Jazz 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