Ed Paolantonio, Pianist
Ed hails from New York City, but now lives in Durham, NC. Besides earning a B.S. in Music Ed. from S.U.N.Y. and an M.M. in performance from U.N.C. Chapel Hill, Ed studied with world famous jazz pianist, teacher and composer Lennie Tristano.
He has been composing, arranging and performing jazz professionally since 1971 and has accompanied many jazz giants including Dizzie Gillespie, Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Heath and Emily Remler. An excellent clinician, Ed Paolantonio has served in schools and colleges in and out of state. He was a NC Artist In Residence for three years and has taught jazz improvisation and history at U.N.C. Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina State University and Elon College.
Ed has toured with North Carolina drummer Max Roach. As an artist in the NC touring program he performed with his much acclaimed vocal group "String Of Pearls". He toured the Middle East for USIA with vibraphonist Jon Metzger and has received two North Carolina Fellowship Awards.
Ed performs locally in a number of clubs and private functions. You may book him for an event either as a soloist or a multi-part ensemble. He plays regularly in a jazz trio and quartet in the Raleigh-Durham area.
His "Dedications" and "Dad's Blues" CDs explore extensive improvisations on both original material and jazz standards and capture the essence of what jazz is all about!
He has been composing, arranging and performing jazz professionally since 1971 and has accompanied many jazz giants including Dizzie Gillespie, Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Heath and Emily Remler. An excellent clinician, Ed Paolantonio has served in schools and colleges in and out of state. He was a NC Artist In Residence for three years and has taught jazz improvisation and history at U.N.C. Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina State University and Elon College.
Ed has toured with North Carolina drummer Max Roach. As an artist in the NC touring program he performed with his much acclaimed vocal group "String Of Pearls". He toured the Middle East for USIA with vibraphonist Jon Metzger and has received two North Carolina Fellowship Awards.
Ed performs locally in a number of clubs and private functions. You may book him for an event either as a soloist or a multi-part ensemble. He plays regularly in a jazz trio and quartet in the Raleigh-Durham area.
His "Dedications" and "Dad's Blues" CDs explore extensive improvisations on both original material and jazz standards and capture the essence of what jazz is all about!
- Ed has best been described as an "all consuming musician... (whose) solo struck sparks around the room" -- Owen Cardle (News And Observer, Raleigh, NC).
- He's outstanding... talented and prolific", said R.C. Smith (Durham Morning Herald).
- Joe Vanderford (Spectator, Raleigh, NC) wrote of Paolantonio sound.. full of arpeggios, utilizing every one of the eighty-eights".
mailto:[email protected] - (919) 929-2477