoa Gathering, Southern Utah Song School, Hollyhock, Songcamp in the Mountains, NSAI Songcamp, the Augusta Workshop and many others.

Stereo Review says his music is “reason to believe that there is still real music on this continent.” After 30 years, Reisler is still following that wild thread of real music.

 

Paul Reisler (hi res)	Paul Reisler & A Thousand Questions (hi res)	Paul Reisler Amy Speace (hi res)