Album Notes

Saxophonist, vocalist Jay Patten brings a lifetime of musical experiences (studio saxophonist, graduate of Berklee College Of Music, Crystal Gayle's music director,vocalist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, composer and performer) to "Night Blue."Co-produced with his friend and drummer, Ric Lonow, Jay recorded eleven of his own songs and one classic saxophone standard (Earl Hagen's"Harlem Nocturne"). Ten tracks are instrumentals that range from the mysterious groove tune "Spider Dance", with Jay playing alto saxophone to the exotic, smooth jazz "Scorpio Moon" with Jay on soprano saxophone. Several tracks feature the talented Mike Loudermilk on guitar ("Bright Promise," "Love Spies," "Fire In The Kitchen," and the title track "Night Blue"). There are two vocal tracks with Jay stepping up to the microphone on "Love Comes Around' with special guest George Tidwell on muted trumpet and "If There Weren't Any Blues" with legendary blues man Jimmy Hall sitting in on harmonica.

"I leaned heavily on the instincts of the members of my band (Toni Sehulster on bass, Ric Lonow on drums, and Loudermilk on guitar) to keep the recording sessions fresh and spontaneous." There is a decidedly blue mood to this project that will sure to bring pure pleasure. The last track on the album, "Vortex Blue" was inspired by a trip to Sedona, Arizona a few years ago, "I lugged my horn to the top of a vortex mountain and played to valleys below at sundown. There was an eagle circling above." Jay's melodic, imaginative approach on alto, tenor and soprano saxophone dominates this creative CD. Check out "Night Blue."