Paradigm Shift Jazz

Paradigm Shift is the brainchild of Melvin Henderson, who plays traditional and contemporary jazz guitar. His many influences included George Benson, and Wes Montgomery (and just about anyone who plays great guitar). After attending Berklee School of Music in the mid-seventies, Melvin performed in Boston and New York with his own group, the East West Band, which included Tommy Campbell on drums. In the early 80's Melvin toured and recorded with Al Jarreau, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Cheryl Lynn, Roy Ayers, to name just a few. After returning to his hometown Rochester, New York, in the mid-eighties he opened up his own jazz club called Indigos. At Indigos, Melvin was able to present such jazz greats as Wynton Marsalis, Mel Lewis, Kenny Burrell, Joe Locke, Johnny Griffin, Barney Kessel, Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell and many more. After two years of running Indigos, during which Melvin had little time to perform, he decided to close the club and return to playing full time again. In the following years Melvin shared the stage with such jazz greats as Jack McDuff, Urbie Green, and Doctor Lonnie Smith, while continuing to compose and perform his own music.

Even though their path had crossed many times before, Gerry Youngman, who attended Berklee School of Music as a trumpeter, joined forces with Melvin in the late 80's. Prior to attending Berklee, Gerry studied with Rochester's Chuck Mangione. While at Berklee, under the direction of Phil Wilson, Gerry performed with Claudio Roditti, Mark Elf, Hal Crook, and others in the Thursday Night Dues Band. Gerry has shared the stage with many top names in the music world, including Lou Donaldson, Gerry Niewood, Gary Burton, and the great Thad Jones.

Drummer Jared Schonig was born in Los Angeles on August 12, 1983. His parents, both professional musicians, encouraged him at an early age to take up the piano. After studying classical piano for 11 years he decided to switch to the drums (his fathers instrument) during his frist year of high school. Jared attended the prestigious Hamilton Academy of Music in Los Angeles, California, where he had the pleasure in performing with George Duke, Eric Marienthal, Bobby Rodriguez, and a number of All-County and City honor groups. During his three years at Hamilton, Jared was the recipient of 4 Downbeat Student Music Awards, including a 'Best Soloist' honor his senior year, in 2001. Jared attended the prestigious Eastman School of Music and studied with Rich Thompson. While at Eastman he performed with the Bionic Bones with Fred Wesley and Steve Turre, the Eastman New Jazz Ensemble, Harold Danko's JPW a (Jazz Performance Workshop), and the Eastman Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Bill Dobbins. During his time at Eastman, Jared won three more Downbeat Student Music Awards; in 2002 for his pseudo-funk/jazz band Groove Brewery and in 2004 for his JPW The Verytall Band, "which was recognized as the nations top collegiate combo, as well as another "Best Soloist" honor.

After Jared moved to New York City, Sean Jefferson joined the group on drums. Sean recently received his Masters degree in music education at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY where he was awarded an assistantship for the duration of his studies. Sean has had many great teachers including John W. McNeill Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra), Ben Parris (Maskaraid Productions, LLC & NEMeSIS Records), Dave Mancini (Maynard Ferguson, Chuck Mangione, Rosemary Clooney), Dr. Eric Schmitz (SUNY Oswego, Russell Scarbrough Big Band), Mike Melito (Chris Potter, James Moody, Chuck Mangione, Bob Sneider). Sean has freelanced throughout New York State and Germany for the past seven years. During that time he has had the privilege to perform with such notable artists as Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jeff Tyzik, Paradigm Shift, Alvin Parris III, Gray Mayfield, Terrance Bruce, and Bill Tiberio. Sean recently recorded an album with his group The Jazz Mad Lab. The album is set to release in spring 2008. Currently he is performing exclusively with two groups, The Jazz Mad Lab & Paradigm Shift. In addition to an extensive performance career, Sean teaches drumset and percussion privately in Rochester, NY and has done so for the past 6 years.

As Paradigm Shift the trio has performed with David 'Fathead' Newman, Eric Alexander, Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Printup, Fred Wesley, Bobby Militello, and Joe Locke.

Melvin Henderson plays and endorses Aslin Dane and J3 guitars.
Gerry Youngman plays and endorses the Nord C1 combo organ.