who are the Paul Colman Trio ?

When we look out over a crowd, whether they call themselves Christians, atheists, Hindus, Buddhists, nothings, whatever, they are people God has given us to love and music is the vehicle we’ve chosen.” - -pc3

Sometimes, try as you might, you just can’t find the right word. Other times, as is the case with the music and members of the Paul Colman Trio, too many words come to mind. Words like direct, honest, fun, energetic, no-nonsense, electric and open.

Those adjectives come into play thanks to the commitment the members of the Paul Colman Trio (guitarist/songwriter Paul Colman, bassist Grant Norsworthy and drummer Phil Gaudion) made to each other long ago as friends and brothers in Christ first, and musicians second; a commitment clearly reflected on their Essential Records debut, New Map Of The World.

The Paul Colman Trio got its start in 1998 when Colman, who had already released two well-received solo albums in his native Australia, recruited drummer Gaudion for a trip to the United States. Upon returning home, the duo decided to add a bass player, turning to longtime friend Norsworthy, and the affectionately dubbed pc3 was born. The band went on to become the most successful independent artist in Australia’s history, dominating radio and garnering the title of Artist of the Year in 2000 and 2001, as determined by The Rock Across Australia charts.

There was this chemistry from the word ‘go’ when we started playing together. No one was fighting anybody else musically, and there were already 30 or 40 songs that I’d written that worked well with this setting,” Colman says. The collaboration that happened when we came together, that to me was what made the magic.”

Our first gig was in front of 3,000 people at the Melbourne Zoo, and it started to take off from there,” Gaudion recalls. People seemed to really enjoy the performances and the interaction with the audience, and it just sort of exploded. Paul had a lot of gigs lined up already, so we just started to play them as the Trio rather than just Paul alone. We launched a CD in the middle of ‘99, and from there it’s continued to go up.”

It was one of pc3’s self-released CDs that made it into the hands of two different people who would have an impact on the band’s rapidly changing future. Completely independent of each other, the music found its way to both Third Day’s Mac Powell, who invited the band to open for them on an Australian tour, and veteran producer Monroe Jones, who immediately took up the band’s flag and arranged for pc3 to record its U.S. debut.

The band released four studio albums, two live albums, and several Christian radio hit singles such as Turn, The Selfish Song, and Fill My Cup. Their major-label studio album debut New Map of the World (2002) received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. Paul Colman started his career as a solo artist, releasing two albums in the 1990s. Then with pc3, he produced two more studio albums and two live albums, before breaking into the United States market with the pc3 Live Acoustic album. That was followed by two more studio albums and worldwide touring before announcing in February 2004 they would be "taking a break as a recording/performing band", citing "financial and family considerations" as primary reasons.

PC3 is back again for a one off reunion show at Easterfest 2009 as the headline act - dont miss it!

Awards & Accolades

2003 Dove Award for New Artist of the Year

2003 GRAMMY® Award nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album (New Map of the World)

2003 Dove Award nomination for Pop/Contemporary Album (New Map of the World)

Featured artist on Coca-Cola/Kroger promotion for 2003 Dove Awards

2002 CCM Internet Music Award nominations (Germany) in the categories of Best International Artist, Best International Album Pop, Best Live Act, Best Newcomer International and Best Up-Riser International

2002 Christian Music Award nomination in Sweden for New Act of the Year

Named one of the Top 3 Breakthrough Artists of 2002 by Radio & Records

Named Artist of the Year in both 2000 and 2001 by The Rock Across Australia (TRAA), Australia’s independent Christian music charts—highest charting independent artist in TRAA chart history

Combined sales of the band’s four independent records approaching Australian gold status

One, Essential Records, produced by Brent Milligan—Sept. 9, 2003
New Map of the World, Essential Records, produced by Monroe Jones (2002)
pc3 Live Electric, Independent Release (2001)
pc3 Live Acoustic, Independent Release (2001)
Turn, Independent Release (2000)
Serious Fun, Independent Release (1999)