HERY PAZ is a New York based Cuban multi-instrumentalist, composer and visual artist. At the heart of his artistic practice we find a resolute dedication to expand the frontiers of his cultural philosophy, crystalizing an amalgam of expressions between improvisation, composition, visual arts and poetry. His playing is imbued with a depth of purpose, a sense of patience and a willingness to venture into the unknown. Paz is an integral element of the creative music scene in New York City where he has worked with Dave Liebman, William Parker, Cooper Moore, Ralph Alessi, Francisco Mela, Tom Rainey, John Hebert, Thomas Morgan, Román Díaz, Kris Davis, Nate Wooley, Miguel Zenón, Leo Genovese, Ethan Iverson, Gerald Cleaver, Afro Cuban All Stars Band, Buena Vista Social Club, Juan De Marcos Gonzales, Dan Weiss, Jacob Sacks & Joe Morris...
HERY is a Published Cover Artist for:
IRAZÚ RECORDS, RED PIANO RECORDS,
577 RECORDS, PYROCLASTIC RECORDS,
FRESH SOUND & NEWVELLE RECORDS.
EDUCATION: MA degree from the New England Conservatory (Boston) and active professor at
New England Conservatory Jazz Lab and the University of Maine Jazz Camp in Farmington.
“Hery's work inspires on several levels: imagination, discipline, intriguing and full of energy... in other words pure beauty.”
- Dave Liebman
"Paz's melodic lines are made with art, his lyricism does not fit anything you anticipate listening to, having the ability to surprise."
- Jazz Trail
"... a revelation, a musician of extraordinary strength"
- Fred Hersch
"…a spicy soloistic mill, his rasping tone cuts across the line between form and freedom with knife-edge precision"
- Jazzwise
"…Hery is as good as it gets, with a wide open sound he embodies originality in Cuban Culture, Jazz and Contemporary Music, he is the real deal"
- Jerry Bergonzi
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
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Commissioned Artist in Residence for the Porta-Jazz + Guimaraes Jazz Festival Collaboration, Portugal, 2024
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FCA Grant, New York, 2024
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NALAC National Prize, U.S. 2023
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Artist in Residence at UNCOOL, Switzerland, 2021.
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New Music USA Grant, New York, 2021
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City Artist Corps Grant, New York, 2021
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Newvelle Records Featured Artist - Season 4, 2018
FESTIVAL AND VENUES
United States
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Hartford Jazz Festival
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Beantown Jazz Festival
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Jordan Hall
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Arts for Arts Jazz Festival
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Blue Note Jazz Club
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Smalls Jazz Club
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San Francisco Jazz Center
International
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Umbria Jazz Festival, Italy
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Eurojazz Festival, Mexico
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Porta Jazz Festival, Porto
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Hot Club, Lisbon
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Jimmy Glass Club, Valencia
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Bilbaina Jazz Club, Bilbao
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Bogui Jazz Club, Madrid
ABOUT
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
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RIVER CREATURES, Hery Paz (feat. Tom Rainey, Nate Wooley) Carimbo Records, 2024
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JARDINEROS, Hery Paz (feat. Francisco Mela, Roman Díaz) 577 Records, 2023
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Elegy for Thelonious, Frank Carlberg, Sunnyside Records, 2024
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Seeing Sounds, Willy Rodriguez, Independent, 2024
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Sonnet to Silence, Kenneth Jimenez, We Jazz Records, 2023
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Organon, Joe Morris, Riti Records, 2022
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Monk Dreams, Frank Carlberg, Red Piano Records, 2022
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Impetu, Juanma Trujillo, Falcon Gumba Records, 2021
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Evolution of Something, Joe Morris, Glacial Galactic Records, 2021
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MPT Trio Vol 1, MPT, 577 Records, 2020
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Responde Tú, Vessel Trio, Porta Jazz - Carimbo Records, 2019
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Ancestors, Francisco Mela, Newvelle Records 2019
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Folklore, Juanma Trujillo, Polyfold Records, 2019
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Sonoran, Andrew Schiller, Red Piano Records, 2019
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La Cola del Pan, Juanma Trujillo, Falcon Gumba Records, 2019
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Flying Elephants, Dor Herskovits, Endectomorph Records 2019
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Set it up as Silence, Juanma Trujillo, Falcon Gumba Records, 2018
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In Sides, Javier Moreno, Fresh Sound Records, 2018
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Live at the Lilypad, Bert Seager, Red Piano Records 2018
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Tied Together Not to The Ground, Andrew Schiller, Red Piano Records 2017
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Tetraptych, Bert Seager, Red Piano Records 2017
