About Paul

Paul Jost is a rare talent – an eclectic artist with great skill as a vocalist, drummer, composer and arranger in genres that range from jazz to country and more. His vocals are so soulful that music critic  Buster Maxwell wrote … “he nearly single-handedly reclaims the male voice as a valid and critically important jazz instrument.”  In All About Jazz (NY), John Barron wrote … “within a short time, the listener becomes absorbed in his highly intelligent, richly emotive, and musically sophisticated renditions.”  Bobby Tucker, jazz pianist for the great Billie Holiday and Billy Eckstine, relished his musical experiences working with Jost as a drummer and in a letter said to him, “As I reflect on what was most important, working with you was one of my highlights.”

Over the years, his musical talents extended to guitar and harmonica, but it’s his voice that truly makes him a standout. Michael Barbiero, producer/engineer/songwriter, who has worked on projects for such legends as John Lennon, Whitney Houston and Metallica, thinks that Paul Jost brings vocal styling to a new level. “Once in a great while an artist comes along whose talent and vision allow the body of all that we thought we knew about a medium to be viewed through a new facet, changing it in a way that renders what we thought was old, new.  Paul is such an artist.”

A prolific composer as well, Jost has written over 40 CD’s for major music libraries that are heard daily in over 750 markets throughout the United States. He has composed for Canon Pictures and the NBC Emmy Winning Series “Special Treat”. He is also a four category Billboard Song Contest Winner, whose songs, including the highly acclaimed, “Book Faded Brown”, have been recorded by The Band, Carl Perkins and Rick Danko.

Born and raised in Southern New Jersey, Jost still resides in the area and is proud to have served as musical director at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City and for Morgana King as well. The list of artists he has performed or recorded with is extensive including Billy Eckstine, Mark Murphy, Ann Hampton Calloway, Frank D’Rone, Sylvia Simms, Bobby Scott, Sivuca, Dr. John, Bucky Pizzarelli, Teo Macero, Joe Farrell, Ron Carter, Vincent Falcone, Barry Rogers, Gil Goldstein, Jim Tullio, Andy Lavern, Bobby Tucker, Pee Wee Ellis, John Phillips, Jack Sheldon, Marky Markowitz, Mike Abene, George Mesterhazy, Ron Thomas and many more.

Jost is also heard on national jingles for major companies. He has done vocals, drumming or played harmonica for Johnson & Johnson, American Airlines, Nissan, Anheuser Busch, Miller Beer, Subway and Dow Chemical.

Paul is involved in many interesting current projects. He is vocalist in The Diane Monroe Sextet, “What is This Thing Called Freedom” featuring violinist Diane Monroe, vibraphonist Tony Miceli, bassist Lee Smith, drummer/percussionist Arturo Stable, and guitarist Monette Sudler.  Paul is vocalist and arranger in the jazz ensembles Antfarm Quartet featuring pianist Jim Ridl, bassist Tim Lekan and drummer Bob Shomo, and Modern Rock Ensemble with vibraphonist Tony Miceli, bassist Kevin MacConnell and drummer Charlie Patierno. His recently released work includes CD’s with:   Antfarm Quartet – Dialogues Pt. 2 and Live @ The Colony Theater, (Dreambox Media); Tim Lekan & Paul Jost – Side by Side (Independent), Marc Adler and Paul Jost – Silver Whispers (Arabesque), Andy Lalasis – Fret Not (Independent), Carolyn Nelson – Come a Little Closer (Independent) and Susan Goodman – Central Park West and Live Out Loud (Soozaroo Music). He is guest lecturer and teacher at several colleges and universities including University of the Arts in Philadelphia and West Chester University in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

When looking back at his childhood, Jost says, “There really were no options for me. I always knew my career would be in music.” He learned to play piano at age six and quickly turned his talent to the drums. When he was 12, he started playing professionally, earning respect in the music community. After graduating Vineland High School where he was voted “best musician”, he studied at the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has performed all over the country, living for a while in New York and Chicago, but chose to make his home in New Jersey where he lives with his wife, Valerie. They are the proud parents of Daniel Jost, a highly respected musician/vocalist, and Juliana Jost, a high school art teacher.