Randolph Noel

Randolph Noel

noelrandolph.com

Brooklyn born pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, and educator Randolph Noel has released his second album as a leader, “Elements and Orbits”. His first album “Hands on the Plow”, as founder and director of the Brooklyn Arts Ensemble, was released in 2003.  In addition to the youth  Jazz Chorus, the Brooklyn Arts Ensemble included Rudy Bird, Lionel Cordew, Doug Harris, Camille Noel, Lonnie Plaxico, John Henry Robinson III, and  Kiane Zawadi.

Randolph’s work can also be heard on several of the late Abbey Lincoln’s Verve recordings: “You Gotta Pay the Band, “The Devil’s Got Your Tongue, “A Turtles Dream” and “Who Used to Dance”.  He co-arranged the aforementioned “The Devil’s Got Your Tongue” and wrote the string arrangements for some of her most iconic compositions; “Down Here Below” and “Bird Alone”.

Randy is also featured as pianist and arranger on the late Al Grey’s recording “Matzoh and Grits” (Arbors Records)

Randy’s career began in 1973, touring with soul legends Sam and Dave.  Later concert performance experiences include Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Barry Harris, James Moody, Valerie Capers, and others.

He attended Bronx Community College from 1975 to 1977 where he studied piano with Jan Gorbaty and Robert Jordan.  He then earned a BFA degree in Piano Performance from the University of Buffalo, under the tutelage of Frina Arschanska Boldt.  While at SUNY Buffalo, he also studied composition with Leo Smit.

 In 1985 he was hired to orchestrate and conduct “Bird Lives”, a concert tribute to Charlie Parker at Town Hall NYC, which featured James Moody, Lou Donaldson, and Barry Harry, along with winds and strings.  There were subsequent performances of some of these orchestrations at the 1989 Atlanta Jazz Festival, featuring Charles McPherson and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Noel taught for 30+ years as a music teacher with the NYC Department of Education. During this time, he was happy to share his professional performance experiences with as many children as possible.  This sharing included recording with Abbey Lincoln (The Devil’s Got Your Tongue) and subsequent tour in France.  He was the founder of the Noel Singers/Brooklyn Youth Arts Ensemble, a 501c3 organization devoted to the vocal music development of youth via Jazz traditions. Mr. Noel also served as an adjunct professor at New Yok City Technical College and Bronx Community College where he taught courses in the history of Jazz, Western Classical Music, and Music of the Caribbean and South America. During this period, Mr. Noel completed graduate studies in composition at The Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, under the tutelage of Tania Leon.

Randy is grateful for years of study and mentorship with Carmen Grey, Roland Hanna, Cliff Smalls Sr., Barry Harris, Larry Ridley, Valerie Capers, Al Tinney and vocal studies with Andrew Frierson

 Randy’s first piano lessons were at age five with his grandmother Alma Noel. She didn’t play the piano or any instrument, but she knew where the notes were on the instrument and on the page.  She was well aware of what musicians were capable of; she would often organize trips to the Philharmonic in the park and other “outings”. She valued the little that she was able to do and shared it.  His grandfather, John Wesley Noel Sr. led the church choir which Randy was a part of.