Paul Beaudry & Pathways
Paul Beaudry & Pathways

Paul Beaudry & Pathways is a New York City-based quartet deeply rooted in the jazz and blues traditions. Founded in 2008, Paul Beaudry & Pathways’ repertoire balances original compositions and arrangements with selected standards from jazz’s broad stylistic range. Their music is captivating and engaging, featuring exciting rhythms and swinging, soul-stirring melodies. Paul Beaudry & Pathways are influenced by each musician’s distinctive background, personal experiences, as well as the inspiring musicianship of Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, and Sam Jones, among others. Rousing scat singing, fiery instrumental improvisations, and lively vocal exchanges are par for the course at the group’s dynamic performances. Paul Beaudry & Pathways will release their debut album in 2010.

Paul Beaudry (bass and vocals) is a bassist, composer, producer, vocalist, and educator from San Francisco, California who aims to maintain music’s high-art level while sustaining its irresistibility. Beaudry recently released his first recording as a bandleader titled Paul Beaudry & Adam Rafferty—New Tomorrows. Beaudry has toured with musicians such as Steve Turre and Wycliffe Gordon, and performed throughout North America, the Middle East, and Europe. Beaudry participated in The Rhythm Road in 2007 with Alvin Atkinson and the Sound Merchants in a tour to the Middle East. Currently living in New York City, Beaudry is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, the Aaron Copland School of Music, and teaches at the Teacher's College at Columbia University.

Tim Armacost (tenor sax and alto flute) is originally from Los Angeles, California, and currently resides in New York City. In his music he uses contemporary New York jazz vocabulary in combination with the historic language of swing and bebop. Armacost started playing clarinet while living in Tokyo in the 1970s, and he switched to tenor saxophone at age 15. Since he moved to New York in 1993, Armacost has recorded seven albums as a leader, and played on over 40 releases as a sideman. Armacost’s international knowledge and experience form the foundation of his passionate musicianship.

Tony Jefferson (drums and vocals) is a New York native whose inventive drumming has been heard in clubs and festivals around the world. He has worked with numerous jazz luminaries including Eddie Harris, Benny Golson, and Cedar Walton. His experience as a drummer and his passion for woodwind instruments inform his approach to singing. In the last three years Jefferson has been leading his own bands as a vocalist. Regularly stepping out from behind the drums to sing, he has performed as guest vocalist at the Iridium and the Blue Note jazz clubs in New York City. Jefferson was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Drum Competition, and he attended the Berklee College of Music.

Bennett Paster (piano and keyboards) originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, now resides in Brooklyn, New York. He is a versatile keyboardist, composer and producer. His contemporary musical style draws from broad influences including jazz, Latin, rock and R&B, and his playing is rhythmically playful, conversational and intuitively melodic. Paster has performed original music at clubs, concerts and festivals throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Europe, and has been a featured performer with Ndugu Chancler, Tootie Heath, Kurt Elling and Rufus Reid, among others. Paster participated in The Rhythm Road program in 2006 with his Latin jazz band Grupo Yanqui in a tour to Europe and Russia.