paradigm shift with wycliffe gordon, marcus printup & gray mayfield

Mel Henderson, leader of “ Paradigm Shift”, has shared the stage with many jazz greats including Jack McDuff, David 'Fathead' Newman, Roy Ayers, Eric Alexander, Wycliffe Gordon, Fred Wesley, Bobby Militello, Joe Locke; he maintains a special relationship with Dr. Lonnie Smith.

Gerry Youngman, Mel’s long-time “PS” cohort, has shared the stage as both a trumpeter and organist with many top names in the jazz world including Lou Donaldson, Gerry Niewood, Chuck Mangione, Marcus Printup, Wycliffe Gordon, Fred Wesley, Bobby Militello, Dave Samuels and Thad Jones.

Sean Jefferson, the recent addition to Paradigm Shift, brings a driving passion for drumming kindled at the age of 3, a solid academic background and several years of freelancing that included performances with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jeff Tyzik, Alvin Parris III, Terrance Bruce, Bill Tiberio and Regina Carter.

Wycliffe Gordon, a graduate of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, continues to amass impressive credits as trombonist, composer, conductor, arranger and educator. Having performed with many jazz greats (including Dizzy Gillespie, Shirley Horn, Lionel Hampton, Tommy Flanagan) he “is a wonderful exemplar of celebrating the past with a contemporary freshness and laying the foundation for an even greater jazz future”.

Marcus Printup was recruited by Wynton Marsalis into the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra's brilliant trumpet section. Through this experience combined with influences of jazz legends (including Marcus Roberts, Carl Allen and Betty Carter) Marcus “displays a technical maturity and emotion beyond his years…his trumpet chops place him squarely at the front of the promising trumpeters of his generation.”

Grey Mayfield also has a Marsalis linkage, having studied with Ellis Marsalis in New Orleans in the early 90s. Group leaders (including Wycliffe Gordon, Ellis Marsalis, Nicolas Payton, Brian Blade, Mel Henderson) appreciate Gray’s full sound, inventive style and powerful delivery and the ability of his soulful improvisations to connect with listeners on all levels - physically, emotionally.