Video: "Size Of My House" with The Thomson Quartet

It's a pleasure to work with composer and saxophonist Chris Thomson.  We've been playing as a quartet with some true luminaries of the music world including James Buckley (Bass) and Martin Dosh (Drums).  Here's a nice little flick of us in Martin Dosh's world famous basement playing one of Thomson's compositions "Size Of My House"

Video: Jack Klatt at The Minnesota Bluegrass Festival

While I am primarily known as an accordionist, I do put on my mulch-instrumentalist hat from time to time.  It's a privilege to play not only accordion, but also steel guitar and washboard with my pal Jack Klatt.  Below is a video of my acoustic steel guitar styles filmed by Pioneer Public Television at The Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival this July.

2014 Festival Season with Jack Klatt

It's a pleasure to pal around with my buddy Jack Klatt.  I play accordion, washboard and resonator guitar with him.  We have a nice little line up of traditional music festivals going on this summer.  All of the line ups are stellar, so if you're feeling like some fresh air and tunes... Come see us!

Riversong Music Festival
July 18-19
Hutchinson, MN
http://www.riversongfestival.org/

Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival
August 1-2
Madison, WI
http://sugarmaplefest.org/

Minnesota Bluegrass & Old Time Festival
August 7-10
Richmond, MN
http://minnesotabluegrass.org/

Walker Art Center's Cat Video Festival

August 14th

Minneapolis, MN

http://walker.org

New London Music Festival
August 16th
New London, MN
http://newlondonmusicfestival.com/

Orchestral Engagements Spring 2014

I'm very fortunate to be able to blend my accordion with world class orchestras on occasion!  This spring I'll be hitting the road under the baton of maestro Sarah Hicks performing the Paris Pops Show.  The program features musette warhorses "Indifference" and "Passion" along with Tangos and Gypsy Jazz for good measure.  If you have friends in these cities, please pass on the word!

April 26th, 2014
Fort Smith Symphony
Fort Smith, Arkansas
http://fortsmithsymphony.org/

May 17th, 2014
Las Vegas Philharmonic
Las Vegas, Nevada
http://www.thesmithcenter.com/events/las-vegas-philharmonic-pops-v-paris-je-taime/

Long Cold Winter... Update

It's been a long hard winter here in Minneapolis.... I sure have been lucky to get out of town a couple times this winter and also with upcoming engagements in Florida, Arkansas and Las Vegas!  At any rate, I'd like to just let some folks at home know that I'll be playing with my good pal Jack Klat on February 27th at the 331 Club in Northeast Minneapolis.  Then, off to sunny Florida to play some concerts with my good friend, clarinetist Henry Blackburn.  That's all for now, just wanted to let every know that I'm thriving here in the barren tundra of Minnesota!

For those of your who may not be aquainted with Jack Klatt, here is a bit we filmed for PBS affiliate TPT's "Minnesota Original" Program.  How about that art direction?

North Carolina Jazz Festival 2014

The North Carolina Jazz Festival is one of my favorite events to be a part of!  I'm very excited to be included in the 2014 lineup along side a long list of Traditional Jazz greats.  You can read a brief Q&A I did for their website here: http://ncjazzfestival.com/about/getting-to-know-2014-festival-performers-patrick-harison/

Track Featured On Tom McDermott's New Release "Bamboula"

Tom McDermott is a good friend of mine from New Orlean's, LA and I am honored to appear on a track of his new release "Bamboula".  The album was produced by none other than Los Angeles based music legend Van Dyke Parks.  I'm on the disc playing one of Tom's original musettes thrillingly titled "Musette in A Minor".  The folks of New Orleans based Offbeat Magazine even gave me a shout out in the review:

"...Accordionist Patrick Harison takes the lead in a waltzing “Musette in A Minor,” as well as what was the piano solo on Almost Native version in this never-before-released take. "

Clea Simon, Offbeat Magazine

"Bamboula" is available via all major music outlets September 1st, 2013

Dakota Dave Hull's CD Release Concert October 19th

It was a privilege to play on Dakota Dave Hull's new 2 disc release "Under The North Star".  Dave has asked me to play some of my rarely heard solo accordion concert repertoire ahead of his set for the CD release concert on October 19th.  We may even reprise some of the tunes from the Album as a Duo... Also on the bill, traditional jazz piano champion Butch Thompson.  Mark your calendars!

Root's Music Series at Republic Seven Corners every Thursday!

I'm very excited to be playing a new music series starting in October at Republic Seven Corners.  I will be taking part in this series playing with several of my bands including Patty and The Buttons, Jack Klatt and The Cactus Blossoms.  In addition to performing you will be able to catch some other great acts like Corpse Reviver, Dreamland Faces and special programming by Hymie's Vintage Vinyl!  EVERY THURSDAY at 9pm! Tell your friends!

Republic Seven Corners
221 Cedar Ave
Minneapolis, MN ‎

Patty and The Buttons, The Cactus Blossoms to combine powers and become “THE CACTUS BUTTONS” ONE NIGHT ONLY at The Dakota Jazz Club, September 15

FROM PATTY AND THE BUTTON'S WEBSITE: We’re very excited to be presenting a show at the Dakota with our buddies The Cactus Blossoms! Both bands will do some playing on their own, then come together at the end of the night for a set as “THE CACTUS BUTTONS”. We can’t in good conscience guarantee that this will happen again, so if you want to see it, y’all better come… For those buttons fans who aren’t acquainted, The Cactus Blossoms are an outfit lead by brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey. Known for their tight vocal harmonies, they perform original and traditional material in the style of early Country and Western Swing. Many Western Swing band leaders used to have clarinets and accordions in their bands alongside fiddles and steel guitars. There is also quite an established tradition of New Orleans musicians adding their musicianship and repertoire to what folks like Bob Wills and Milton Brown were doing back in the 1930′s. It seems like a natural to have Patty and The Buttons and The Cactus Blossoms form a hillbilly orchestra the likes of which the upper midwest hasn’t seen for many years!

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 15th, 2013
7-10pm / ALL AGES / FREE

The Dakota Jazz Club
1010 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN
55403
(612) 332-1010