“What the amazing Paul Hanson does on bassoon -- an exceedingly difficult instrument to play and one almost exclusively associated with classical music -- is akin to what other innovators like guitarists Charlie Hunter and Stanley Jordan, banjoist Bela Fleck and bassist Jaco Pastorius have done with their respective instruments.”
- Bill Milkowski, Jazztimes, Jazziz 

When I toured Japan with Blast II: MIX in 2008, I had the privilage of meeting jazz bassoonist Paul Hanson.  Our cast was invited to see a preview of a new Cirque Du Soleil show at Tokyo Disnyland called ZED.  Baton twirler extrodinare Seishi Inagaki was a MIX cast member in 2006 and was now performing in ZED.  Through this connection we not only were invited to watch the show, but also got to hang with the cast after as well.  It was at this hang where I met Paul.  In the show, he's a cast member, part of a large group of extremely talented performer, so it wasn't until later until I learned what he could really do on bassoon.

Seishi (middle) and Paul (right) performing in ZED