PARADIGM SHIFT
When guitarist Melvin Henderson, organist Gerry Youngman and drummer Jared Schonig play together, they become Paradigm Shift, a powerhouse fusion of diverse musical styles, originality and intensity. Natural flair and years of music-making experience make these three distinct, dynamic and accomplished artists a jazz tour de force.
Paradigm Shift has worked together for many years developing their own sound and touring the United States and Europe. Their release Shifting Times was their debut album on Nagel-Heyer Records. They invited their fellow musicians trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, trumpeter Marcus Printup, vibraphonist Joe Locke, and saxophonist Bill Tiberio to join them in the studio.
The result of this collaboration is an outstanding recording by some of today’s hottest jazz musicians.Paradigm Shift was founded in the late 80’s by Melvin Henderson, a traditional and progressive jazz guitarist, whose influences are George Benson, Pat Metheny, and Wes Montgomery.
The new album "Street Expressionism" was released March 2007:
"Street Expressionism" is the follow-up to the Top Ten US Jazz Radio Charts recording “Shifting Times” (nh 2053).
After a two year wait before going back in the studio, Paradigm Shift played, lived, and observed as much of life as we could all in an effort to become a closer musical family.
"Street Expressionism" is a direct result of those observations. The musicians long ago decided that, although the jazz standards of yesteryear contained all the knowledge they collectively loved or for that matter needed, it was important to express some of the many other musical influences that have shaped them.
The album is a collection of original, traditional, and funk styles of jazz. They pay homage to the masters knowing that we will be learning from them for a lifetime. PARADIGM SHIFT also know that there is much to learn from the many voices, sounds and observations of the streets we traverse everyday, sometimes the expressions are humorous, sometimes sad but if we look just beyond the surface, always real. Enjoy this music on any musical, spiritual, intellectual level you may find yourself.
The PARADIGM SHIFT Story:
Bandleader Mel Henderson attended Berklee School of Music, and has performed with Tommy Campbell, Al Jarreau, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Cheryl Lynn, Roy Ayers, Houston Person and Dr. Lonnie Smith just to name a few. Even though their paths had crosses many times before, Gerry Youngman, who attended Berklee School of Music as a trumpeter, joined forces with Melvin in the late 80’s. Prior to attending Berklee, Gerry studied with Rochester’s Chuck Mangione. While at Berklee, under the direction of Phil Wilson, Gerry performed with Claudio Roditti, Mark Elf, Hal Crook, and others in the Thursday Night Dues Band. Gerry has shared the stage with many top names in the music world, including Lou Donaldson, Gerry Niewood, Gary Burton, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chuck Mangione, and the great Thad Jones. Together as Paradigm Shift Mel and Gerry have performed with Eric Alexander, David “Fathead” Newman, Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Printup, Fred Wesley, Ted Poor and Joe Locke.
The newest member, Jared Schonig is a 20 year-old drummer from Los Angeles, CA. The son of two accomplished musicians, Jared attended an arts high school where he had the pleasure of performing with George Duke and Eric Marienthal. After moving to Rochester to attend the Eastman School of Music at age 18, he quickly gained notoriety in the Rochester jazz scene, performing with Wynton Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Dave Liebman, and others. Jared is also a winner of 7 Downbeat Studio Music Awards.
Paradigm Shift is the brainchild of Melvin Henderson, who plays traditional and contemporary jazz guitar. His influences among others are George Benson, Grant Green, and Wes Montgomery. After attending Berklee School of Music in the mid-seventies, Melvin performed in Boston and New York with his own group, the East West Band, which included Tommy Campbell on drums. In the early 80’s Melvin toured and recorded with Al Jarreau, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Cheryl Lynn, Roy Ayers, to name just a few. After returning to his hometown Rochester, NY, in the mid-eighties he opened up his own jazz club named Indigos. At Indigos, Melvin was able to present such jazz greats as Wynton Marsalis, Mel Lewis, Kenny Burrell, Joe Locke, Johnny Griffin, Barney Kessel, Joe Lovano, Mel Torme and many more. After two years of running Indigos, during which time Melvin had little time to perform, he closed Indigos and started playing full time again. In the following years Melvin shared the stage with such jazz greats as Jack McDuff, Clark Terry, David ‘Fathead’ Newman, Eric Alexander, Wycliffe Gordon, Fred Wesley, Bobby Militello, Joe Locke while continuing to compose and perform his own music.
Even though their paths had crossed many times before, Gerry Youngman, who attended Berklee School of Music as a trumpeter, joined forces with Melvin in the late 80’s. Prior to attending Berklee, Gerry studied with Rochester’s Chuck Mangione. While at Berklee, under the direction of Phil Wilson, Gerry performed with Claudio Roditi, Mark Elf, Hal Crook, and others in the Thursday Night Dues Band. Gerry has shared the stage with many top names in the music world, including Lou Donaldson, Gerry Niewood, Gary Burton, Doctor Lonnie Smith, Chuck Mangione, and the great Thad Jones.
Ted Poor graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 2003 where he earned his BM in Jazz Performance and taught on the faculty of the Community Education Division. Now a resident of New York City, Ted performs and records a variety of music with many different ensembles. Most recently, he has worked with the Ben Monder Quartet and played on Monder’s most recent CD to be released later in 2004. In March, Ted did tour Europe with Chris Potter as well as the trio of trumpeter and Pat Metheny Group member Cuong Vu. In addition to tours throughout the year, the Cuong Vu trio plans on recording an album for Pat Metheny Records. Ted also performs regularly with the Jerome Sabbagh Quartet and with vibraphonist Lalo- performing most recently at the Blue Note. Ted is a member of groups based outside of NYC as well. He plays with the Rochester based trio Paradigm Shift and performed on their debut release “Shifting Times” on Nagel Heyer Records featuring Joe Locke, Wycliffe Gordon and Marcus Printup. Ted also plays with the Respect Sextet and Jerseyband - two experimental groups that were formed at Eastman.Ted has performed with Maria Schneider, Bobby McFerrin, Wycliffe Gordon, Houston Person, Rich Perry, Josh Roseman, Fred Wesley and Joe Locke at such venues as the Rochester International Jazz Festival and the Salzburger Jazz Herbst (Austria). While at Eastman, Ted studied drum set Rich Thompson and percussion with John Beck. He now teaches drum set and percussion at Poly Prep Country Day School in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. After Ted Poor had moved to NYC it was difficult finding a substitute drummer on the local scene, until Melvin heard of Jared. He invited Jared to perform with the group, and hired him on the spot.
Jared Schonig is a 20 year-old drummer originally from Los Angeles, CA. Raised by two professional musicians Jared had the opportunity of attending an arts high school where he had the pleasure of performing with George Duke and Eric Marienthal. After moving to Rochester to attend Eastman at age 18, he quickly gained notoriety in the Rochester jazz scene, performing with Wynton Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Dave Liebman, and others. He currently is a member of the Dave Rivello Ensemble, Bob DiBaudo Trio, Paradigm Shift Trio and Bill Tiberio Group. Jared is also a winner of 7 Downbeat Studio Music Awards.
Quotes to the Nagel-Heyer debut album "Shifting Times":
With its first national release, Shifting Times, the organ-guitar-drums trio is ready to introduce the rest of the country to its upbeat brand of mainstream soul jazz…”, Jason Crane, All About Jazz.com
"The guys in the band were all being funky beyond the call of duty and the fans loved every minute of it… Jazz for a feeling of fun and affirmation of all we have ever really believed in. Like up is the best place to be.” , Lawrence Brazier - Salzburger Jazzherbst 2002
“Shifting Times is, however, a captivating session of mainly original compositions that owes a great deal to the Blue Note soul jazz of the late ‘60s. Equal parts Jimmy Smith, Grant Green and Donald Byrd…”, John Kelman, AAJ.com
"Did you ever walk into a jazz club in a new town, see a local group, and walk out three hours later as a fan for life? That's the experience a lot of folks have the first time they catch Paradigm Shift. This trio -- featuring Gerry Youngman on organ, Melvin Henderson on guitar and Ted Poor on drums -- has served as the rhythm section for folks like Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Printup, and Joe Locke, all three of whom make guest appearances on the new album, Shifting Times. Full of strong original compositions and uncommon covers, the album is fun in the way that great jazz albums always are. Recommended." , Jason Crane, Station Manager, Jazz90.1 in Rochester, NY
What is a Paradigm Shift?
Think of a Paradigm Shift as a change from one way of thinking to another. It's a revolution, a transformation, a sort of metamorphosis. It just does not happen, but rather it is driven by agents of change. Melvin Henderson, Gerry Youngman, and Ted Poor make up the band Paradigm Shift, and they have something to say with their first album. "It is our aim to create music that is original and that will draw people because of what it is, not what it resembles. The music is the gateway. It is the means in which we earn the right to speak to a crowd which would not otherwise listen." Paradigm Shift worked together for years developing their own sound and touring the USA before recording this CD. To make a stronger impact with their debut album in the jazz world they invited their long time companions Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Printup and Joe Locke to join them in the studio. The result is an amazing recording by some of today’s hottest jazz musicians.
For the International clubs and festivals two new groups with legends of jazz out the PARADIGM SHIFT circle are very interesting at present:
you can hire Mel Henderson with his formations "Henderson-Owens Trio" featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith or the "Henderson-Owens Quartet" featuring former Ray Charles saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman.
