BIOGRAPHY
Musician, Bassist, Conductor, Administrator, Educator
Paul E. West born January 28, 1934 NYC
EDUCATION
High School of Music and Art NYC
Wagner College Staten Island; BA Music
Studied violin with Albert Polnarioff (father of Paul Nero) from age 6 to age 18. Won the highest honor award in a contest under the
auspices of the National Guild of Violin Teachers.
Student conductor of Senior Symphony Orchestra, High School of Music and Art, during entire senior year.
Conducted High School of Music and Art Senior Symphony Orchestra in a special concert for guest conductor Eugene Ormandy of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra.
While a senior at the High School of Music and Art he organized and developed an Orchestra and Chorus,
“The Paul West Symphonic - Pop Orchestra and Chorus, from the Harlem Church and Public School Community” 1950 - 1953.
He performed and recorded with the following artists:
- Charles Aznavour
- Betty Carter
- Chris Conner
- Billy Eckstine
- Billie Holiday
- Johnny Mathis
- Carmen McRae
- Peggy Lee
- Abbey Lincoln
- Carol Sloane
- Dinah Washington
- Joe Williams
- Ray Charles
- Dizzy Gillespie
- Norman Simmons Trio
- Petula Clark
- Tommy Flanagan Trio
- Kenny Barron Duo/Trio
- Milt Jackson Quartet
- Jimmy Heath Quartet
- Billy Taylor
- Errol Garner Trio
- Barry Harris Quintet
- Randy Weston
- Junior Mance Trio
- Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Band
- Sir Roland Hanna Duo/ Trio
- Grady Tate
- Mike Longo Duo/ Trio
- George Coleman Quintet
- Max Roach Quartet
- Sonny Fortune Quartet
- Lester Young Quartet
- George Cables Trio
- Neo Bass Ensemble
He appeared on the following Television Shows:
- "David Frost Show" - Channel 5.
- "Soul"- Channel 13.
- "Positively Black" - Channel 4.
- "Like it is" with Gil Noble - Channel 7.
He served as EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JAZZMOBILE, INC. from January 1969 - September 1973.
- Produced 81 summer concerts in 1969.
- Produced 86 summer concerts in 1970.
- Produced 96 summer concerts in 1971.
Expanded the summer operation to a one-week series of 5 concerts in Baltimore, Washington, D.C. New Jersey, Upstate NY, and Westchester County 1971, 1972, and 1973. Produce a series of Jazz lecture/ demonstration concerts in Public Schools throughout the 5 boroughs of New York City. He conceived, organized, and developed The JAZZMOBILE workshop in 1970. The staff of 13 instructors included such Jazz Greats as Lee Morgan, Kenny Dorham, Jimmy Heath, and Benny Powell. In 1973 the student body was approximately 300.
He served as DIRECTOR OF HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT MUSIC SCHOOL from 1973 - 2000.
1. Developed the Music School student body from 150 students to approximately 700 participants.
2. Organized a series of workshops:
- a. Jazz workshop.
- b. Symphony Orchestra.
- c. Ensembles in Brass, Strings And Woodwinds.
- d. Latin Music Workshop.
- e. Opera Workshop.
- f. Choral Workshop.
3. Developed a program in 1974 to help aspiring young Opera singers develop their vocal, technical, and language skills,
repertoire and staging experience. Each 17-week workshop culminated in a fully staged Opera with costume design, set and light design
and Orchestra. To maximize the performance opportunities for the large number of participants involved, 4 individual casts were developed.
Two casts sang in English and 2 casts sang in the original language. The Opera Workshop, after 7 years, developed into an Opera Production Group
and reached near professional quality performances. Each year at least one Opera was Produced. Some of the Operas produced included: Lucia di Lammermoor,
La Traviata, Madama Butterfly, Eugene Onegin, Rigoletto, The Merry Wives Of Windsor, Julius Caesar, and Carmen.
4. Produced an annual series of concerts presenting the following artists:
Tito Puente & Group, Monte Alexander Trio, Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Orchestra, Count Basie & Group, Mongo Santamaria & Group,
Symphony of the New World, Carmen McRae, Dizzy Gillespie & Group, Chinese Music Ensemble of NY, Odetta, Johnny Colon and Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra,
Buddy Rich Big Band, Tommy Flanagan Trio, Charlie Palmieri Orchestra, Vanessa Rubin, Modern Jazz Quartet, The New York Choral Society, Tokyo Strings Quartet,
The Composer Strings Quartet, The Riverside Symphony Orchestra, Ron Carter Nonette,
Riverside Strings Quartet & others.
The following concerts feature guest artists with the Henry Street Settlement Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Paul E. West:
1st annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring: Cecil Bridgwater, Eddie Henderson, Jimmy Owens, Milt Jackson,
Jimmy Heath, Mike Longo, David Williams, Yuron Israel.
2nd annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring: Roy Hargrove, Frank Wess, Jon Faddis, Mike Longo, David Williams, Winard Harper.
3rd annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring: Claudio Roditi, Frank Foster, Bill Cherry, Jimmy Owens, Mike Longo,
David Williams,Winard Harper.
4th annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring: Jon Faddis, Nicholas Payton, Javon Jackson, Mike Longo, David Williams, Winard Harper.
5th annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring: Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, Mike Longo, John Lee,
Winard Harper.
6th annual Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie featuring: Diego Urcola, Jeremy Pelt, Wayne Escoffery, Mike Longo, David Williams, Yuron Israel.
- Monte Alexander with Orchestra
- Stanley Cowell with Orchestra
- Carmen McRae Jazz Vocal Solo with Orchestra
- Dizzy Gillespie with Orchestra
- Randy Weston with Orchestra at the Montreal Jazz Festival 1995.
Co-Produced a 1983 Benefit Concert for HSS at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center featuring Carmen McRae with The Henry Street Settlement Symphony Orchestra, Paul E. West Conductor, and Tony Bennett with The Count Basie Orchestra.
Co - Produced Jazz and Caribbean Festival in ST.Croix, Virgin Island in 1992,1993 and 1994.