Faculty

Profile

Gene Perla was raised in New Jersey, where he studied classical piano and trombone. After attending the Berklee School of Music, he moved to New York and began his musical career as a jazz bassist.  

He has performed and/or recorded with Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Woody Herman, Freddie Hubbard, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Chuck Mangione, Joni Mitchell, Buddy Rich, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Stone Alliance, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and others. Of special note is having played 455 gigs with drummer Elvin Jones.  

In the early 1970s, he formed music publishing and record companies, and his group Stone Alliance traveled to South America and Europe, which gave him experience in management and booking. Other efforts include Broadway sound design (Tony Awards for City of Angels, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King), and recording studio operations.  

He plays his basses, produces records, runs an Internet design and hosting company, teaches music business and other subjects at the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School, has previously taught at Lehigh University, and has been the Webmaster for the Jazz Education Network.  

His musical performance activities continue with the wonderful vocalist Viktorija Gečytė and his groups, The Lighthouse Project and Good and Plenty Jazz.

Degrees Held

BA Music

Professional Affiliation

AFM (American Federation of Musicians - Local 802) ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) CEC (New School - CoPA Executive Committee) EISJ (New School - Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice) IMC (Local 802 - Indie Musicians Caucus) ISB (International Society of Bassists) JAC (Local 802 - Jazz Advisory Committee) JEC (New School - Jazz Executive Committee) JEN (Jazz Education Network) MWA (Music Workers Alliance) UFS (New School - University Faculty Senate)