Willem Paynter

Jazz bassist Willem Paynter (b. 1988, Fredericton, NB) has been a part of the music scene in Atlantic Canada since 2005. During this time he has participated in several recordings and countless festival, concert and club performances with musicians from all generations. His debut record as a leader, “City Grit”, was released December 16, 2015.

Willem attended Saint Francis Xavier university from 2006-2010. While there, he studied under Skip Beckwith, Gene Smith, Paul Tynan, Jake Hanlon and Tony Genge, with opportunities to learn from Canadian jazz masters Neil Swainson and David Braid. At STFX Willem had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses with jazz elite such as Kelly Jefferson, Lorne Lofsky and Pat Harbison.

In 2010, Willem moved to Halifax to pursue a career in music. Willem formed the “What’s Next?” jazz trio alongside fellow STFX grads Lloyd Quinton and Peter Rioux. The band performed at festivals and clubs around Atlantic Canada and garnered acclaim for its heavy-swinging sound and tight arrangements.

In 2013, Willem joined singer John Gracie’s swing band. This band took Willem around the globe to Doha, Qatar in the Middle East for a week-long engagement at the Ritz-Carlton. Willem continues to perform with John, playing a regular Christmas tour and several dates through the year. Also in 2013, Willem joined Andrew Jackson’s “Blakey Project”, a tribute band to the legendary drummer Art Blakey featuring some of Nova Scotia’s top musicians.

For the past several years, Willem has been freelancing in the Atlantic Provinces, playing with jazz groups led by Jeff Goodspeed, Damien Moynihan, Bill Stevenson and Martin Davidson.

In December, Willem released his debut recording as a leader. “City Grit” is influenced by the music of Stanley Turrentine, Dexter Gordon, Horace Silver and the words of noir crime writers Eric Ambler, Massimo Carlotto, Lawrence Block and Jim Nisbet. It features the performances of Matt Myer, Trevor Wentzell, Dustin LindenSmith and Brendan Melchin.

It's got plenty of tradition behind it, but I hear some extra grit in there. [Willem's] bass lines are killin.

- Maurice Hogue, One Man’s Jazz

Real cool vibe. Real cool.

- David Burton, Halifax