|
Raised in a
Washington, D.C.
suburb,
Patterson
Barrett moved to
Austin shortly
after appearing
on Jerry Jeff
Walker’s first
release on MCA
records, playing
pedal steel,
dobro, and
guitar
(including the
song “L.A.
Freeway”). Not
long after
arriving in
Austin, he
formed the band
Partners In
Crime, which
included Buddy
and Julie
Miller,
releasing one
album on their
own label,
Criminal
Records. In the
years since,
Patterson
produced some of
Hal Ketchum’s
earliest demos,
served in Al
Kooper’s back-up
band, and
performed before
10,000
festival-goers
as Chuck Berry’s
pianist. He
accompanied
Nancy Griffith
on Austin City
Limits,
legendary Austin
singer Lou Ann
Barton in music
clubs around the
country, and
Buddy Miller on
his Your
Love And Other
Lies CD.
After years of
collaboration
with other
talented artists
in every format
imaginable,
Barrett has
found his own
unique voice
both as
songwriter and
performer in his
new release,
I Must Be
Dreaming.
On it, he
explores some of
the aspects of
dreams and other
alternate
realities of
life and death
that touch us
all.
He cites Neil
Young and
country-rock
pioneers Poco
and the Flying
Burrito Brothers
as his early
influences, as
well as soul
stalwarts such
as Sam and Dave,
The Temptations,
and Marvin Gaye.
The music on
I Must Be
Dreaming
has been
compared to John
Hiatt, The Band
(whose song
“Sleeping” he
lovingly
covers), and
Ryan Adams.
As the songs for
the CD unfolded,
“I began to
realize that a
lot of the
writing either
originated from
or had something
to do with
dreams,” says
Barrett. Indeed,
the theme of
dreaming, both
literal and
metaphorical, is
prevalent
throughout the
CD’s songs.
I Must Be
Dreaming
has a cohesive,
unified feel,
perhaps owing to
the fact that
Barrett plays
the majority of
the instruments
on most of the
tracks himself,
including not
only various
guitars &
keyboards, but
also more exotic
colors such as
pedal steel
guitar,
mandolin, and
accordion. This
single-minded
approach only
helps the guest
star appearances
shine more
brightly against
Barrett’s
seamless
production.
The lead-off
track, “Take The
Stage,” reunites
onetime
bandmates
Barrett and
Buddy Miller in
a rockin’
dialogue of duet
vocals
punctuated by
some nice
interplay
between Miller’s
signature guitar
playing and
Barrett’s
slippery lap
steel. The
shared history
between Barrett
and Miller is
readily apparent
after listening
to this track.
The same can be
said on
“Concrete &
Steel,” which
features Julie
Miller joining
Patterson and
Buddy in a
bittersweet
recollection of
a love that can
only be relived
in a dream.
One other
notable reunion
brings Patterson
and vocalist and
high-school
sweetheart
Deborah Holland
(Animal Logic)
together again
on the sweeping
final track,
“Somewhere Far
Away,” with
harmony singing
that recalls the
best Gram
Parsons/Emmylou
Harris
performances.
While sharing a
thematic
connection, the
songs cover a
wide range of
subjects, from
the teen suicide
that prompted
the crisis of
faith expressed
in “Back In My
Heart” to the
insomnia
documented in
“She Won’t Be
Getting Any
Sleep Tonight.”
Included in the
collection is
“Leap Of Faith,”
a Cajun romp
written by
longtime musical
friend, Gurf
Morlix (and Rod
Picott).
Friends and
peers welcome
this new
release:
“If you haven't
heard of
Patterson
Barrett, you'll
wonder why. He
puts so much
thought, and
heart and soul
into whatever he
does, and you
can hear that
when you listen
to his album.”
–- Buddy Miller
“Hooray! The
ever talented
Patterson
Barrett
(longtime friend
and mentor) has,
at last, got
these beautiful
songs down for
us to hear this
‘art &
heart’….It was a
while coming,
but well worth
the wait. Many
are going to be
discovering a
hidden treasure
here.” — Julie
Miller
"Patterson has
been a friend
and musical
inspiration for
more than 30
years. Cool
songs and great
playing." — Gurf
Morlix
There was a time
when Patterson
shunned full-on
touring in favor
of watching his
children take
their first
steps. The song
“I’ve Been
Loving You For
Such A Long
Time,” written
for his
daughter, gives
voice to some
deeply held
emotions of a
father toward
his children.
But his son is
now 16 (he lends
his upright bass
skills to
“Concrete &
Steel”), and
Barrett is just
as likely to be
found inhabiting
a stage in your
town as he is at
a high-school
basketball game
in Austin. Until
that happens,
listen to and
enjoy the shared
insights,
optimism, and
world-class
musicianship of
Patterson
Barrett’s new
CD, I Must
Be Dreaming. |
