Paul Aitken

​Locally grown, artisanal, hand-made, organic, renewable, craft, small batch, stunt-guitar playing.

​Paul Aitken is a guitarist from London, Ontario. He has over 35 years of professional playing experience. He is a busy side-person with many London and area artists, and is part of London bands Broomsticks and Hammers, Citizen Jam, Kevin’s Bacon Train, Prism Tape Philosophy, and The Astral Jams. Paul also leads his own award-winning improvised music trio Aitken | Ladd | Peacock with bassist Kim Ladd and drummer Ted Peacock. Paul has appeared on many recordings as a session guitarist, arranger, and producer.

At a glance:

• Over 35 years professional playing.
• Two albums of original instrumental music.
  
• Multiple nominations in various categories for the Forest City London Music Awards.
  
• Innumerable live performance as principal artist and as side-person.
  
• Appears on many commercial recordings.
  
• 2019 Forest City London Music Awards Fantasy Band member.
  
• Winner of the 2022 and 2023 Forest City London Music Award for Jazz Instrumental Solo/Group.
  
• BFA, Jazz Performance and Musicology from York University.
  
• MA, Musicology from McMaster University.
  
• PhD, Communications Studies from the University of Leeds.

Says Paul: “I play guitar. It’s what I do. I’ve been doing it since I was 12 years old. My favourite thing about being a side-person is the opportunity to meet and make music with so many great people. It’s the variety that keeps things interesting and always presents me with new and interesting challenges. Through the relationships that I build I continually develop as a musician, and, perhaps more importantly, as a person. My worst kept secret is that I basically want to play with everybody at least once.