Paul Cornish may be a new name to many, but he comes with serious credentials — through Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (the same school that shaped Jason Moran, Robert Glasper, Eric Harland, Kendrick Scott and Chris Dave) in his hometown Houston, via years alongside Joshua Redman, to his debut album last year.
Cornish sees his music as a link in a chain of distinguished Houston pianists: “I look at Jason Moran as the catalyst. Robert Glasper took some of that and added a whole other thing to it, and then James Francies took it even further. With each one of us, it evolves and expands.”
His debut You’re Exaggerating! was released on Blue Note in 2025, with bassist Joshua Crumbly and drummer Jonathan Pinson. The record moves between deep piano tradition and a fluid, contemporary sound, across nine original compositions — several rooted in personal reflection: a tribute to Geri Allen, a meditation on what 5 a.m. can mean depending on where you are in life.
In recent years, alongside his solo career, he has been a key part of Joshua Redman’s new quartet. Redman describes Cornish as “the perfect balance of empath and contrarian — challenging everyone to break away from established patterns, while always making the music feel good and natural in the moment.”
LINEUP
Paul Cornish – piano
Jermaine Paul – bass
Jonathan Pinson – drums
