Paul joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra at 16 and studied at the Guildhall School of Music with James Merritt (principal bass, London Philharmonic Orchestra) and at the Royal Academy of Music with Sir John Dankworth and Graham Collier OBE.
For many years, Paul has been a top London session musician, working on recordings for many artists including: David Bowie, Jose Carreras, Larry Coryell, Elton John, Nik Kershaw, Leiber & Stoller, London Symphony Orchestra, Madonna, George Michael, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Shadows, Wayne Shorter, Rod Stewart and John Williams (gtr).
Paul has also performed on numerous film soundtracks for composers including: John Barry, Carl Davis, George Fenton, Trevor Jones, Michel Le Grand, Henry Mancini, Paul McCartney, Debbie Wiseman and Hans Zimmer. In 2018, Paul was bass guitar coach to actor Joe Mazzello, who appeared as John Deacon in the Academy Award-winning movie Bohemian Rhapsody.
TV performances include shows with: George Benson, Chuck Berry, Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker, Gloria Estefan, James Galway, Janet Jackson, Tom Jones, Luciano Pavarotti, LeAnn Rimes, The Stylistics, The Temptations, Dionne Warwick and Barry White.
Concert tours in over 25 countries include shows with Charles Aznavour, Jose Carreras, Tom Jones, Cleo Laine, Lulu, Liza Minelli, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia.
Paul also composed music for 16 media albums, which have been used extensively by KPM Ltd, De Wolfe Ltd, ITV, BBC and Sky for signature tunes, incidental music and advertising jingles.
Current performance and composition work includes projects used in concerts given by Paul Westwood’s contemporary music group:
- In the Shadow of Henry Purcell (15 instrumentals of Renaissance/fusion music)
- Joys of Spring (17 instrumentals of 1940s and 1950s jazz)
- Knock On Wood (15 instrumentals of 1960s soul music)
- Stops & Starts (17 instrumentals of 1970s world music)
- Earth Born (17 instrumentals of 1980s world music)
- Outlining (17 instrumentals of 1990s jazz)
- Soul Journeys (15 instrumentals of 2000s pentatonic-fusion music)
- Korean Jangdan (13 instrumentals of Asian-fusion music)
- Arabethan Tales (14 instrumentals of Turkish-fusion music)
Teaching
- London College of Music at the University of West London, 2008 to date – jazz bass guitar (BMus Hons, MMus Performance), Popular Music Performance (bass guitar BMus, MMus)
- Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, 2002 to date – jazz electric bass (BMus Hons, MMus Performance)
- Morley College, 1997 to date – bass guitar (beginners to advanced level), jazz workshops (beginners to advanced level)
- Royal Academy of Music, 1994-2007 – jazz electric bass (BMus Hons), media and applied music (studio workshops and annual concert pro