Paul Combs has been playing professionally as both a leader and a sideman for over forty years. He is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 9-535, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). He leads small combos of various sizes, usually 2-4 musicians, for casual work. He also has a Quintet, which is currently devoted exclusively to the music of Tadd Dameron, whose biography he has just completed (see the Dameron Project page). Finally there is his nonet, the Pocket Big Band. Paul is also the director of the Jazz Ensemble of the Chelmsford Community Band.