 Born in Brooklyn, NY, Paul moved to East Islip (Long Island, the home of
"Boomer" Esiason) at an early age. Music became a big part of his high school
life as he played saxophone, bassoon and clarinet in the marching band, concert band,
orchestra, pit bands for musicals (Mame, Sound of Music, Music Man) as well as his
favorite band, the Jazz Ensemble. After high school he became more serious about
jazz and started out in Boston with the MIT Concert Jazz Band where former Woody
Herman band trumpeter Everett Longstreth directed and gave him a chance to
exercise his chops as a soloist.
While a senior at college he became active at the Boston Conservatory of Music as a
member of the Boston Conservatory of Music Jazz Band in addition to playing in
musicals (Guys and Dolls) and in background bands for student recitals. It was at
this time that Paul also gained a partial scholarship through the Berklee School of Music
to study with saxophonist and Blue Note recording artist Jerry Bergonzi (alumnus of the Dave
Brubeck Quartet).
After he received his B.S.E.E. in 1988 from MIT, Paul joined Digital Equipment
Corporation where he had the good fortune of making many musical contacts. While in
Boston, he played in the DEC Big Band, the Dave Rasmussen Jazz Orchestra
(New Hampshire-based), the Ross Warner Octet and his own small group, 5 Guys With Day
Jobs. Since moving to California, he has studied jazz theory with Michael
Smolens, a pianist/composer in Berkeley and played with many groups including the College
of San Mateo Jazz Ensemble, Cañada College, String of Pearls, The Russ Button Swing
Orchestra, The Usual Suspects, The Serenaders, The Foster City Big Band, The
Unicorns and,
of course, Full Spectrum Jazz. Paul attended the Stanford Jazz Workshop
in 1996 where he met many other jazz enthusiasts and great players.
Paul has worked as an
electrical engineer mainly doing ASIC design and product engineering
for mainframe and consumer electronics products (DEC – VAX9000,
3DO – IM
Multiplayer, Microsoft – UltimateTV, XBOX and Xbox360). He
is currently employed at Microsoft working on Xbox360 and beyond
products.
PaulandhiswifeDenise, alongwiththeiryellowlab"Jax"
(namedafterJazzSax!)liveinLosAltos. Theyareactiveintheirlocalchurch,
St.Nicholas, as part of the RCIA team, and Paul participates in music
ministry there as well. After turning the big '4-0' Paul decided to
forgo the black eyes and sprained ankles of playing hockey, but still
remains a huge San Jose Sharks fan.
You can send email to: Paul
Paternoster
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