Biography - by Francois Couture (All Music Guide)

When it comes to British Free Improv drummers, if Paul Hession's
name has circulated less than, say Paul Lytton, Tony Levin or
Mark Sanders, it is mostly due to the fact that he worked hard
to nurture an avante-garde scene in his hometown of Leeds instead
of moving to London. His loquacious, effervescent playing and
high listening skills deserve as much attention and recognition
as the aforementioned artists. Hession is best known for his
participation in the Hession/Wilkinson/Fell trio, George Haslam's
Siger Band and his various projects with Simon H. Fell and
Mick Beck.
Hession's first musical experiences go back to his childhood.
At age 7 he began to play the guitar and sing in a church
choir. He sat behind the drums for the first time at age 15.
Self-taught like most rock drummers, he played the usual cover
bands in Leeds' club circuit. Gradually he veered toward jazz and
by the late '70's was drawn towards free improvisation. In 1979 he
formed his first free improv group, Art Bart & Fargo with
saxophonists Pete Malham and Alan Wilkinson - the latter would
remain a lifelong collaborator.

Hession with Peter Brotzmann.
Photo: Muttonchops.

In the 80's Hession was involved in the construction and maintenance
of an avante-garde music scene in the Leeds and Sheffield areas of England, together with other regional-minded musicians like Mick Beck, John Jasnoch and Martin Archer.
He co-managed the Termite Club in Leeds during the late 80's and early 90's, taught drumming in local schools and established an improvised music workshop. Meanwhile, after being introduced to George Haslam by trombonist Paul Rutherford, he joined The Siger Band with which he made some of his first recordings and toured Mexico and Cuba. In 1989 he formed a long-lasting trio wth Wilkinson and Fell that went on to release half a dozen albums and perform throughout Europe and America, including the Newfoundland Sound Symposium (St. John's, Canada) in 1994 and the Freedom of the City Festival (London, England) in 2001.
Also in 1989 he recorded his first session for Fell's label Bruce's Fingers. He would later be included in many of the bassist's projects, including the trio Something Else with saxophonist/bassoonist Mick Beck.
He released his first solo album, 'Giant Soft Drum Set' in 1996 and in 2001 he toured England and Argentina with the Anglo-Argentine Jazz Quartet.

He currently plays in Hession/Wilkinson/Fell, trios with Mick Beck and a changing third person, The Anglo Argentine Quartet and groups with George Haslam plus other players. Other recent collaborators include Joe McPhee, Frode Gjerstad, Tony Bevan, Borah Bergman, Sonny Simmons & Squarepusher.

He often collaborates in one- off events and has played with many of the major figures in improvised music as well as dancers and poets.
He was awarded Jazz Bursaries by the Arts Council of Great Britain in 1986 and 1990.