Native Vermonter and mandolin innovator Will Patton is one we enjoy following. We had the pleasure of spending time with him at Rigelfest in 2005. Personable and passionate about his music, Will brings a new standard to jazz mandolinning.

Having been a jazzer first (professional bass player for many years), Will took a different approach to learning the mandolin. Largely self-taught, he took a "work backward" approach by internalizing the sound & what he wanted out of his Vintage Gibson A, and developing specific techniques to achieve that sound. He chords differently and accesses patterns in an untraditional way, but the results are stunningly beautiful, his tone rich and complex. His music literally goes through his head first (composing away from the instrument while hiking or other unrelated activity) and then putting them into wood and steel.

Will's Quintet is performing at Pratt Hall in Montgomery Village, Vermont Saturday, Sept. 2 at 8:00 PM.

Read article.

Read reviews of all three of his terrific CDs in our Gypsy/Choro Recommended Listening.

Artist Website.

Posted by Ted at September 2, 2006 06:10 AM