“An ace pianist”
- Rex Reed, Observer
Meet Konrad
Called "a rising-star pianist" by JazzTimes, Konrad Paszkudzki is recognized as one of the foremost interpreters of classic American jazz and the Great American Songbook.
Born in Perth, Australia, to Polish parents, Konrad discovered a passion for jazz at an early age. At just 15, he was admitted to the prestigious West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where he completed his undergraduate degree in jazz piano. He quickly emerged as one of Australia's leading young jazz musicians, touring extensively with internationally acclaimed trumpeter James Morrison, who famously remarked, "To put it simply, he is jazz."
A Yamaha Artist and exclusive recording artist for Japan's prestigious Venus Records, Konrad is celebrated for his swinging, lyrical piano style that draws inspiration from Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner, Ahmad Jamal, and Nat King Cole while honoring the timeless music of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Jimmy Van Heusen, and other masters of the Great American Songbook. His trio has released eight critically acclaimed albums for Venus Records, earning an international following among jazz audiences.
In addition to maintaining an active international touring and recording schedule, Konrad has held a long-running residency at the legendary Carlyle Hotel in New York City for more than a decade. He serves on the Board of Directors of The Lyric Chamber Music Society, a New York-based organization dedicated to presenting classical and jazz performances and educational outreach programs across the United States. Konrad has also served as Artistic Director for several nonprofit organizations, music platforms, and arts institutions dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating classic American jazz and the enduring legacy of the Great American Songbook.
Whether on the concert stage, in the recording studio, or as a curator and educator, Konrad remains dedicated to preserving and advancing America's great jazz tradition.
In 2009, Konrad moved to the United States on full scholarship to attend the University of Miami, earning his Master of Music degree at the age of 22. Three years later, he relocated to New York City, where he led the house trio at the renowned nightclub 54 Below before joining the John Pizzarelli Trio. Over the next seven years, he performed more than 1,000 concerts throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, appearing at many of the world's most celebrated jazz clubs, concert halls, and festivals, including Café Carlyle, Birdland, The Blue Note, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, Ronnie Scott's, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Throughout his career, Konrad has performed and recorded with an extraordinary roster of artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Bucky Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, Jeff Hamilton, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Bette Midler, Terrell Stafford, John Clayton, Debbie Harry, Jane Monheit, Catherine Russell, Monica Mancini, Samara Joy, Terry Gibbs, Bernard Purdie, Carl Allen, Daniel Jobim, Gary Burton, Kevin Mahogany, Pasquale Grasso, Benny Benack, Stella Cole and Joe Piscopo, among many others.
