peress::bio

PAUL PERESS: NEWS

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STUDIO/STAGE COLLABORATIONS:

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PAUL PERESS BIO:

Rock-n-Soul collaborations: The B-52's, Moby, Brenda Russell, Tom Scott, Phil Perry, Stephen Bishop, Lari White, Guy Davis ...

Latin jazz collaborations: Arturo O'Farrill, Jimmy Heath, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff, Michael Mossman, Gabriela Anders, Candido, David Amram, Claudette Sierra, Edsel Gomez, Oriente Lopez, Ruben Rodriguez, Armando Gola, John Benitez...

Bandmembers have included: Brenda Russell, Phil Perry, Jeff Golub, Tom Scott, Brandon Fields, Michael Paulo, Lew Soloff, Michael Mossman, Mark Whitfield, John Tropea, Russell Ferrante, Mitch Foreman, Helio Alves, Mo Pleasure, Glenn Alexander, Pat, Kelley, Arturo O'Farrill, Edsel Gomez, Dan Siegel, Ruben Rodriguez, Anthony Jackson, Abraham Laboriel, Jimmy Haslip, Lincoln Goines, Will Lee, Mark Egan...

Paul is the son of a prolific poet, and an accomplished classical music conductor. Of Puerto Rican heritage, Paul grew up on the Gulf of Mexico in Corpus Christi, Texas. When he turned 5, his aunt sent him a "music minus one for drummers" record, with a pair of drumsticks; he was transfixed, and immediately started lobbying to play the drums. So, for his 6th birthday, a big package came in the mail - and after Paul tore it open, he found nestled inside, a shiny, delicate violin. He thus began with the violin at the age of 6, switched to trumpet at 12, playing in the Jr. High School marching band, yet always rallying to play the drums. His father got the post as music director of the Kansas City Philharmonic, and after the move, Paul befriended the principal percussionist, Vince Bilardo, who helped convince Paul's father to get him a drumset; so, at 17, Paul got a set of red-sparkle Gretsch drums!

That Fall, he loaded his drums into his MGB, and moved to New York City, living in Hell's Kitchen, and putting himself through night school at Hunter College for 2 semesters. His high grades enabled him to transfer to Columbia University, where he studied economics, art history, and poli-sci, finishing in 2 years. While at Columbia, he worked nights, and studied drums privately with Kenwood Dennard, then Kim Plainfield. Both of them heavily influenced him in the Latin jazz and Brazilian genres.

After finishing school, Paul's first project was a jazz/rock band, Double Exposure, which he co-led with his sister - singer/songwriter Anika Paris. They put out a CD in 1990 as the band was appearing at several hot spots in New York, including the now defunct Mikell's. The band had a Steely Dan edge to it, and portentously featured several future Steely Dan sidemen, including Jon Herington, Drew Zing, and Tom Barney. The band broke up in 1990, and Paul began working around town in various projects, including, in 1994, leading the house bandat Chicago B.L.U.E.S. He landed a weekly Brazilian gig at the Citrus Lounge - running from 1995 to 1998 - and started working with some of NYC's greatest Latin artists; this led to his first big break as a solo artist - an appearance with his band at the first annual St. Kitts Music Festival in 1996, and he was asked back in '99, '02, and '05.

Highlights of 2005: Paul's band traveled from NY to Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, California, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia and stops in between, appearing at major venues, including headlining the Heinekin Jazz Festival, appearing at Lincoln Center, opening for Wyc Music from Morningside - CD cover - children of different races holding hands lef Jean, and return engagements at BET Jazz St. Lucia Festival, the St. Kitts Music Festival, and Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival...

Highlights of 2006: Paul produced a concert series at the NY Historical Society, paralleling their exhibit, "Slavery in New York". Peress' concerts – featuring Arturo O'Farrill, Candido, and Guy Davis – demonstrated the great influence that enslaved people had on music in and about the US. His group also performed at Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival and 3 other NYC festivals, was the featured band at Puerto Rico's Festival Internacional de Jazz Latino, worked with MOBY, played for Jimmy Heath's 80 birthday and Candido's 85th birthday celebrations...

Highlights of 2007: Paul toured the West Coast from Orange County to Los Angeles to Studio Cityto Berkeley to Sausalito, appearing with Kai Eckhardt and Frank Martin at the Berkeley Jazz Festival, and Russell Ferrante, Ric Fierabracci, and Gary Meek at the famed LaVeLee Jazz Club. His final stop on that tour had him headlining at the Sausalito Women's Club's annual gala. Paul also toured with Guy Davis & the High Flying Rockets - appearances included the Pittsburgh Blues Festival, NYC's Summer on the Hudson, and Harmony on the Hudson where he also played with Tom Chapin's band.

Lately, Paul has been appearing monthly at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar in NY, traveling often for work on the West Coast, and writing voraciously – a new, all original CD is a brewin'...

PRESS & COLLEAGUES:

GUITAR WORLD – Joe Lalaina

SPYRO GYRA'S - Julio Fernandez

“Awakening features great production, good material, and inspired playing - I love it!”

SPYRO GYRA'S - Joel Rosenblatt

“There are some great performances on Awakening, an enjoyable listen for sure! Paul really seems to have a knack for putting the right combination of players together!! I look forward to the next recording!!”

JEFF PEVAR - CPR
(David Crosby, James Raymond)

“Awakening is a wonderful combination of lyrical and melodic compositions featuring a plethora of New York’s finest players. A must for any jazz and pop enthusiast.”

MICHAEL HILL

“Paul is a drummer superb, and his new album Awakening is excellent - really nice sounds, music, and playing! This CD is happening.”

CD Baby

PERFORMANCE REVIEWS:

BET ST. LUCIA JAZZ FESTIVAL
Yves Renard - Director

THE STAR NEWSPAPER, ST. LUCIA
St. Lucia Jazz Festival

“Paul Peress brought the curtain down with his diverse group of musicians from South America and the US and his funky, jazzy, multi-cultural sounds. Peress' expert drumming skills did not go unnoticed and received resounding applause from the crowd.” By Eliza Francis ©2002

THE KASLO JAZZ FESTIVAL, B.C. CANADA
Gusti Calis - Artistic Director

"You guys - in my taste - are the best band that's ever played in the 14 years of the Kaslo Jazz Festival. You guys were stellar! The interaction between you, the connection with the audience, was all just amazing." ©2004

ABE LABORIEL - Legendary Bassist
(Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, George Benson,
Michael McDonald, Barry Manilow, Al Jarreau)

"The first time Paul Peress and I played together, we had an incredible musical connection - something really magical was happening! It felt like we had been playing together for years. I will remember that night for the rest of my life. Paul is a drummer who really cares about the music, and it shows. There aren't many drummers who care about the music at the level that Paul does." ©2005

DANNY LAWRENCE
Owner - Manhattan Beach, NYC

“I’ve recorded great drummers like Bernard Purdie and Steve Gadd, and Paul brings a similar level of dedication to his craft, and a sound of his own to this studio. Paul is a great drummer.”

IDAHO'S ART ON THE GREEN
Mary Dee Dodge - Director

THE JAMAICA GLEANER

"The festival then made a leap from the laid-back stuff...with the Paul Peress Band, which is no stranger to the festival: in fact it was Paul Peress' third time at the St Kitts Music Festival. It was good stuff." ©2002

CARIBBEAN LIFE MAGAZINE
St. Kitts Music Festival

PAUL PERESS, The New Master of the Groove

Awakening CD cover "First impressions can sometimes be deceiving, but first listens are never wrong. When initially discovering this hidden gem of an album I thought: Latin/Brazilian grooves - could be interesting. But then when I read that the artist was the drummer I feared that it would be a cacophony of noise and the music would be lost. BOY WAS I WRONG!!! Paul Peress is not only a masterful composer and producer, but he is also a GROOVEMASTER in the highest order. From the opening notes of 'Norwegian Wood' I realized that this was a very special album. Gabriela Anders' vocals are a 20 on a scale of 10, and Mark Whitfield always brings something intriguing on guitar (as does Jeff Golub on his tracks!), but the thing that hooked me from the start was Paul's disciplined music-making as a drummer. Throughout the entire disk Paul masterfully drives each tune, tastefully, thoughtfully and lyrically, without overpowering any of the other musicians. It's not until tracks 5 'Visions of Brazil' and 7 'Mambo Mio' that he steps it up a notch to show some of the virtuosity that has made him a regular show-stopper at many of the Latin Jazz festivals and in demand on the New York City Jazz circuit. LISTEN TO THE ALBUM and get transported to a magical, Brazilian sort of musicians' 'Margaritaville' where along with the heavenly bodies, good libations and perfect weather you are also enveloped by musical virtuosity at every turn. Paul's song selection for this disk includes some original compositions intertwined with some classics. His interpretations are tasteful, grooving, and especially in the case of 'Norwegian Wood' incredibly exciting. Through some research I learned that this album was in the hunt for several Grammy Awards this year. Though it didn't make the final cut, it should be on your CD player's 'A List' for many years to come (or at least until Paul releases his next disk!). Whether at home, driving, at work or a romantic interlude, this album fits perfectly into any environment..."
Reviewer: jeff millar-sax, contributing writer MUSIC INC.

THEN AGAIN - Un CD Sólido

Then Again CD cover "THEN AGAIN", Paul Peress - Esta baterista radicado en Nueva York lanza al mercado un CD sólido y de muy buen gusto. Gran parte del éxito de este trabajo radica en los músicos que acompañan a Peress, todos sumamente acoplados y haciendo que la música brille. Helio Alves se destaca en el piano, y también es de resaltar el acoplamiento entre Peress y el bajista Lincoln Goines. Los temas seleccionados hacen justicia a este grupo de músicos envidiables, destacando "Nothing Personal" de Don Grolnick, "Dolphin Dance" y "Maiden Voyage" de Herbie Hancock, "Afro Blue" de Mongo Santamaría. Peress demuestra muy buen gusto y profesionalismo, tanto en su ejecución como en su selección de músicos y temas.
Reviewer: Rodrigo O. Sanchez, music editor Musico Pro ©2005