On February 20, 2026, bassist and composer Stephen Parisi Jr. releases his debut album Buddy! via Shifting Paradigm Records. Featuring Parisi alongside guitarist Josh Achiron, pianist Nicholas Olynciw, drummer Kabir Dalawari, and saxophonist Jordan Lerner, the album is produced by Buffalo piano legend and longtime mentor George Caldwell. Rooted in Parisi’s formative years in Buffalo and his continued development in Chicago, Buddy! presents a compelling set of original compositions that foreground apprenticeship, family, and local jazz communities as vital forces in the music’s ongoing evolution.
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Parisi established himself as one of the region’s most in-demand bassists before relocating to Chicago to further immerse himself in that city’s deep jazz lineage. Along the way, he has performed across straight-ahead, big band, and contemporary settings, touring nationally with ensembles including the Glenn Miller Orchestra. At the same time, he has remained dedicated to composition, arranging, and education, studying with respected mentors such as Tom Matta, Bill Dobbins, and Dave Rivello. Even early in his career, colleagues observed that his playing “demonstrates a deep respect for tradition while speaking clearly in a personal voice”—a balance that defines Buddy!.
Conceived as a series of musical portraits, Buddy! traces the individuals and relationships that have shaped Parisi’s musical identity. Rather than treating mentorship and community as abstract ideals, Parisi renders them tangible through melody, harmonic architecture, and ensemble interplay. Each piece is named for—and inspired by—a specific person, grounding the music in lived experience. For Parisi, the album is both gratitude and responsibility: an acknowledgment of those who invested in him, and a recognition that participation in a jazz community means carrying those lessons forward.
The album opens with “Shikata Ga Nai,” dedicated to pianist Seiji Yamashita. The composition blends subtle harmonic turns with an understated rhythmic feel, reflecting a philosophy of acceptance embedded in its title. “Tro,” written for Parisi’s mother Kristen, follows with steady resolve, mirroring her unwavering support. “Lascialo,” honoring Aunt Maria and Uncle Lew Custode, unfolds patiently, allowing the ensemble’s collective sound to breathe while highlighting Parisi’s clarity as a composer.
“The Judge (For Ray)” adds a deeper tonal weight to the sequence, while “The Kid,” dedicated to guitarist Josh Achiron, underscores the close musical bond between the two, built on dialogue and trust rather than virtuosic display. The brief drum feature “Shukria” offers a moment of rhythmic focus before “The Italian Space Program (For Angelo),” written for Parisi’s uncle Angelo “Pooch” Puccio, injects playful rhythmic turns and tightly woven ensemble lines. “I Tried to Buy a Shark on the Dark Web” introduces a touch of humor and modern absurdity, balancing the album’s reflective core with contemporary wit. The record closes with the title track, “Buddy!,” a tribute to Parisi’s father, Stephen Parisi Sr.—affectionately known as “Big Steve”—a respected Buffalo pianist and composer. The piece captures the album’s emotional center, pairing warmth with forward motion.
Throughout Buddy!, Parisi’s writing leaves ample room for the ensemble’s personalities to emerge, reinforcing the album’s central message: jazz is sustained not by isolated individuals, but by networks of mentorship, shared history, and mutual respect. Caldwell’s production presence lends cohesion and perspective, guiding the project with the steady hand of someone who has witnessed generations of musicians pass through the same cycles of learning and leadership.
With Buddy!, Stephen Parisi Jr. offers more than a debut statement. He presents a testament to the communities that make jazz possible, affirming his place within that continuum by honoring those who came before him. In doing so, he reminds listeners that the future of jazz depends on remembering—and nurturing—the relationships that sustain it.
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