Patsy O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Patsy O'Brien is an award-winning Irish
songwriter.
Patsy's most obvious influences are blues
, traditional Irish music, jazz
and country
, with obvious nods to such masters as Hank Williams, Rory Gallagher
, Son House
, and a host of others. Patsy's cross-cultural explorations in songwriting and composition have led him on an interesting path.
He has played with punk rock bands, country bands, big-band swing and jazz ensembles, Irish folk groups, and traditional Irish music groups. Recently, he has transitioned to being a solo guitarist and singer.
He has supplied the driving guitar rhythms for Irish/world music diva and fiddler Eileen Ivers on her European tours, and regularly treads the boards with piping legend Paddy Keenan, who also sprinkles some of his own magic onto a few tracks on Patsy's last album.
On Patsy's solo recordings, his interest in contemporary songwriting as well as his jazz
influences are apparent. It is most evident in a jazz/blues version of "Star of the County Down
" with Paddy Keenan
on low whistle. The arrangement of the old Irish ballad inspired Irish music critic Paul Dromey to declare Patsy "Ireland's best - kept musical secret," and has recently been featured on NPR's "All Songs Considered."
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
songwriter.
Overview
Songwriter Patsy O'Brien has a penchant for genre-hopping as well as showing off his critically acclaimed songwriting skills.Patsy's most obvious influences are blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, traditional Irish music, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, with obvious nods to such masters as Hank Williams, Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
, Son House
Son House
Eddie James "Son" House, Jr. was an American blues singer and guitarist. House pioneered an innovative style featuring strong, repetitive rhythms, often played with the aid of slide guitar, and his singing often incorporated elements of southern gospel and spiritual music...
, and a host of others. Patsy's cross-cultural explorations in songwriting and composition have led him on an interesting path.
He has played with punk rock bands, country bands, big-band swing and jazz ensembles, Irish folk groups, and traditional Irish music groups. Recently, he has transitioned to being a solo guitarist and singer.
He has supplied the driving guitar rhythms for Irish/world music diva and fiddler Eileen Ivers on her European tours, and regularly treads the boards with piping legend Paddy Keenan, who also sprinkles some of his own magic onto a few tracks on Patsy's last album.
On Patsy's solo recordings, his interest in contemporary songwriting as well as his jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
influences are apparent. It is most evident in a jazz/blues version of "Star of the County Down
Star of the County Down
"Star of the County Down" is an old Irish ballad set near Banbridge in County Down, in Ireland. The words are by Cathal McGarvey, 1866-1927, from Ramelton, County Donegal...
" with Paddy Keenan
Paddy Keenan
Paddy Keenan is an Irish player of the uilleann pipes who first gained fame as a founding member of The Bothy Band. Since that group's dissolution in the late 1970s, Keenan has released a number of solo and collaborative recordings, and continues to tour both as a soloist, and with...
on low whistle. The arrangement of the old Irish ballad inspired Irish music critic Paul Dromey to declare Patsy "Ireland's best - kept musical secret," and has recently been featured on NPR's "All Songs Considered."
Critical acclaim
- "Patsy O'Brien's songs are sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, but always delivered with a strong sense of style and energy." - (FREETIME NY)
- "I can imagine a wonderful evening of stories, songs and good humour with plenty of time to admire the musicianship." - (http://whisperinandhollerin.com)
- "An Irish Robbie Robertson" - (uncredited)
- "Falls in the void between Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson....stomping and ocean breezy - sure footed and fragile." - (New Haven Advocate)
- "Easily one of the best local releases of last year" - (New Haven Register)
- "Like a good wine, guitarist and singer/songwriter Patsy O'Brien has let his musicianship flourish.... throaty vocals, languid guitar." - (Irish Times)
- "Ireland's best kept musical secret-CHECK HIM OUT!" - (Irish Examiner)