Welcome to Paul Shapiro Music’s Private Parties page.  We customize the music to fit the style and the spirit of your party.  We’ll help you craft a perfect ceremony, providing tasty cocktail hour music, and of course a rockin’ band for your reception.  I am a woodwind player performing on sax, flute and clarinet, and have a very long list of credentials.  I’ve recorded with Jay-Z, Lou Reed, David Byrne, Queen Latifah, Rufus Wainwright, Ofra Haza and even Michael Jackson.  I was also a founding member of Brooklyn Funk Essentials in the 1990’s and a long-time member of the noted jazz group The Microscopic Septet.  In 2003 I had the opportunity to record my own albums for John Zorn’s Tzadik Records label.  I have since recorded three more for them, one in 2006, another in 2008 and one in 2014.  They were all critically acclaimed and are available on amazon.com and itunes.

Why is this important to you and your wedding?  The answer is that I play with fabulous musicians who do a lot more than just play at weddings.  Throughout my career as a bandleader performing my own music, and as a session musician, I have also worked in the private party industry.  Often people would approach me and say ”we love your band, do you play weddings?”  We always get people dancing to a wide variety of great music, and as a result more and more people have requested our services.   

What kind of music do we play?  Most of the time we start with great swing, Latin and romantic music to get people in the mood.  As the party rolls on we get more into funk, rock and soul.  We also play some contemporary music, and depending on what you are looking for can be very current.   I take great care to make sure your special material, such as your first dance, are prepared well and performed well.  My experience comes in very handy finding solutions to unique issues like ‘how do we do parents’ dances if my fiance’s mother has a bad hip’ or ‘I really need this obscure Sinatra song for my Dad’. Jewish music is one of my specialties, playing simcha music for dancing, klezmer for dancing and listening, mezinkas, Yiddish Swing and Middle Eastern, Mizrachi and Israeli. We can also play some Italian, Irish and other ethnic music.  Once I transcribed some Korean music for a wedding.  I listened to the records that the bride sent me and picked out a couple of danceable selections- they turned out to be rhumbas, like “More” or “The Shadow of Your Smile.”  When the band played them her whole family jumped up to dance and the party just took off.  Sometimes the most important song of the night is one that wasn’t planned for, and that is why it is great to have a band with not only an extensive repertoire, but one that can make great on-the-spot decisions that take the party to the next level.

Please drop me an email or a text, I’d be happy to talk with you about your party.

paul@paulshapiromusic.com   917 856-9586 

Here are what some very satisfied couples have said about us:

Hi Paul,
We’re finally back from our honeymoon, and now that the dust has settled, I just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know how happy we were with the band. You guys sounded amazing. We have had many of our guests tell us how good they thought you were, and I couldn't agree with them more. We asked you to provide seamless transitions from Jewish to non-Jewish songs, and not only did you deliver, but people noticed! I have had guests comment to me how well you transitioned between the two genres. We will make sure to spread your name and recommend you. 

Paul,

The music was so great... and you were a great MC/band leader and a total sweetheart to work with....we can't thank you enough.

The music gig with the Birthdays/Anniversaries turned out well, didn't it? Everyone got a kick out of the music we picked and had their moment in the limelight!! We are so happy you were there and your band was great...

Hi Paul-

We are back from the honeymoon and have our feet planted somewhat back in reality and I just wanted to say Thanks. You guys were fantastic! As you know the dancing was the most important part to me and thanks to you the dancing was AMAZING! People have still been telling me what a great band you guys are, as if I didn’t know, but I wanted to pass that along. It was a spectacular day for us and our families, and I can’t thank you enough for everything. It's been an absolute pleasure to work with you and I hope our paths cross again in the future.

Hi Paul:

Just wanted to let you know that you and your band were amazing. The music was full of rhythm and great energy that made you want to dance. The Jewish music you played for the hora was great.  I will remember that hora for the rest of my life. The combination of Jewish music and secular music made for a great balanced wedding and you did both very well.  Thank you again for your help in making my wedding day a beautiful memory.

Paul,

Post wedding, post honeymoon, back in New York.

You and your band were wonderful...We loved every second...from pre-wedding to the last dance...

Couldn't have been happier...

So...

Thank you for everything.

Paul,

Wow, you guys were amazing!!! So many people have told us how great our band was, how talented!! Thanks for hosting the best party we've ever been to!!

Dear Paul,

You were just magnificent.  The truth is there really are not any words

that could explain or express how wonderful you really were or how special

you made the evening for our guests and for us.  Thank you so much for gracing

our party with such beautiful music delivered in such a heartfelt and

meaningful way.

All my best to you and your people

Hey Paul, 

I just wanted to thank you again for an incredible job at the Bar Mitzvah.  You guys were awesome!  Please send my compliments to all band members.  I have heard nothing but raves about you from all my friends and family.  

The Bar Mitzvah was a great success and you were a large part of that! 

thanks again 

hey paul. 

wanted to thank you for the truly amazing job. the guys were terrific and the vocalist as well. thanks for getting "viva cepeda" together. i'd be happy to give you any good references you may need, just let me know... you were indispensable in making our wedding an event that will be talked about by everyone present for years to come. 

thanks again