Bio

"Patterson...a perfectionist with a big, round and dominating sound that turns every tune into a stimulating experience.." - The Toronto Star

"every note that he plays seems to have a purpose and a place, and both purpose and place usually have something to do with melody." -The Globe and Mail

For guitarist Roy Patterson, growing up in rural Nova Scotia provided a strong sense of individuality rooted in the history of the land that would play a large part in his music. But early musical influences of rock, blues, and R&B are what fostered Roy's interest and passion for the guitar. He performed with local groups touring Atlantic Canada, meanwhile exploring the mysteries of jazz, listening intensely to the music of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, and other masters from the jazz tradition.

In 1978, the 24 year old made the move to Toronto, and brought along an intense practice routine and a burning desire to play jazz. Since then Roy has performed with many of Canada's jazz elite, including Don Thompson, The Doug Riley/Phil Dwyer Quartet, The Barry Elmes Quintet, The Bob Mover Quartet, Mike Murley, Bernie Senensky and many other highly accomplished artists. His style has drawn comparisons with some of the most respected guitarists in North America, and his playing has taken him to Finland, Istanbul, Italy and the U.S.A. In the spring of 2002 Roy was invited to take part in a series of concerts and a workshop for the Commission Project in Rochester, New York where he performed there with a number of U.S. musicians such as John Faddis, Keeter Betts, Jay Leonhart, Akira Tana and Fred Wesley.

Since the release of his first recording in 1989, Roy has built a body of original work which demonstrates a personal, evocative style drawn from early musical influences and eastern meditative practices. His fourth CD, Inland Passages, was released in 1997 and came about as a result of the Roy Patterson Quartet winning the coveted Prix de Jazz at Montreal's Festival International de Jazz, the first Toronto based band ever to win this competition. The award brought exposure through national radio, television, and a tour that concluded at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Inland Passages is a testament to Roy's own earthbound and spiritual journeys and his pursuit of adventure. More recent credits include the Jazz Report magazine award for Guitarist of the Year for 2000, and the formation of the Toronto Jazz Composers Collective, a non-profit group dedicated to the performance and dissemination of Canadian jazz compositions.

Along the way to establishing his credentials as a performer, Roy obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University, and a Master of Music from McGill University. While continuing to compose and perform, he endeavours to pass along his knowledge and experience at York University where he teaches part time in the jazz program, and through his regular column in the US magazine, Just Jazz Guitar.

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