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| "Patricia Adams and the Ray Santisi Trio (with Greg Loughman and Gary Johnson) - - the trio is superb and the vocalist keeps growing. The changes are subtle. She has worked with a good deal of confidence for some time now but she's taken another step beyond mere assuredness. Her presence these days is calm. There is no hurry. There is no angst. As a result her stage presence is smoother and her interaction with the audience is more "informal". None of this is casual. It all has intent, an intent that shows to advantage in her singing. Because she is focused and calm, her voice seems to obey her more effectively. Wherever she takes the sounds, the impression is that the result is exactly what she wanted, even when she takes chances. It's a lot of fun to witness." Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, Spring 2008 | Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, Spring 2008 | |
| “Ryles was having a private party 6/2 and wanted to follow that with a Jazz group. Patricia Adams, Ray Santisi and friends took up the challenge. Throughout the first set the audience did grow, and it was a lucky audience. Patricia Adams is supposed to be retired, but she’s offering the best singing of her life right now. Ray Santisi grabbed Dave Zox and Bob Savine to replace the regulars and two very interesting things happened. The three instrumentalists do not play with each other regularly, but they are all reliable veterans. And so we had the fine experience of hearing very good music during the first set and the group really came together during the second set. That’s what real pros can do. The other interesting development was the clinic that Ray put on. I’m not a piano player but even in my ignorance I found myself shaking my head in amazement. No doubt any piano player in the audience would have been inspired-or perhaps frightened into giving up the instrument. It was a master indulging in the sheer joy of tackling the possibilities (maybe the impossibilities of the instrument.” Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, August 2007 | Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, August 2007 | |
| You are the poster child for mid-career change and growth. . . .Who says 55 is too old to do this? Not you! | Scott
Sandvik, Guitarist & Music educator July 3, 2007 |
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| " . . . It happens every time I go there [Ryles Jazz Club]. Again, I ended up sitting at the bar during the 4/1 brunch because there was a twenty-minute wait for a table. And this was after noon. Later I was able to get a table down close because things settle down by 1:30. If you came for the piano, there was plenty of it in the form of Ray Santisi's trio featuring Greg Loughman and Gary Johnson . By now they really work as a team. But it is Patricia Adams' gig, and the focus is her singing (in conversation with an active piano, bass and drums). So, no matter what you show up to listen to, you get plenty of it, and it's all high quality stuff. I found Patricia's singing particularly convincing on that gig." | Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, June 2007 | |
| "I went to Ryles 2/5 to check out the jazz brunch featuring the music of Patricia Adams, Ray Santisi and friends. It was one of the coldest days of the year; I figured I'd have an easy time getting a good seat. Much to my surprise people were lined up outside the club waiting to get in. I'm a coward. I abandoned the idea of getting a table and carried out an end run by having my meal at the bar. I was able to hear most of what was happening within the quartet above the din. It's easy to say that people show up Sunday mornings to get some food and chat; there is a lot of talking that goes on. But the audience seems to get bigger each time I show up. There has been no change to the menu. Some local convention may account for an occasional increase now and then,. But it would not account for the gradual increase in audience size over time. I doubt that the conversations are improving. Maybe it's the music. Maybe the audience is hearing it better and wants to hear more. I suppose that it's possible really good music could draw a crowd. Maybe that's what's going on . . .” | Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, April 2007 | |
|
"10/1 brunch at
Ryles . . . when Joe Hunt meets up
with Greg Loughman and Ray
Santisi . . .
Greg knows where one is, so Joe has
the space to reveal all the interior
material that most drummers miss.
And then there's Ray, perhaps buoyed
by the happy connection between bass
and drums, dancing even more
beautifully than usual (yes, it is
possible). No wonder Patricia
Adams sounded so upbeat throughout
the last two sets that I caught.
She had plenty to be happy about,
not the least of which is the fact
that more and more listeners are
showing up. It's food for the
ears."
|
Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, December 2006 | |
|
“
. . a substitute gig at Ryles 8/5
turned out to be quite a highlight in
August.
In a town having more than its
share of superb bass players John
Repucci may be the most underrated.
Not by musicians, of course.
They know just how good he is.
In fact of all the bassists I
see somewhat frequently, John reminds
me most of my all-time favorite,
George Duvivier.
Just try to come up with a note
that’s closer to perfection than the
one he just chose on the gig.
And if that wasn’t enough,
John was operating in a trio setting
with Ray Santisi and Bob Moses, both
performing up their substantial
reputations.
Was there a better
straight-ahead piano trio gig anywhere
else in or outside Boston on 8/5?
I don’t see how it would be
possible.
And when they weren’t working
in a triangle, they were backing up
Patricia Adams who was telling stories
to a very attentive audience. Oh if all audiences could be that good at the usually noisy
club.
But maybe they heard what I
heard, a vocalist who has developed a
rep and who keeps getting better
anyway.
Vocalist Fulani Haynes guested
to good effect.
A special evening . . . ”
|
Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, October 2006 | |
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Good morning,
Patricia.....I had a fantastic
evening Saturday! The show was
wonderful!!!!! As they say,
you rock! Brava! How
nice hearing those great old
songs....I have your Ryles double CD
recording as company for my visit to
friends in Maine today and
tomorrow.....
Here are some photos from Saturday
night....See you next trip into
Boston.... Til later, John
Garp
|
Re:
Ryles
Jazz Club Cambridge, MA August 5th, 2006 |
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Dear
Ms. Adams, |
Re:
Ryles
Jazz Club Cambridge, MA Sunday brunch, May 7, 2006 |
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You totally rock,
missy -- and I hope you're okay with
your beautiful images on this site!!
I'd LOVE to shoot you during a
performance! Here is a link to
a gallery of your images:
Patricia Exhibit .
jeanne
|
Jeanne
Newman, Photographer Hastings on Hudson, NY March, 2006 |
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| ". . . The trio configuration was new to me. Of course I had witnessed the legendary work of Ray Santisi and the solid creativity of Bob Kaufman countless times but bassist Greg Loughman was (perhaps to my embarrassment) new to me. And so my first question when I caught the trio with Patricia Adams 1/1 at Ryles was, "How will Greg Loughman and Bob work together?" If they don't connect, the show is over. Well, they do connect and the four of them by now work with such confidence that they push the bassist off the ledge once in a while just for the fun of it, as in the case of a bass-vocal duo section or when the bass is called upon to play the intro to "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me" sans drums. All that comfort means Ray Santisi is comfortable. And a comfortable Ray Santisi does things like move the melodic line of Heft's "Girl Talk" all over the place and into remarkable permutations during a much too-brief piano solo. As you would expect, Patricia Adams is having fun. She's taking more chances with it all, but not audacious, stupid chances, She does things like increase the level of a syllable or shift the phrasing just a smidge. Subtle stuff that holds the real meaning within an improvised translation of verse. And the solid savvy remains. For example, she retains her exemplary repertoire, mixing standards with wonderful songs that never quite make the "chestnut" category but should. Hearing compositions that fly under the radar of most songbirds (such as "I Want To Be Loved" and "If You Could See Me Now") remains one of the great joys of catching Patricia Adams and friends at Ryles on the first Sunday of each month (and elsewhere around town). | Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, March 2006 | |
|
" . . . a confident, joyful performer." |
Iris
Hiskey Arno The Rivertowns Enterprise August, 2005 |
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|
". . . Ray Santisi, Marshall Wood and Bob Moses opened the set with a romp through the music of George Gershwin, mostly but not exclusively Porgy and Bess material. Of course, it was more than a romp. They played the dickens out of it upside, downside, sideways - and always with a thoughtful understanding of the material. What a joy it is to hear Mr. Santisi let loose on an acoustic piano and with such challenging prodding percussion from Mr. Moses. Two masters giving lessons once each month with an emphatic bass player, usually (as in this case on 6/5) with Mr. Hand-in-glove Bull Fiddler. New York (and off-and-on-Boston) has Monday Night sessions at clubs where big bands shout and master improvisers - Les Paul comes to mind - hold court every week. Students and young journeymen show up to study at the feet/feats of the masters and walk away, shaking their heads and determined to put in more hours. Where is the Monday Night session for this trio in Boston, the Music School Capital of the Universe? You can learn just so much from books and jams and practice. There comes a time when witnessing a living, creative encyclopedia of the art in action is needed to challenge and inspire. And here it was on a Sunday afternoon, "just" an opener for another set of music by Patricia Adams and Friends. There should be several sets of this trio every Monday somewhere conducive. Until then the people who love the great jazz mainstream have to wait for the first Sunday of every month for the "brunch lesson". That's a long wait but the students also get the bonus of seeing how the best musicians help make a fine Jazz vocalist's work seem effortless. That's quite a bonus because you see the support, the heads, the solos, and the give-and-take in classic, evolving form. Patricia Adams has the gig and she knows what to do with it - with the words, with the charts, with the sequencing of events. She knows, for example that sometimes a vocalist with trio can be a duo that leads into another level of four voices. Also she sings as much for the band as she does for the audience, and everyone in the room gets more from each piece that way. The four of them are there on the first Sunday of every month from 10 in the morning to 2:30 (but most serious listeners show up after 12) at Ryles (617 876 9330)" . |
Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, August 2005 | |
|
Boston,
MA ".
. . A question for all you cynical,
sarcastic Jazz fans: What is the
last thing you'd expect to run into
at a Jazz brunch? Yes.
Jazz. But not so fast. I
sat down for brunch 2/6 at Ryles and
caught Ray Santisi (on acoustic
piano!), Marshall Wood and Bob Moses
doing what they know how to do
superbly. Vocalist Patricia
Adams had the good taste to bring
along that fine trio and put them to
work. It did work. There
was plenty of room for them to solo,
support and interact. And
nobody got in the way of the words.
Good thing, too, because Ms. Adams
knows about words. The young
vocal starlets of the Jazz world
today seem to pick up the chestnuts
for the first time out of the fake
book. But Patricia Adams had
these items for breakfast and lunch
as a child, living and breathing
before some of those tunes saw
sunlight. And so when she
offers "Ev'ry Time We Say
Goodbye", the patina of World
War II comes with it. No
gimmicks. Just really good
music. She's there every first
Sunday of the month."
|
Stu Vandermark, CADENCE Magazine, April 2005 | |
| "STANDARD ISSUE This ficklest of holiday weekends can go one of two ways, leaving us with either a blockbuster hangover or a Blockbuster free DVD rental. But we can always count on Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, and the Duke, among others. Of course, we mean jazz standards, which Patricia Adams sings as if she's been entertaining audiences all her life. In fact, she didn't get started until 1992, when she took the Scullers stage for a few minutes, got hooked, and left a 35-year career in human resources. How can a woman with this many years in middle management sound so warm and personable, and even a bit like Lena Horne? Go! doesn't know, but she's got it. She brings her quartet for brunch gigs at Ryles today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adams and band will use the brunch gigs as live recording sessions, so we predict a knockout of a show. No cover. 212 Hampshire St., Inman Square, Cambridge, 617-876-9330." | Amy
Graves, staff reviewer Weekend: Go! The Boston Globe December 31, 2004
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"Dearest Diva, Prints of brunch/1st Sundays at Ryles have the great Ray Santisi on Piano, Patricia Adams singing 'n swinging the standards, Marshall Wood, Bass, Rakalam Bob Moses with his drums - - from the bar at Ryles This incredible trio lets the first Sundays any month become your memorable Ryles Jazz Club brunch. Five year's luck to be here so often, listening, to watch, play, watercolor-ing as fine Sunday morning jazz is growing as intimately as it does in Ryles' atmosphere of friends together. "By now, I am nestled into ink and pen-in-hand as Ray's piano begins this morning visit, melt, belt, cool, Marshall implore, she'll coo and Rakalam's time's cooking. I draw live! With her feel for her audiences . . . Patricia's noticed. BACKGROUND . . . "Spring 2000, old friends, Joanne McKracken and George Mokray, got me out to hear Patricia Adams at Ryles. I still remember a thought: 'This'a first since Nat "King" Cole I've listened to lyrics so effortlessly and intently.' "Set's finished and Patricia's at our table. George introduces Joann, then me. "Hello, Oh! You're doing?!" I explained I often sketch at live performances. Delighted by my pen and inks, she wants to borrow them for just a moment. She turned, faces the audience and shouts: "Emmanuelle! Look what we have!" Not a gospel shout - - as I first thought. Emmanuelle LeGal's art directing Patricia's "Out of this World" CD "it's our cover!" Patricia excitedly exclaimed while she whisked away my 20-odd drawn-on-paper-shards to a nearby table. More booking's made new watercolors even few of the 20 reached Out Of this World." |
Bill
Commerford/Boston Watercolorist March 2004 |
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| Patricia, Thank you so much for having me play with you tonight! I had a great time and I thought you sounded wonderful. I can tell that we both have a lot to learn from playing together, and I know of nothing else as exciting as that! We're both stylists, and we're both somewhat idiosyncratic--I know that our music is going to end up someplace wonderful. I am overwhelmed by the love and craftsmanship you bring to your singing--you moved me for sure! | Kavehaz
Restaurant & Jazz Gallery
Manhattan from Alexander Levin, piano November 2004 |
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Hi Pat,
Bruce and I enjoyed
your performance so much at Ryles
Jazz Club. Our friends are still
talking about you and have been
enjoying their album they bought
while they were with us. We have
several friends who we will keep
bringing with us so that they, too,
can see your warm, upbeat
performances. It seems that every
time we bring someone to see you,
they leave feeling so positive about
life. Your inspiration is
contagious! All of them are becoming
your devoted fans. Try to stay
warm. We will see you
soon. Love, Fern and
Bruce
|
Re:
Ryles
Jazz Club Cambridge, MA Sunday brunch |
|
| Hi Pat, You were fantastic! I so enjoy listening to you. And you look so natural up there-- completely comfortable and happy. Your mood is contagious. Thanks for getting my week off to a great start. Love, Christine | Ryles
Jazz Club Sunday brunch
Cambridge, MA September 2004 |
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Hi Patricia!
You were wonderful
this morning at Ryles !
Really enjoyed it! You
did a song you said was from the
30's... lyrics are something like
" I confess I love you",
I loved it and would love to
purchase one of your CD's if it is
on one, or at least find it
somewhere.... Thank
you so much! Ps...I
have book-marked your site in hopes
of catching you again!
|
Ryles
Jazz Club Sunday brunch
Cambridge, MA from Mark Pelley June 2004 |
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Hi Pat,
We all had such a
wonderful time seeing you last
week. You just get better. Also, a
special thank you for singing our
song. After we left, our son went
hunting for it in stores and on
the net. So far, he has only found
an instrumental of it. If we do
find it, it will never be as
beautiful or mean as much to
us as when you sing it. You have
four new fans. I knew that would
happen. They all want to see you
again. We have been listening to
your CD's all week! You truly are
an inspiration. I think people
leave you feeling full of hope and
happiness. Thank
you again. Fern
|
Ryles
Jazz Club
Cambridge, MA from Fern Greene May 2004 |
|
| Many thanks for the DaveFrank|Creative photos and the other info you forwarded. We LOVED having you there!! You and the quartet added such life and verve to the evening. We were successful financially in that we raised enough money to support the guys for another year. If and when we do this sort of party again, we'd love to include your music. (It was such a huge amount of work for those of us on the event committee, it's hard to imagine gearing up for something again, but the evening was such fun for everyone). Best regards! Mary McNerny | Pierce
House
Lincoln, MA Lost Boys Of Sudan benefit April 2004 |
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| Dear Patricia, I want to say that while discussing your performance last week, I failed to note something I had not heard before. At one point I think at the end of a song you effortlessly and beautifully went in to a higher register and it was a bulls eye. Technically that is called the mix. A great moment. | Main
& Hopewell Jazz Pub S. Glastonbury, CT from Melody Breyer-Grell April 2004 |
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"Patricia,
I can't tell you how much it warmed
my heart to hear you sing! I
absolutely love your selection of
songs. I love your jazz, rhythm
and blues selections and variety of
eclectic composers. I could
have heard you sing for many
more hours. You have such an
incredible voice and so very much
energy. I woke up this morning with
such a big smile on my face and a
bounce in my step.
I felt confident about bringing
Frank to hear you sing. It was his
birthday and I thought this would be
a perfect ending to his day. You
exceeded my expectations. You sang
the traditional Happy Birthday song
and then composed the second stanza
especially for him. I somehow think
he will remember this birthday for a
long time to come.
I look forward to attending more of
your performances. I will rally
some more folks as I'm sure there
are many people who would love to
hear you sing as well.
Many Thanks,"
|
Chez
Suzette Restaurant & Jazz Club New York City, NY from Judith Riggs February 2004 |
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| "Hosting you was a special moment for me at Steppin' Out. I enjoyed your presentation to the music. Yes!! Please send me a reference copy [of your new CD] to WGBH radio, 125 Western Ave, Boston, Mass. 02134. Happy Holidays to you and your family, talk with you soon." | WGBH
Boston, Radio
Al Davis, The Jazz Gallery November 2003 |
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| "About 10 years ago, Patricia Adams began taking singing lessons for fun. Though she worked as a human resources executive and was in her mid-50's, she eventually became convinced "the universe thought it was time" for her to change jobs. It was hard to give up some of the lessons she'd learned. Now firmly ensconced in the music world, Patricia sings at Chez Suzette November 15." | Hot
House Magazine
Elzy Kolb, Contributing Editor November 2003 |
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| "We
are still receiving rave reviews for
the concert you performed for our 2003
Great Women of Song Afternoon Tea
series. The program you designed
was simply perfect for our audience
and venue. Your superb voice and
musical style carried the event to
great heights. Each and every
audience member in the
standing-room-only auditorium was
captivated and enthralled. It was a pleasure to have Fred Hunter's fabulous bass playing back at the museum. We would love to have Bill Duffy as a frequent guest artist as well - what an extraordinary pianist! Please extend our appreciation to both. I thank you for your professionalism, polish and sense of perfection. And I thank you for giving us all such a memorable concert. We look forward to many encore performances by the Patricia Adams Ensemble." |
Barbara
Davis Curator of Public Programs The Hudson River Museum Yonkers, NY Spring 2003 |
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"Your show
planning skills are excellent.
As I watched your first set---I was
wondering how you were able to plan
such a wonderful set. It was what is
taught in Theater Arts Colleges
. . . - - it was theatrically perfect. The pictures you painted and the trip you took us on as an audience was fabulous. I'm PROUD." |
Fulani Haynes, Bandleader, Vintage Boston/November 2002 |
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"We just returned
from Yvonne's. Good food.
Great conversation. Hot
music. Patricia Adams and her
group found fans in us. We'll be
in attendance in Hastings next
week." " Patricia Adams and her group were a delight. . . . we are smitten." |
Yonkers
Tribune
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Re: July 12, 2002 |
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| "Food is very good. Entertainment is classic. I'll be back and I'll spread the news." | Yvonne's
Southern Cuisine
Patricia Mosley, Patron July 12, 2002 |
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| "The
mood was sentimental and romantic when
jazz vocalist, Patricia Adams and her trio performed at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge, MA last week. Adams, whose pleasant humor amused and relaxed the Friday night crowd was backed by a superb trio with Frank Wilkins on piano, Langston 'Skip' Smith on bass and Stanley C. Swann, III on drums. "The classy song stylist, who interprets the music and makes each song her own, has a warm and dignified stage presence and a presentation that is quite joyous, though not extravagant. "Surrounded by talented musicians, it would have been easy and acceptable for Ms Adams to follow along. But, whether it was Street of Dreams, Out Of This World, or Lover Man, it was clear that Patricia is not just in the band, she's the band leader. "As she ran down her repertoire, whether bebop or ballad, each composition had a message about love and Adams gave added value to it all. When she hit the line, " . . . and you never will !", from Duke Ellington's Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, let's just say there was no doubt that she keeps it real. "Ending as elegantly as she began with a rendition of Blackberry Winter, and newcomer, Calling All Dreamers - - dream for today ! - - you were glad you were there when jazz singer Patricia Adams called the roll." |
T.
Brooks Shepherd
JAZZ COLUMNIST Valentine's Friday, 2002
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| "Patricia Adams reigns when she steps
to the microphone; her
voice, soft, mellow and distinguished
as she delivered song after song at
Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge's Inman
Square. On this night, THE Patricia
Adams QUARTET featured Frank Wilkins
as music director and pianist,
Langston 'Skip' Smith on bass and
Stanley C. Swann, III on drums.
It was a delightful evening. "The audience was silent and attentive as they listened to Patricia sing a repertoire of songs. Her opening song of the first set was Out of This World. She made the song her song, just as she did all the songs that she sang. Many in the audience were swaying as Patricia sang songs that brought back memories. She clearly was in control when she sang another favorite for the audience, Lover Man. Her style is of diva quality. She moved through the audience singing, smiling, and enjoying herself making each word, clear and near. Patricia Adams, a lady with a song." |
Haywood
Fennell
PRODUCER Valentine's Day Friday, 2002
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| “Ms. Adams brings to the stage a level of excitement, which she gives to her audience freely and unselfishly. Her band members are versatile and extraordinary players, who have performed with many of the jazz legends. Patricia's personable demeanor is a part of her show. She goes into her own zone and feels the groove of each instrument and pours it all out in song.” | Barbara
Jonson
UNITY FIRST - DIRECT and SUB-TERRA BOSTON, on-line magazine November 2001
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| "I'm still stunned. You are an exquisite singer. I loved the CD, but it did nothing at all to prepare me for that tender lyricism, those gorgeous nuances." | Patricia
Smith
JOURNALIST & POET |
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| "THE Patricia Adams QUARTET is exceptional . . . their music ignites the soul." | Freddie Hall
JAZZ ARTIST |
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| "She has got much more control of material and is finding her own voice and herself in her music . . . and is less imitative of others and much more confident. Also, she is finding her musical range . . . voice and repertoire . . . good set." | Calvin Hicks
NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY
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| "Terrific show ! You have a great sense for programming, contour and drama. The trio was dynamic. Enjoyed EVERYBODY'S work." | Bob
Johnson GUITARIST |
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| "Excellent performance . . . I am a fan of the standards . . . It is a throwback . . . that really seems to come together." | Nathan Brown
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"Although
I've heard you more in the interim
than Dai, we were both astounded at
the progress you've made ! (Not
that we didn't know you could do it,
but it's still remarkable to see you
in action!). You sound so
professional and are so wonderful to
listen to. Your band is terrific
as well - - the whole experience feels
like the real thing. As,
of course, it is. We thoroughly
enjoyed ourselves Friday night.
Congratulations, Pat !! You've
accomplished so much, not only
musically, but business-wise as
well. I'm proud, impressed and
inspired ! "The other singer who performed with you was great as well - - a very different style but a lovely voice, too . . . it was generous of you to share your stage." |
Christine
Duvivier WELLESLEY, MA |
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| "You sounded FABULOUS !!!!!!!!!! Great show, great evening. We had a wonderful time." | Joan
Doolittle CAMBRIDGE, MA |
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