Primary Instrument: Vocal
Paul Jost is a rare talent – an eclectic artist with great skill as a vocalist, drummer, composer and arranger in genres that range from jazz to country and more. His vocals are so soulful that Buster Maxwell wrote in Woman’s Journal … “he nearly single-handedly reclaims the male voice as a valid and critically important jazz instrument.”
Over the years, his musical talents extended to guitar and harmonica, but it’s his voice that truly makes him a standout. Paul has joined with vibraphonist Tony Miceli and bassist Kevin MacConnell in the group re-named The Jost Project, where they interpret classic rock in a jazz format. Their new CD, with drummer Charlie Patierno, is entitled “Can't Find My Way Home” and is being released by Dot Time Records, based in NY and in Europe, later in the summer, 2013. This highly anticipated CD has early listeners in Europe and the USA excited about its potential. Paul is honored to have another CD, a solo recording, in the works with Dot Time Records for later in the year.
This summer Paul looks forward to being a part of Atlantic City's new focus on live art and will perform weekly at Pinnacle Park, the site of the former Sands Hotel, every Wednesday from June 26 through Sept. 18 from 5 to 6:15. “It's like returning to my roots,” he said as he has played every casino in this popular Jersey shore town.
A prolific composer as well, Paul has written over 40 CD’s for major music libraries that are heard daily in over 750 markets throughout the United States. He has composed for Canon Pictures and the NBC Emmy Winning Series “Special Treat”. He is also a four category Billboard Song Contest Winner, whose songs, including the highly acclaimed, “Book Faded Brown”, have been recorded by The Band, Carl Perkins and Rick Danko.
Born and raised in Southern New Jersey, Paul still resides in the area and is proud to have served as musical director at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City and for Morgana King as well. The list of artists he has performed or recorded with is extensive including Billy Eckstine, Mark Murphy, Ann Hampton Calloway, Frank D'Rone, Sylvia Simms, Bobby Scott, Sivuca, Dr. John, Bucky Pizzarelli, Teo Macero, Joe Farrell, Ron Carter, Vincent Falcone, Barry Rogers, Gil Goldstein, Andy Lavern, Bobby Tucker, Pee Wee Ellis, John Phillips, Jack Sheldon, Marky Markowitz, Mike Abene, George Mesterhazy, Ron Thomas and many more.
Paul is also heard on national jingles for major companies. He has done vocals, drumming or played harmonica for Johnson & Johnson, American Airlines, Nissan, Anheuser Busch, Miller Beer, Subway and Dow Chemical.
His other projects are as vocalist and arranger in the jazz ensembles Antfarm Quartet featuring pianist Jim Ridl, bassist Tim Lekan and drummer Bob Shomo. His recently released work includes CD’s with: Antfarm Quartet – Dialogues Pt. 2 and Live @ The Colony Theater, (Dreambox Media); Tim Lekan & Paul Jost – Side by Side (Independent), Marc Adler and Paul Jost – Silver Whispers (Arabesque), Andy Lalasis – Fret Not (Independent), Carolyn Nelson - Come a Little Closer (Independent) and Susan Goodman – Central Park West and Live Out Loud (Soozaroo Music). He is guest lecturer and teacher at several colleges and universities including University of the Arts in Philadelphia and West Chester University in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
When looking back at his childhood, Paul says, “There really were no options for me. I always knew my career would be in music.” He learned to play piano at age six and quickly turned his talent to the drums. When he was 12, he started playing professionally, earning respect in the music community. After graduating Vineland High School where he was voted “best musician”, he studied at the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has performed all over the country, living for a while in New York and Chicago, but chose to make his home in New Jersey where he lives with his wife, Valerie. They are the proud parents of Daniel Jost, a highly respected musician/vocalist, and Juliana Jost, a high school art teacher..
Awards:
Billboard Song Contest Award Winner in 4 separate categories—John Barron, All About Jazz
“...relentless romanticism comes courtesy of Paul Jost’s
stunning singing. His burnished, soulful vocals are
remarkable - daringly inventive and freely expressive in
true jazz tradition, but uniquely his own. In both the
charted vocalization (wordless vocals) and improvised
scatting, Jost’s musical soul shines. He nearly single-
handedly reclaims the male voice as a valid and critically
important jazz instrument, and it's simply thrilling to
hear. Swinging breezily, scatting with ease and authority,
and softly seducing the listener with a catchy combination
of the crystalline soulfulness of Sting and the fearless
inventiveness of Mark Murphy, Jost is clearly a man coming
into his own. If that comparison seems somewhat glib, just
listen to him soar and you’ll soon realize what a remarkable
accomplishment it is for an original jazz vocalist today to
be both accessible and deep.”
—Buster Maxwell, Woman's Journal
