Hailing from the Hawaiian Islands, Paul Prince preserves the sweet melodic instincts of Polynesian music and Slack - Key in his vibrant solo guitar performances. Paul's music was featured Internationally on Afropop WORLDWIDE, when a collaboration with 2 Zimbabwean masters, Ambuya Beauler Dyoko and Musekiwa Chingodza aired in 2005. Paul has toured the West Coast and Canada as acoustic solo guitarist with legendary Zimbabwean singer Thomas Mapfumo, later recording a now classic acoustic guitar driven version of Mapfumo's hit, "Chamunora" with Mapfumo and his group - The Blacks Unlimited in 1999. Some of the tours highlights included a solo opening performance at the 1998 WOMAD USA Festival near Seattle, performing with the band for a crowd of 14,000 at Edmonton, Alberta Canada, Slim's in San Francisco, The Palms and Palookaville in Santa Cruz. Later in 2005 Prince played lead guitar with The Black's Unlimited at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival.
Paul's solo style encompasses African, Hawaiian, Impressionism even African pop Classics like Marian Makeba's classic The Lion, while exploring unusual harmonic techniques and textures. What draws listeners in are Paul's harmonic inventiveness, melodic richness and his emotional connection to music which Paul translates through his unique understanding of melody and counterpoint. On his CD's title track Ocean Bells, Prince's extended Harmelodic techniques and poly-rhythmic counterpoint transform the guitar into a perfect storm of sound; harmonics, bass lines and melodies coalesce into a one man Polynesian bell orchestra - without relying on looping or overdubbing. In 2009 Paul designed a new type of 24 string harp which allows him to explore the music of West Africa in more depth.
This harp and an electric Prince build himself will be featured on an upcoming release along with rare jam's and collaborations with some of the finest Zimbabwean musicians on the scene today including mbira masters - Bezil Makombe, vocal/mbira diva Ambuya Beauler Dyoko, Cosmas Magaya and Musekiwa Chingodza. Stay tuned for new releases and shows!