Description
Book SynopsisSaxophonist, multi-wind player, arranger, composer, music director, theater works producer, educator, and visionary, Pat Patrick performed with Duke Ellington's and Quincy Jones' orchestras, Thelonious Monk, Mongo Santamaria, Nat King Cole, James Moody, Eric Dolphy, Marvin Gaye, Patti Labelle, and Billy Taylor. Most of his career, however, was spent laying down the baseline grooves on the baritone saxophone with the indefinable Sun Ra Archestra for over 35 years. Based on research in the recently opened archive of personal papers, artifacts, scrapbooks, music, news clippings and photographs, Pat Patrick: American Musician and Cultural Visionary, explores the life and influence of this important musical man-behind-the-scenes. Musicologist Bill Banfield weaves a treasure trove of primary source materialincluding interviews with Patrick''s family, friends, and associatesinto a tapestry of Patrick's remarkable life as the musical right hand of some of America's greatest Black musical artis
Trade ReviewJazz saxophonist Laurdine "Pat" Patrick, performed and recorded with such diverse artists as Duke Ellington, Thelonios Monk, Quincy Jones, Nat King Cole, and Marvin Gaye. But he is most associated with the Sun Ra Arkestra, in which he spent much of 35 years laying down the bottom with his baritone saxophone, creating a distinctive sound that is instantly identifiable to anyone familiar with the Sun Ra catalog. A little-known jazz fact is that Patrick's son is Deval Patrick, former governor of Massachusetts. Deval supplied the treasure trove of personal papers, scrapbooks, news clippings, and photographs salvaged from his father's effects that form the bulk of material compiled by Banfield for this treatment. There are also interviews from surviving band members, who provide a glimpse into Patrick's good-natured personality and what it was like to survive in an avant-garde jazz big band while living on a shoestring. * Booklist *
[Pat Patrick: American Musician and Cultural Visionary] is a welcome addition to the existing core bibliography of excellent Sun Ra related books.... Banfield's book illustrates a well-rounded and complex picture of the soft-spoken musician's life and greatly expands our understanding of the man. By letting the source material speak for itself, Banfield doesn't bring his personal agenda to the subject, allowing readers to have their own unique emotional experience and interpretation. Pat Patrick: American Musician and Cultural Visionary provides an insightful cultural perspective of the artist's times as an educated, thoughtful and principled African-American artist in the 20th century. The author gives context to the societal obstructions and aspirations Patrick gave uncompromising - yet graceful - voice to through his work, while always maintaining pride and humanity.... Bill Banfield's Pat Patrick: American Musician and Cultural Visionary is highly recommended, and will hopefully bring further public attention to Pat Patrick's recorded work and Berklee College of Music collection. * Sun Ra Arkive *
Table of ContentsA Note by Deval Patrick Foreword by Robin D. G. Kelley Chapter 1: Interviews with Patrick’s Son and Daughters Chapter 2: Introduction: Pat Patrick: An American Musician Chapter 3: Life and Ideas Chapter 4: Developing As A Musician 1949-1960 Chapter 5: Artistry, New York 1960-1969 Chapter 6: Artistry: New York, 1970-1979 Chapter 7: Artistry 1980’s and 1990’s Chapter 8: Works Closure Chapter 9: Interviews with Charles Davis, Richard Evans and Pat Patrick Chapter 10: Writings of Pat Patrick, Matter, and Notes Chapter 11: Last Days: Interview with sister, Sheila Miles Chapter 12: Postlude Chapter 13: Conclusions Chapter 14: Song For Amiri
