The Drummer Paul Dufour died on 7th September

Steve Lane perfectly summed up Paul Dufour’s character with clarity: ‘Paul was a sweet and kind man. He loved his music so much. I will miss him’.

Ever positive, laid back, cool, full of enthusiasm for his passion – Music in many forms.

He departed this world listening to John Coltrane at his request which a nurse quietly played close to his ear. He was a most sensitive drummer/percussionist. He really listened to everything that was going on reacting immediately to any changes. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him, family, friends, fellow musicians and fans. Be at Peace Paul.

 It was a lucky chance when, a few years ago I went to see Pete Lemer’s Latin jazz group with whom Paul was playing at the time, and I remade contact with Paul who I had met many years previously when we were both playing in Suffolk. In 2014 Phil, Marc and I were working on some new music and we were thinking of who we could get for the drum chair. Although I had not myself played with Paul, I was aware that he had played on recordings with Steve (Miller) and that Marc had worked extensively with him, mostly in studio situations and that he came recommended. It was our good fortune that he said yes when we asked him and he brought his patient, listening, groove-based approach to our project. We recorded some pieces and did a handful of gigs. And of course, we were able to renew that partnership on the tribute to Phil concerts at the Vortex in early 2019. Sending condolences to his friends and family in the knowledge that he will be much missed.

I’m not sure how long I’d known Paul. I had been recruited to play sax on some relatively ‘composed’ Jazz-influenced music by a pianist called Anthony Donovan, I believe round 1993. The music needed a rhythm section and I roped in a friend and fellow Islingtonian, Julia Doyle to play double bass. Of course, we needed a decent drummer!

I was running a 16-track studio at the time and was in frequent contact with audio engineer and producer Gwynn Mathias. I believe I must have mentioned my search for a “drummer who wasn’t a breadhead and was into rehearsing”. Gwynn therefore introduced me to his long-time friend Paul. Or possibly, the connection might have been someone we all knew and visited frequently – ace car mechanic, vintage Mercedes fan and recording studio owner Eddy Manders.

Whatever, Paul turned out to be the perfect choice to make up the quartet, “Venus Edge”, and together we recorded two albums, of course engineered by Eddy Manders. There was a Canterbury connection there too, as I learned that Paul had, much earlier on in his percussive career played with Phil’s older brother Steve Miller.

Paul had a quiet, unshowy discreet approach to music-making. He’d attend rehearsals with a cahon and possibly hihat, and hand percussion – we worked in Julia Doyle’s relatively small living room. Then, at concerts, he’d turn up with a full kit, and turned the patterns he’d devised on cahon etc into full-blown drum parts. It was quite surprising- we’d be aware of some discreet propulsion going on during our arrangement process, but then suddenly it would be on stage as blam blam bibeddy boum de bomb. But it always worked fine.

A new Century arrived and then came 2014 -a new situation for me teaming up with Jack Monck and Phill Miller to try to create a small group playing a mixture of tunes by all three of us. Once more, there was a need to find a “drummer  who wasn’t a breadhead and was into rehearsing”. Paul was around and available, so there we were again.

Paul was a very generous, kind and relaxed person to be around, and I know he will be greatly missed.