Over 40 years after performing his very first show at age eight for a crowd of 3,000 people in his hometown of Kansas City, Kansas singer, songwriter and guitarist Glenn Patrik brings a lifetime of struggle and soul, joy and pain and hard-driving blues playing to his long awaited independent solo debut Mr. Blues Jr.
Though the album’s seven raw and soulful vocals and one raucous instrumental jam (“Candystick”) are rooted in a distinctly American musical story, Patrik is quickly becoming an international ambassador for the music that has defined his life. Without the benefit of formal radio promotion, tracks from Mr. Blues Jr. have hit the airwaves across the U.S.A. and everywhere from Denmark, Poland and Belgium to Thailand and Brazil.
“In the neighborhood I grew up in,” he adds, “everyone played soul and blues, and I was exposed, starting at about age six to live shows and recordings by Freddy King, Albert Collins as well as Archie Bell & The Drells and Count Basie. I can feel Mozart right along with Nat Cole, Django Rheinhardt along with some George Clinton. Then, throw in some Hound Dog Taylor, Aaron Neville, The Carter Family with Too Live Crew and Hendrix. Add the influence of KC blues guitar legend Leon Estelle and you get a feel of where I come from.”
Patrik got the name of his debut recording indirectly from Estelle on “Mr. Blues Day,” when the city paid homage to him. Estelle was Patrik’s mentor and always told everyone that Patrik was his son. So when someone pulled the younger musician up on stage for the presentation, Grace Harris, aka Amazing Grace, owner of Harris Barbecue, introduced Patrik as “Mr. Blues Jr.” This episode reflects the intense professional connection Patrik has had his whole life with legends of the blues we’ve all heard of (Luther Allison, John Primer, Lefty Dizz) and others who were strictly KC heroes. Over the years, his resume as vocalist, guitarist and arranger grew to include working with Little Hatch & the Houserockers, Ray Drew, Chick Willis, Abb Locke, Anetta “Cotton Candy” Washington, Millage Gilbert, Valerie Wellington, Lefty Dizz, George Baze and Joe Houston; he also spent a year on the road with the great jazz vocalist Kevin Mahogany.
Since launching his blues odyssey well before the age of 21, hitchiking and hopping trains from Kansas City, Kansas’ massive railroad switching yard to all points north, south, east and west, in search of musicians that he had only heard of, Patrik says, “I’ve spent the last thirty somethin’ years tryin’ to show up early, look sharp, and deliver the guitar/vocal sound that the boss was lookin’ for.” Now, with a heavy tour schedule and the release of Mr. Blues, Jr., he’s the boss, making sounds that carry on the legacy of the greats he learned from.
A new CD is being wrapped up and we hope to have it available by mid-December, 2008.
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