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Paul E. West
 Musician , Bassist , Conductor, Administrator , Educator

Paul E. West born January 28, 1934 NYC
 
EDUCATION
High School of Music and Art NYC
Wagner College Staten Island ; BA Music

 
MUSIC EXPERIENCE
1. As classical musician (violinist): and Conductor
Studied violin with Albert Polarioff (father of Paul Nero) from age 6 to age 18.Won the highest honor award in contest under auspices of the National Guild of Violin Teachers. Performed in concert at: Town Hall, Carl Fischer Hall, Carnegie Music Hall. Student conductor of Senior Symphony Orchestra, High School of Music and Art, during entire senior year. Conducted High School of Music and Art Senior Symphony Orchestra in special concert for guest conductor Eugene Ormandy of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. Conducted High School of Music and Art Opera Orchestra and Chorus in production of Smetena's opera, "The Bartered Bride."
2. Conductor, arranger, composer and business manager of
    "The Paul West Symphonic - Pop Orchestra and Chorus,"1950 - 1953:

While a senior at High School of Music and Art he organized and developed an Orchestra and Chorus of young people (14 years and older) from the Harlem Church and Public School Community. This was done as a personal venture, extra-curriculum activity. The Orchestra and Chorus grew to about 50 instrumentalists and vocalists and performed concerts for non-profit organizations throughout the New York City area.
3. As a professional musician (jazz), 1954 - present:
     Performed and recorded with the following artists:

Charles Aznavour Johnny Mathis Dizzy Gillespie George Cables Trio
Ray Charles Carmen McRae Billy Taylor Barry Harris Quintet
Betty Carter Abbey Lincoln Randy Weston Milt Jackson Quartet
Petula Clark Carol Sloane Errol Garner Trio Lester Young Quartet
Chris Conner Grady Tate Junior Mance Trio Jimmy Heath Quartet
Billy Eckstine Dinah Washington Norman Simmons Trio Sonny Fortune Quartet
Billie Holiday Joe Williams Tommy Flanagan Trio Max Roach Quartet
Peggy Lee   Kenny Barron Duo/Trio George Coleman Quintet
    Sir Roland Hanna Duo/ Trio Neo Bass Ensemble
    Mike Longo Trio Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Band

4. Broadway shows
"Company" "No Strings"

5. Television Shows
"David Frost Show" - Channel 5. "Soul"- Channel l 3.
" The Phil Donahue Show" (Jazz Greats) Billy Eckstine, Carmen McRae, Joe Williams & Nancy Wilson- Channel 4.
"Positively Black" - Channel 4. "Like it is" with Gil Noble - Channel 7.

6. Musician and Actor
Movie - Played acting role (Shep) in "Dream Lover" for MGM, directed
by Alan J. Pakula 1984. Performed on sound track.

 
ADMINISTRATION
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JAZZMOBILE, Inc. January 1969 - September 1973.
Implemented Jazzmobile's three programs:
a. Outdoors summer concerts
  • Produced 81 summer concerts,1969.
  • Produced 86 summer concerts,1970.
  • Produced 96 summer concerts,1971.
  • Expanded the summer operation to a one-week series of 5 concerts in Baltimore,
    Washington, D.C. New Jersey, Upstate NY and Westchester County 1971, 1972, 1973.

     b. School Jazz lecture concerts.
  • Produce a series of Jazz lecture / demonstration concerts in Public Schools throughout the 5 boroughs of New York City.
    		•

    c. The Jazzmobile Workshop
  • Developed a concept for a Workshop and implemented it in November 1969.
  • Devised curriculum, with three levels of theory, harmony, ear training, sight-reading, improvisation, big band and small group experience, as well as a schedule of classes for threelevels of students.

    Recruited students and selected staff.

    1973 student body of approximately five hundred registered students with a staff of 13 professional musicians.
    • DIRECTOR OF HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT MUSIC SCHOOL (1973 - 2000 )
    1. Developed the Music School student body from 150 students to approximately 700 participants.
    2. Organized a series of workshops:
    a. Jazz workshop
    b. Symphony Orchestra
    c. Ensembles in Brass, Strings And Woodwinds
    d. Latin Music Workshop
    e. Opera Workshop
    f. Choral Workshop
    3. Produced an annual series of concerts presenting:
    Tito Puente & Group Monte Alexander Trio Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Orchestra
    Count Basie & Group Mongo Santamaria & Group Symphony of the New World
    Carmen McRae Dizzy Gillespie & Group Johnny Colon and Orchestra
    Odetta Chinese Music Ensemble of NY American Symphony Orchestra
    Buddy Rich Big Band Tommy Flanagan Trio Charlie Palmieri Orchestra
    Vanessa Rubin Modern Jazz Quartet The New York Choral Society
    Tokyo Strings Quartet The Composer String Quartet The Riverside Symphony Orchestra
    Ron Carter Nonette Riverside Strings Quartet & others
    The following concerts feature guest artists with the Henry Street Settlement Symphony Orchestra,
    conducted by Paul E. West:
    + 1st annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring : Cecil Bridgwater, Eddie Henderson,
    Jimmy Owens, Milt Jackson, Jimmy Heath, Mike Longo, David Williams, Yorun Israel.
    + 2nd annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring : Roy Hargrove, Frank Wess,
    Jon Faddis, Mike Longo, David Williams, Winard Harper.
    + 3rd annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring : Claudio Roditi, Frank Foster,
    Bill Cherry, Jimmy Owens, Mike Longo, David Williams, Winard Harper.
    + 4th annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring : Jon Faddis, Nicholas Payton,
    Javon Jackson, Mike Longo, David Williams, Winard Harper.
    + 5th annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring : Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath,
    Slide Hampton, Mike Longo, John Lee, Winard Harper.
    + 6th annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring : Diego Urcola, Jeremy Pelt,
     
    		Wayne Escoffery, Mike Longo, David Williams, Yorun Israel.
    Monte Alexander solo pianist with Orchestra
    Stanley Cowell solo pianist with Orchestra
    Carmen McRae Jazz vocal solo with Orchestra
    Dizzy Gillespie with Orchestra
    Randy Weston solo piano with Orchestra at the Montreal Jazz Festival 1995
    4. Developed a program in 1974 to help aspiring young Opera singers develop their vocal, technical and language skills, repertoire and staging experience. Each 17-week workshop culminated in a fully staged Opera with costume design, set and light design and Orchestra.To maximize the performance opportunities for the large number of participants involved, 4 individual casts were developed. Two casts sang in English and 2 casts sang in the original language. The Opera Workshop, after 7 years, developed into an Opera Production Group and reached near professional quality performances. Each year at least one Opera was Produced.
    Some of the Operas produced included:
    Lucia di Lammermoor La Traviata Madama Butterfly
    Eugene Onegin Rigoletto The Merry Wives Of Windsor
    Julius Caesar Carmen Magic Flute
    Suor Angelica
    5. Co - Produced a 1983 Benefit Concert for HSS at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center featuring Carmen McRae with The Henry Street Settlement symphony Orchestra, Paul E. West Conductor, and Tony Bennett with The Count Basie Orchestra.
    Co - Produced Jazz and Caribbean Festival in ST.Croix, Virgin Island in 1992,1993 and 1994.


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