Paul Meyers Guitarist from Jersey City, NJ

Paul Meyers has performed and/or recorded with an ever growing list af jazz greats such as Geri Allen, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Ray Drummond, Eliane Elias, Clare Fischer, Sonny Fortune, Eddie Gomez, Annie Ross, Marc Johnson, Wynton Marsalis, George Mraz, Rufus Reid, David Sanchez and Kenny Werner. He's also toured for years with two of the greatest jazz singers ever - Jon Hendricks since 1993, and Andy Bey from 1997 to 2008. International performances include Japan and Hong Kong with the Salute to Duke Ellington Orchestra (along with Bob Brookmeyer, Mel Lewis and Joe Wilder) - Spain with the great percussionist Cafe - France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy with Jon Hendricks - Brazil, England, Macedonia, Greece and the Netherlands with Andy Bey - Japan with Karrin Allison, and Argentina with Gary Burton. Mr. Burton also recorded Paul's tune Panama on his "Reunion" CD with Pat Metheny. Critically acclaimed CDs - Paul Meyers Quartet featuring Frank Wess (2007) is a relaxed & swinging date with the tanor/flute legend all on the nylon string fingerstyle guitar. World on a String (2007) a quintet with rising stars Donny McCaslin and Helio Alves, features Paul's original compositions and arrangements with wide ranging influences. Dusk to Dawn (2004), is his 2nd solo guitar CD, a collection of original arrangements of Ellington, Gershwin, Lennon/McCartney, Scott Joplin and more. The first, Blues for the Millennium (1997), has his arrangements of jazz and Brazilian tunes, four original pieces and transcriptions of 7 of Bela Bartok's "Mikrokosmos". Euforia (1998) is an envelope pushing Latin Jazz trio with Panamanian bassist/composer Santi Debriano and Brazilian drummer Vanderlei Pereira. Paul and Santi recently reunited for a duo CD, Spirit and Samba (2000) on the same label (Mapleshade).Earlier recordings include Trio Concertant (Gunmar Records), first runner-up for best chamber music CD of 1992, and a jazz trio album, Blues for Henry Miller (Adirondack). As a sideman, Paul has contributed to many CDs, notably three with Andy Bey, the Grammy nominated American Song (Savoy), Tuedays in Chinatown (Ncoded) and Shades of Bey (Evidence). Others include Hearts and Minds with Susannah McCorkle (Concord) - 4 on 6 x 5 with the New York Jazz Guitar Ensemble (Choice) - and three Latin/Brazilian jazz recordings featuring all original music - Obeah with Santi Debriano (Freelance), Utatuba with Kimson Plaut and Lucky (Origin) with Hans Teuber. A very active player in New York's vibrant Brazilian jazz scene, Paul was a member of the Terra Brasil, which featured pianist/composer Cidinho Teixeira and vocalist Vera Mara, both veterans of the great Gilberto Gil's band. He later co-led Brasil & Company with Ms. Mara, and they released a highly regarded CD as well. He has performed in New York and Tokyo with the great Tango-jazz pianist and composer Pablo Zeigler (Astor Piazzola's pianist) and is featured along with Stephon Harris on the live CD Tango meets Jazz. He recently returned to Tokyo to play the Blue Note with vocalist Karrin Allison, performing music from her new Brazilian CD Imagina. Paul received a 1990/91 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for jazz composition and holds an Masters of Music in jazz guitar from the Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelors of Music with honors from the New England Conservatory. He studied with Gene Bertoncini, Jackie Byard, Barry Galbraith, George Russell, Chuck Wayne and Jack Wilkins. Paul teaches jazz guitar, improvisation and coaches jazz and Brazilian ensembles at William Patterson University (since 1988) and at New Jersey City University (since 1993), and he also taught at the first year of the Jazz for Teens program at NJPAC in Newark. Paul has also given numerous clinics, master classes and workshops, travelling as far away as Argentina, Hawaii and Alaska.