West Stockbridge — When it comes to jazz music in the Berkshires, it often seems as if players from New York City and Boston are all we ever hear about. But there is a thriving jazz scene in Albany, N.Y., and Brian Patneaude will be happy to show you around, because he seems to be at the center of it. Metroland Magazine in 2010 wrote, “There might not be such thing as an ‘Albany sound,’ but the name Brian Patneaude is virtually synonymous with Albany jazz.” Patneaude will appear with his quartet, pianist Dave Payette, bassist Mike DelPrete, and drummer Danny Whelchel, at the Old Town Hall on Saturday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m.
Before considering Patneaud’s virtuosity as a saxophone player, it’s worth pointing out that reviews of his performances and recordings reveal a musician who is mindful of what pleases a crowd. Writing for AllAboutJazz.com, reviewer Alexander Stern said, “The poll-winning young saxophonist has become one of the most prominent jazz voices in New York’s Capital Region. This performance gave proof, if proof were needed, that youthful, vibrant jazz still exists outside of New York City.”
In fact, the way Patneaud describes his own music speaks volumes. He calls it “an organic blend of modern jazz styles, featuring accessible melodies and harmonic textures that appeal to the casual listener and jazz aficionado alike.” (Yes, that checks out.) The United Kingdom, of course, has completely different language to describe Patneaud’s music. Jazzwise calls it a “chilled contemporary mainstream bop sound.” But however you categorize it, his music actually does appeal to both jazz newbies and aficionados.
Patneaude is a professional educator, so he knows something about connecting meaningfully with audiences of disparate musical backgrounds. Providing further evidence of this, tracks from the group’s CDs have been played on over 50 radio stations worldwide, including the nationally syndicated “Jazz After Hours” with Jim Wilke and “Listen Here!” hosted by Neil Tesser and Mark Ruffin.
Patneaude has performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Kingston International Jazz Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival – Saratoga, the Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival, the Rochester International Jazz Festival, and in smaller jazz venues, including an eight-and-a-half-year run at Albany’s premiere jazz club, Justin’s.
Throughout his career, he has shared the stage with a diverse range of musicians, including saxophonists such as Jimmy Heath, Lee Konitz, David “Fathead” Newman, and Gary Smulyan; trombonists Curtis Fuller, Slide Hampton, and Wycliffe Gordon; trumpeters Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, Claudio Roditi, and Byron Stripling; guitarist Mike Moreno; pianists Bruce Barth, Armen Donelian, and Pete Levin; as well as bassists Dave Holland and Rufus Reid.
Two of the most interesting of Patneaud’s associations are his membership in drummer Michael Benedict’s hard-bop quintet Bopitude and the active performance schedule he keeps with the 19-piece “Big Soul” ensemble, the Empire Jazz Orchestra.
Hear the Brian Patneaude Quartet in West Stockbridge at the Old Town Hall on Saturday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets here.
