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Paul Potyen

Paul Potyen has been in the music business for a long time. He has composed, arranged, performed and produced music for countless CDs, radio and TV commercials, films and production music libraries, including three CDs by jazz singer Madeline Eastman, who was nominated "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition" in the 1995 Downbeat Jazz Critic's Poll.

As a keyboard player, his credits include Chet Baker, Tony Williams, Mark Murphy, the Headhunters, Bobby McFerrin, Jimmy Witherspoon, Tom Harrell, Terry Bozzio, Pat O'Hearn, Mark Isham, Mel Torme, Henry Mancini, Ray Drummond, Mike Formanek, Ron Stallings, Bruce Forman, Benny Velarde, Pete Escovedo, John Santos, Andy Narrell, Eddie Marshall, Donald Bailey, Vince Lateano, Chris Connor, Phil Grenadier, Dave Pike, Charles McPherson, Eddie Henderson, and his own progressive latin band, Cañoneo. He is the featured pianist with the Bay Area Latin/Jazz band, Soul Sauce, on their recent CD, "Got Sauce?" More recently, he arranged, produced, and played on jazz vocalist Pam Pierce's debut CD "Believe It," and wrote several arrangements on vocalist Madeline Eastman's latest CD "The Speed of Life" .

He has also played keyboards with The San Francisco Symphony, as well as for many musical theater productions in San Francisco. During the ‘80’s he co-led the San Francisco Forty Niners Jazz Band, which played at Candlestick Park and other Bay Area venues.

Paul has also been active in jazz education. As a faculty member at the Jazzschool in Berkeley, CA, he taught courses in "Jazz combo for high school students," "Keyboard Harmony," and "Extreme Listening," as well as workshops for vocalists and accompanists, and individual jazz piano. He has served on the faculty at Colorado Mountain College, Alpine Campus, where he taught "Music Appreciation," History of Jazz," and "Independent Study in Music."

He lives with his wife, Cate in Steamboat Springs, CO in a solar-powered strawbale house they built.

Paul has also worked as associate editor for Mix, the leading recording industry magazine. His education includes a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, product design from Stanford.

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Album Review

Paul Potyen: Mountain Standards Time

Read "Mountain Standards Time" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Paul Potyen is not exactly a household name. Or is he? As a keyboard player, he has performed with Chet Baker, Tony Williams, Mark Murphy, the Headhunters, Bobby McFerrin, Jimmy Witherspoon, Tom Harrell, Terry Bozzio, Mark Isham, Mel Torme, Henry Mancini, Ray Drummond, Mike Formanek, and Chris Connor. Mr. Potyen has lead his own progressive Latin band, Cañoneo, and is the featured pianist with the Bay Area latin/jazz band Soul Sauce.

Having established such credentials, Mr. Potyen has turned his ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Cowboy Jazz

Guacamole Records
2010

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Facets

Guacamole Records
2006

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Mountain Standards...

Guacamole Records
2003

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