SmoothViews staffers are always on the lookout for new people to introduce to our readers.  We diligently look at liner notes on CDs and keep our eyes wide open at jazz festivals.  Several years ago at the Kettle Moraine Jazz Festival, I was taken by the sound of the sax man accompanying Bobby Caldwell.  For the years following, his name kept coming up.  So, this month, SmoothViews is pleased to finally introduce you to Patrick Lamb.

Like most musicians, the love of music for Patrick Lamb began by being exposed to great music at home from a very early age.  His father has a doctorate in chemistry and physics, but took care of the family and put himself through school by playing piano for weddings, and playing honky tonks in Austin, Texas and Mississippi at Delta State University.  His childhood home in Jackson, Mississippi was filled with music from his Dad’s collection. “I had been listening to great records since I was a toddler, with my dad having so much music in the house. Great records were on all the time, everything from Coltrane to Ray Charles to Phoebe Snow to the Crusaders. The Crusaders and Wilton Felder ended up being a huge influence on me because I loved his sound and soul, and I listened to the track "Hard Times" over and over early on until I transcribed it.  That was the start of my moving from primarily alto to playing tenor.” 

The Lamb family moved from Jackson to Portland, Oregon in 1983 and Patrick was enrolled in beginning band in Cedar Park Middle School.  His teacher, Mr. Robert Ernst, also taught Chris Botti for a time.  Patrick believes that the beginning band programs are where it all starts for a lot of kids.  “When my family moved to Portland, I was late enrolling in school and when I got to class, everyone was playing the trumpet and drums, namely the loudest instruments, and I wanted to play them, too.  But Mr. Ernst let me know that there was no room for any more trumpet or drummers, so he sat down and made me look at this book full of pictures and I picked out the saxophone!  I tried clarinet, but after I picked up the saxophone, that was definitely the instrument I liked.”   Patrick remembers the first time he played live in a front of an audience.  “My dad dragged me out to a place in Portland called the Jazz Quarry, which was a pretty legendary place for Jazz if you came through Portland. I sat in with Leroy Vinnegar, Mel Brown, and Eddie Weid, and it was unbelievably inspiring. It was the source of a lot of motivation for practicing from then on for sure.”  Patrick’s parents could only afford to give him a few lessons, but he studied under Dave Barduhn, who arranged for Stan Kenton, and he has been touring and performing ever since he was 16 or 17.

Patrick has toured internationally with Diane Schuur, Gino Vannelli, and off and on subbed with Jeff Lorber Fusion.  Last year he did a show with the Tower of Power rhythm section Rocco Prestia, David Garibaldi, and Roger Smith.  But it was working with Bobby Caldwell that brought him to the attention of smooth jazz fans.  “A friend of mine, Michelle Abrams, who owns a website, www.cjazz.com, suggested that I submit my materials to Bobby after his last sax player went to play with Barry Manilow.  So I did. I played with Bobby for about five years. He's been very supportive of what I do and featured me as part of his group, which is very much appreciated.”  Currently Patrick is playing more with Gino Vannelli and events with his own band, and would love to play with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Dave Mathews, Herbie Hancock, The Crusaders, Eric Benet, Lady Gaga, George Benson, George Duke, Marcus Miller, the Rolling Stones, Christian McBride, or Sting.  Patrick has done a lot of touring already and thinks he'd like to do some larger world tours where he would still have some creative license.

One of Patrick’s best gig memories was the first show he did with Diane Shuur.  “The first gig I did with Diane Schuur was sold out at the Schnitzer Hall in Portland after she had just won one of her Grammys. I was just coming up. I didn't know who Diane Schuur was or what the Schnitzer Hall was and I got a call from her manager in New York.  He sent me all these records with her and Stan Getz on them that got my attention. I transcribed them all and she dug it and put me on a lot of dates after that.”

So, with all of this experience behind him, what does the future hold for this sax man?  His focus is on making his own records, touring with other artists, and getting better at playing and songwriting.  His new record, It's All Right Now, debuted at #29 on Billboard. “We've sold out of our first pressing and we just released it, so I think people are definitely digging it.”  His band has a New Year’s Eve gig at one of the largest events in the Northwest at the Hilton Ballroom this year. Last year they sold out every room and every ticket.  ”In the northwest, my band sells out the largest event halls in Portland.  We have a real high energy vibe, original music, and following. I think the key for me is just to start getting into other markets so people can be aware of what I do as a solo artist now.”  Patrick is very proud of the award winning symphonic show he produced called "A Tribute To Ray Charles," with arrangements by Dave Metzger (Lion King), and celebrity arranger and conductor Charles Floyd (Natalie Cole). “We sold out three days at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and also some shows in New Orleans. The show is ready for any symphony hall in the world now.”  For more information, take a look at  http://raycharlestribute.com.

In addition to his very busy music career, Patrick is also a successful entrepreneur and owns a company called Tickets Oregon (www.ticketsoregon.com).  He is also planning involvement in solar power and/or other business startups. “I try to do my part wherever I can to help out those in need and participate in philanthropy in different ways.”  In his spare time, he is an avid runner, soccer player, and mountain climber. He came in 27th in the St. Patrick's Day 5k, and climbed Mt. Hood a few years ago. He also enjoys working with his hands and can rebuild motors.

So, the next time you are in or around the Pacific Northwest, be sure to catch Patrick and his band at one of their own shows, or keep your eyes and ears open for him at jazz festivals throughout the country.