American-Norwegian jazz musician (guitar) and orchestra leader, known for several album releases. He led the Paul Weeden Trio with organist Don Patterson and drummer Billy James, and they released an album with Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt (Blue Note Records, 1962). He also played in the bands of Coleman Hawkins and Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s.
After touring in Sweden (1966), he moved to Norway (1971). With Magni Wentzel, Håkon Nilsen and Svein Christiansen he made “I Remember Clifford” for EBU’s Eurojazz (NRK, 1971). Weeden was a central figure in the scene associated with Club 7, an Oslo venue, where he led the band Youngbloods as well as his own quartet (including drummer Ole Jacob Hansen, guitarist Bill Mulholland, and bassist Ray Taylor).
After the death of Freddie Green (1911–1987), Weeden replaced him on guitar in the Count Basie Orchestra, on the recommendation of Harry Edison (1911–1999). He was contacted by the leader, Frank Foster (1928–2011) and joined on tour from January 1988.
In the 1990s he performed with various artists, including Vidar Johansen, Odd Riisnæs, Roy Nikolaisen, Eivin Sannes, Rune Nicolaysen, Kristen Svendsen, and Ole Jacob Hansen. The documentary Too Young To Be Old by Lene Midling-Jenssen (NRK, 2003) shows Weeden’s collaboration with “Grønnes Bad&Jazzforsyning” from Flekkefjord. This also led to a record release (2003). Until 2006 he led his own quintet with Brinck Johnsen, Eivin Sannes, Kristen Svendsen and Tom Olstad.
He lived in Oslo until his death on 2 July 2011 at age 88, and was the father of the musician Lasse Weeden.
Link to Wikipedia biography