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Paul Jost
When describing the unique vocalist and arranger Paul Jost, two words come to mind … “passionate storyteller”. Paul is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger but it is his work as a vocalist that makes him a standout. Both critics and contemporaries alike say he is one of the best male jazz vocalists since Mark Murphy.
Paul has performed worldwide with recent tours in Asia and Europe. Back home in the U.S, Paul is making his mark in New York with an ongoing residency at the internationally acclaimed jazz club 55 Bar, a two-month stint in 2017 at SMOKE performing with Orrin Evans, guest appearances with vibraphonist Joe Locke at Dizzy's Coca Cola Club at the Lincoln Center in April 2018 and performances at such popular clubs as Mezzrow, Jazz at Kitano’s and more. He can be seen regularly on Festival stages including recent performances at Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival and Exit Zero Jazz Festival.
After a long career as an instrumentalist and sideman having recorded and performed with Billy Eckstine, Mark Murphy, Dr. John, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Farrell, Ron Carter, Ann Hampton Calloway, Sylvia Sims and George Mesterhazy to name just a few, Paul launched his solo vocal career in 2014 with the release of his debut vocal album “Breaking Through”. Included in that album is “Book Faded Brown,” a composition he wrote that was recorded by The Band, Rick Danko and Carl Perkins.
In 2015, in honor of the 40th Anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run”, Paul was commissioned by Michael Kline of Exit Zero Jazz Festival to interpret this iconic album in Jazz and headline at the festival. This performance was so well received that in 2016 he recorded it live at The Bitter End in New York.
With his reputation as a vocalist growing, Paul was recently showcased on PBS-TV in a profile feature in the Friday Arts series titled “Finding Your Voice”.
Paul's follow-up release to “Breaking Through” titled “Simple Life” features his quartet Jim Ridl-piano, Dean Johnson-bass and Tim Horner-drums. Joe Locke is the special guest on a number of tracks.
A frequent guest lecturer and teacher presenting classes on “Finding Your Voice”, Paul’s outgoing personality works with all ages – from elementary through adults. He has worked at such colleges as the University of the Arts, West Chester University, Stockton College and others. He also leads an interactive scatting and body percussion workshop. A high school music teacher recently said, “Paul got our students tapping, clapping, singing and scatting and, in the process, believing in themselves and their unique place in the world. He’s phenomenal, inspirational.”
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C. Michael Bailey Best Recordings of 2022
by C. Michael Bailey
This best-releases-of-the-year article does not reflect all of the music that I have listened to in the past year, rather I restrict myself to only the music that I have reviewed, with one exception: the Waiting For Columbus Super Deluxe Edition for which I have pined away for 40 years. I leave you in the gentle hands of Mike Jacobs for that. Happy Holidays, Pilgrims. You are in the right place. Paul Jost While We Were Gone ...
read moreMore Than 3 Tenors
by H William Stine
They were superstars on their own, iconic names who didn't need first names: Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti. The world loved them; and they loved the world -sometimes a little too literary. When they agreed to sing together, they went from superstars to superheroes: The Three Tenors. Three? Really? That's all it takes to be adored? I can do bettermuch better than that! Let the adoration flow because I presented More Than Three Tenors" this week. Of course, I meant, tenor sax ...
read moreJanuary 2022: While We Were Gone
by C. Michael Bailey
Cecilia Bartoli Unreleased Decca Records 2021 A pandemic-age benefit is the marketing of unreleased past projects. Mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli's Unreleased is such a project, having been recorded in 2013 and subsequently shelved. The program emanates from the center of the Classical period, well presented by Kammerorchester Basel under conductor Muhai Tang. The recording opens with a muscular performance of Beethoven's Ah, perfido!," which anticipated the composer's lone opera, Fidelio and its heroine, Leonore. Also ...
read morePaul Jost: While We Were Gone
by Richard J Salvucci
According to Francis Bacon, some books are to be tasted and others to be swallowed whole. Likewise with recordings. Some are to be sampled. Others are to be thoroughly assimilated. Where the listener lands with Paul Jost will depend on a host of things. Are you political? If so, are you progressive? Then by all means, this recording is for you. Jost's soliloquy, January 6th: An Appeal for Reason" will no doubt be convincing. If your politics are ...
read moreCathy Segal-Garcia: Social Anthems, Volume 1
by Troy Dostert
Proving there is still some life in the spirit of '60s activismand even in the decades beyond itvocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia gives us six tracks which meld jazz, folk and pop idioms in a way which sounds both classic and contemporary. Drawing on the talents of a fine band and a couple of intriguing guest vocalists, Segal-Garcia delivers these tunes with confidence and a winsome disposition. Aside from the self-penned What Are We Gonna Do," a zesty folk-based tune, ...
read moreAmina Figarova: Persistence
by Maurizio Zerbo
Il pregio della varietà sostanzia la cifra artistica della pianista Amina Figarova, non circoscritta entro i soli confini del jazz. Dopo il progetto orchestrale del penultimo CD, la musicista azera residente a New York apre la finestra del suo etereo pensiero compositivo verso i territori della fusion, del funk, del rap. Da queste premesse discende un disco ibrido nella sua eccellente realizzazione, che testimonia la continua evoluzione del jazz e la nobiltà dei suoi migliori protagonisti. A far da tessuto ...
read moreAmina Figarova: Persistence
by Edward Blanco
Veteran jazz pianist Amina Figarova embarks on a bold new step with her genre-bending Persistence, creating a new sound for the pianist with music that produces an electric-influenced groove mixing funk-jazz, jazz fusion, hip-hop, classical and R&B rhythms found on this new exploratory album. After two decades leading an acoustic sextet, her new quintet ensemble, Edition 113 (named after the block where she and her and husband, flautist Bart Platteau make their home) was assembled specifically to perform the eclectic ...
read moreThe Jost Project Plays The Music From The '60s - Support it at Kickstarter!
Source:
Tony Miceli
Support The Jost Project - Can't Find My Way Home" Kickstarter Campaign We’re a band devoted to jazz and hope to reach a generation of rock fans in a style that will introduce them and pull them into our world. What’s our goal? To create a whole new connection between the music of the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Donovan, Simon and Garfunkel, the Beach Boys, and jazz. We love it when fans of such songs as “Walk This ...
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• A creative force that deserves to be added to the list of great male jazz vocalists of all time. With “Breaking Through”, Paul Jost has shown that he is a force to be reckoned with and an artist that deserves to be seen on all great festival stages worldwide. This album is one of the best jazz CD’s I’ve had the pleasure of listening to so far this year, highly recommended.
BBC Radio Ulster – Linley Hamilton
• I was blown away by Paul’s performance. He is right up there! Not only great scatting, but sings with a big, big range, and magnificent articulation while scatting with accuracy and on pitch. Philadelphia Inquirer – A.D. Amorosi • Jost, on his new solo CD Breaking Through, conjures angels, and scats like mad, making jazz classics briskly new. "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Sweet Lorraine" come alive. Jost's self-penned tune "Book Faded Brown" – is deliciously rhythmic and confidently original. Uli Beckerhoff: Artistic Director – Jazzahead
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For What It's Worth
From: Social Anthems, Volume 1By Paul Jost