City Newspaper, Jazz Blog (Rochester International Jazz Festival 2006)
By Ron Netsky
Over at the Montage Grille the Schonig/Henderson Trio was providing strong support for featured guest Dr. Lonnie Smith. Guitarist Mel Henderson and saxophonist Gray Mayfield took some strong solos, but it was clear that Smith was the center of attention. He not only rocked the house with his Hammond B-3, he did dead-on vocal impressions of Johnny Mathis, Stevie Wonder and a record spinning on a turntable (you had to be there). He was clearly having a great time and so was the audience.

By Frank De Blase :: Like a boy needs catsup
Then it was over to Montage where my pick of the night, Dr. Lonnie Smith with The Schonig / Henderson Trio, rocked the joint with velvety, lounge-y B-3. Chris Isaak once said the B-3 was like catsup ’cause it goes good with everything. The trio’s drummer was hot too, opting to drum snare-less a few times and giving the drum decidedly bright toot and punch...So it was back to Montage for round two with the Doctor. I needed more B-3 …like a boy needs catsup.

Filed under: RIJF 2006 - jazzrochester blog
One of my oldest friends was interviewing in Buffalo and managed to drive over and meet up with me for the 10pm show at Montage to see Dr. Lonnie Smith, who hails from Buffalo, performing on a Hammond B3 (with two wonderful Leslie boxes to boot) with members of our own Paradigm Shift Mel Henderson on guitar and Jared Schonig on drums. While again it was the same line up—keyboard, guitar and drums—it couldn’t have been more different. Where the Charlie Hunter Trio was intense, with a driving beat and clashing sounds, the good Doctor was oh so cool and laid back, light and airy (at one point he drew down to a whisper and then proceeded to play keyboards in the air while Mel Henderson took a solo and tried not to laugh too hard). He also got into some serious grooving on that organ, making the Leslies whisper, growl and wail. Dr. Lonnie Smith is a master of the B3 and, at first, I thought he was going to grandstand so much that the fantastic playing of the very talented Henderson and Schonig would be a mere backdrop, but as the show progressed Smith let them take solos and they hit some great grooves. It was a great cap to the evening, although I have since read that the band was joined by saxman Gray Mayfield, who often plays with Paradigm Shift at the Flat Iron Cafe, sat in for several more songs. My friend was tired and wanted to see our place before shuffling off to Buffalo so we headed home and I put off joining Ken and Seth for the festivities after-hours in the Crowne Plaza.

	Jason Crane, AllAboutJazz.com “…With its first national release, Shifting Times, the organ-guitar-drums trio is ready to introduce the rest of the country to its upbeat brand of mainstream soul jazz…” The complete review is available here or as PDF.
	John Kelman, AllAboutJazz.com “…Shifting time is, however, a captivating session of mainly original compositions that owes a great deal to the Blue Note soul jazz of the late 60’s. Equal parts Jimmy Smith, Grant Green and Donald Byrd, Paradigm Shift does manage to pay homage without being completely imitative…” The complete review is available here or as PDF.
	Christopher O'Connor, Syracuse New Times :: Shift Swings at Jazz Central... PDF
	Mark Bialczak, The Post Standard, Syracuse.com :: Paradigm Shift fills Jazz Central with a very cool vibe. PDF
	JazzWeek.com :: Jazz Top Adds - December 3, 2004
	JAZZIZ (issue March 2005) :: hitlist :: #7 Paradigm Shift Shifting Times (Nagel-Heyer Records)

Salzburg Autumn Jazz Festival 2002 :: Lawrence Brazier
The Night Session with Wycliffe Gordon and the Paradigm Shift Trio in the brewery cellars across town was a rowdy, in-your-face, shove and be shoved affair. The guys in the band were all being funky beyond the call of duty and the fans loved every minute of it. Gordon's style that night was all unabashed growl and attack. Jazz for the feeling of fun and affirmation of all we have ever really believed in. Like up is the best place to be.