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Paul Shapiro

Paul Shapiro, saxophonist, flautist, composer and bandleader, has been active in New York 's creative music scene for over two decades. Throughout the eighties he led his own avant-funk band Foreign Legion, which was featured on Emergency Records' compilation "This Is The Funk." Paul was a longtime member of Philip Johnston's Microscopic Septet that toured internationally and recorded for Stash and Osmosis Records.

In the early nineties Paul started to record for many of the new producers of dance music and hip-hop. His most noted work from that period is his song-length flute solo on Frankie Knuckles' "The Whistle Song," which became a top-ten pop hit in the UK, and an international dance club classic. His full-length soprano sax improv can be heard on NuYorican Soul's anthemic "The Nervous Track." He also appeared on albums by Queen Latifah, Naughty By Nature, Marc Anthony and India around that time.

In 1994 Paul became a founding member of Brooklyn Funk Essentials, an international group of instrumentalists, spoken word artists, and rappers, that recorded for RCA and Shanachie Records. The band's second album was recorded in Istanbul , Turkey and combined forces with the Turkish group Laco Tayfa. Paul's composition "Mambo Con Dancehall" from the third album, was released as a single in Europe on PIAS and Dorado.

In 1998 Paul wrote the score to Cheryl Dunye's critically acclaimed film "The Watermelon Woman." Other composition credits include "The Sun Gets Blue" a musical by William Electric Black, and “Presque Isle,” a play by Joyce Carol Oates. He has also scored commercial spots for television, most notably David La Chapelle's 'Baby Jane,' for MTV.

In 2003, Paul's first album as a leader entitled "Midnight Minyan" was released on John Zorn's Tzadik Records label. It has been featured in The Jewish Week, The Forward and Hadassah Magazine, and has received many excellent reviews. Will Friedwald in the New York Sun writes, “In 2002, my favorite single track on a CD was Cassandra Wilson singing “Darkness on the Delta” on her album,“Belly of the Sun”; so far this year, Mr. Shapiro's “La Chaim” is the leading contender.

Paul's Midnight Minyan band has performed at Tonic, Makor and the Museum of Jewish Heritage, and has been featured on NPR's “All Things Considered” as well.

As a session musician and/or arranger, Paul appears on albums by Lou Reed, Ben Folds Five, Khaled, Yoko Kanno's Cowboy Bebop, Shudder To Think, Brian McKnight, Snakefarm, Majek Fashek, Towa Tei, M People, Ali, Marshall Crenshaw, Michael Callen, Guru, Arthur Baker, N'Dea Davenport, Joe Claussell, Satoshi Tomiie, Robert Owens, Seedy Arkhestra, Ultra Nate, Sweet Sable and others.

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Album Review

Paul Shapiro: Shofarot Verses

Read "Shofarot Verses" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro


Nel nome dello shofar, strumento-simbolo della musica ebraica che compare in copertina intrecciato a un sax alto, si svolge questo album, che parte con un monologo di Paul Shapiro e va poi a impantanarsi piuttosto velocemente nelle secche di una musica che rispetta sì i canoni del filone di appartenenza, ma lo fa con fin troppa convinzione (e dedizione), ripetendosi generosamente, all'interno del singolo pezzo così come fra brano e brano.È evidente che si tratta di una musica ...

10
Album Review

Paul Shapiro: Shofarot Verses

Read "Shofarot Verses" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni


Saxophonist Paul Shapiro is one of the few who succeeded in blending organic soul and R&B with the Jewish tradition--the musical one and the liturgical texts--in a highly original, convincing manner. His fourth album for John Zorn's Tzadik label Radical Jewish Culture series enriches his unique and personal art. Shofarot Verses is part of the service recited on the Jewish New Year, referring to the biblical story of a conversation between “the eternal" and Moses, when ...

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Interview

Paul Shapiro: Swinging the Mundane with the Holy

Read "Paul Shapiro: Swinging the Mundane with the Holy" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni


Reed man Paul Shapiro is one of the most resourceful and versatile musicians in the vibrant New York scene. In addition to his work in the jazz world, with Phillip Johnston's Microscopic Septet and forward-thinking improvisers such as Julius Hemphill and Elliot Sharp, Shapiro is a founding member of the international musicians' cooperative, Brooklyn Funk Essentials. He has played and recorded with a wide range of artists, including pop icons such as Michael and Janet Jackson and Mariah ...

238
Album Review

Paul Shapiro's Ribs and Brisket Revue: Essen

Read "Essen" reviewed by Eyal Hareuveni


Reed man Paul Shapiro is one of the most resourceful and versatile musicians in the vibrant New York scene. In addition to his work in the jazz world, with Phillip Johnston's Microscopic Septet and forward-thinking improvisers such as Julius Hemphill and Elliot Sharp, Shapiro is a founding member of the international musicians' cooperative, Brooklyn Funk Essentials. He has played and recorded with a wide range of artists, including pop icons such as Michael and Janet Jackson and Mariah ...

198
Album Review

Paul Shapiro: It's in the Twilight

Read "It's in the Twilight" reviewed by Sean Patrick Fitzell


Day's slide into night, the work week's conclusion, and prayers of the Jewish Shabbat inspired saxophonist Paul Shapiro's compositions and arrangements for It's in the Twilight. It is celebratory music, imbued with optimism for change arising at these temporal transformations, a musical salve for these troubled times.

Inviting melodic heads develop from Shapiro, combining with fellow tenor saxophonist Peter Apfelbaum and trumpeter Steven Bernstein. The three play tight unison lines and punchy horn pops, exploring the Jewish scales. The catchy ...

166
Album Review

Paul Shapiro: It's In The Twilight

Read "It's In The Twilight" reviewed by Nic Jones


If this is an example of radical Jewish culture, as Tzadik bills it, then a whole lot of Gentiles would be doing themselves an enormous favour if they tapped into it. Listeners of all cultures from around the world are familiar with the idea of the “keeper," meaning an item that will find a permanent home on their shelves, as opposed to landing in the racks of the local second-hand store, and I knew this title was a keeper by ...

140
Album Review

Paul Shapiro: It's In The Twilight

Read "It's In The Twilight" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


The blessings of the sabbath were clearly upon Paul Shapiro when he wrote the music for and recorded this album. On Midnight Minyan, his first record as a leader, he dwelt on Saturday mornings and the Jewish tradition. This time he turns back the clock to Friday evenings and the glow of twilight that the sabbath brings. He has the same band of musicians in tow; they make this a listening experience that will long linger in memory. ...

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129

Interview

Saxophonist Paul Shapiro Interviewed at AAJ...And More

Saxophonist Paul Shapiro Interviewed at AAJ...And More

Source: All About Jazz

Reed man Paul Shapiro is one of the most resourceful and versatile musicians in the vibrant New York scene. In addition to his work in the jazz world, with Phillip Johnston's Microscopic Septet and forward-thinking improvisers such as Julius Hemphill and Elliot Sharp, Shapiro is a founding member of the international musicians' cooperative, Brooklyn Funk Essentials. He has played and recorded with a wide range of artists, including pop icons such as Michael and Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey, rappers ...

219

Recording

Paul Shapiro Releases "Essen," a Tribute to 1940s Yiddish Jazz

Paul Shapiro Releases "Essen," a Tribute to 1940s Yiddish Jazz

Source: All About Jazz

New York-based saxophonist Paul Shapiros third album, Essen, to be released on June 24, pays heartfelt homage to the Yiddish swing jazz of the 1940s. Essenthe Yiddish word for eatplays off of the same themes as Shapiros Ribs and Brisket Revue, a monthly concert held in New York City under Shapiros leadership. The album features songs previously performed by such artists as Peggy Lee, Cab Calloway, Slim n Slam and the Barton Brothers, rearranged by the funk and R&B-influenced Shapiro. ...

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Performance / Tour

Burton Greene (Mon) Marcus Rojas's Big Happy (Tue) Sanda & the New Gang (Wed) Paul Shapiro's Ribs and Brisket Revue (Thu) This Week at Cornelia Street

Burton Greene (Mon) Marcus Rojas's Big Happy (Tue) Sanda & the New Gang (Wed) Paul Shapiro's Ribs and Brisket Revue (Thu) This Week at Cornelia Street

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

This Week At Cornelia Street Cafe Mon Jul 02 6:00PM BURTON GREENE TRIO (George Schuller, drums;Ed Schuller, bass;Burton Greene, piano) This is a new group, although the players know each other and have been friends for years. The idea of the piano trio is to present jazz which emcompasses a wide history of the jazz piano literature. We play “inside", “outside", “up and down", for that matter.. The group members have vast experiences in all kinds ...

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Performance / Tour

Paul Shapiro's Ribs And Brisket Revue at the Cornelia Street Cafe New Year's Eve

Paul Shapiro's Ribs And Brisket Revue at the Cornelia Street Cafe New Year's Eve

Source: All About Jazz

NEW YEAR'S EVE!! Paul Shapiro's irresistible RIBS AND BRISKET REVUE is back at the Cornelia Street Cafe following its fabulous sold out show last year. It's the best deal in town. It starts at 10:00 PM. If you just want to come and celebrate downstairs it's $50. per person and includes a free glass of premier champagne. Dinner upstairs costs $75. per person. If you combine dinner upstairs and the show downstairs its a combo deal of $110. A bargain! ...

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