Jazz musician Paul Kogut '88 was recently featured in Jazz Times after the release of his third album Turn of Phrase.
Kogut grew up and studied in Utica with Carmen Caramanica. He was taught later by Mick Goodrick, and a Hamilton course allowed him to travel for lessons with Pat Marino in Philadelphia. He later attended the Manhattan School of Music, and then served as a lecturer in jazz guitar at Hamilton. He currently tours nationally in support of his music.
Jazz Times effusively praises Turn of Phrase, stating: “Paul Kogut’s outstanding third CD, a trio date with the unbeatable rhythm team of George Mraz and Lewis Nash, will hopefully generate wider recognition for this polished guitarist. Kogut plays with secure confidence and a pristine, mellow sound that has been recently enhanced thanks to his decision to switch from guitar pick to thumb.”
See the full article, with detailed descriptions of each track.
Kogut majored in mathematics at Hamilton and graduated with departmental honors. He played with the campus jam-band PIE, and writes on his website: “I owe a lot to Hamilton. Everybody was very supportive of what I was trying to do. Even though I didn’t go there intending to study music, and there was no jazz program to speak of, the liberal arts based curriculum allowed for the development of some independent studies that really helped me get things together.”
