Roy Patterson

Canadian guitarist Roy Patterson, born March 20, 1953, in South Alton, Nova Scotia, is celebrated for a personal and evocative style where melody is at the core. Patterson began his musical journey in rock bands at age 16 before transitioning to jazz, eventually earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University and a Master of Music from McGill University. Since his first recording in 1989, he has built an extensive body of original work documented on several CDs released through 2014, including the acclaimed 1997 release "Inland Passages." His playing demonstrates a style drawn from early musical influences and eastern meditative practices. In 1996, the Roy Patterson Quartet made history as the first Toronto-based band to win the coveted Prix de Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. His international career has spanned Europe, the USA, and across Canada, with performances in Finland, Istanbul, and Italy. He has performed alongside luminaries such as Jon Faddis, Akira Tana, Keeter Betts, Jay Leonhart, and Fred Wesley. Critically acclaimed by The Globe and Mail for his purposeful melodic choices ("every note has a purpose and a place") and by The Toronto Star as a "perfectionist with a big, round and dominating sound," Patterson is also a distinguished educator and writer. He taught in the jazz program at the University of Toronto for over a decade and has been a faculty member at York University since 2003. A contributor to the US publication "Just Jazz Guitar" for over twenty years, he is profiled in Scott Yanow's "The Great Jazz Guitarists: The Ultimate Guide." Currently on research leave from York University, he is residing in Taiwan, performing at venues like Blue Note Taipei and Sappho Live Jazz with local musicians while completing his book, "Harmony for Jazz Guitar."