Patsy O'Brien

Patsy O'Brien is an award-winning Irish songwriter.

Overview

Songwriter Patsy O'Brien has a penchant for seamless genre-hopping, as well as showing off his critically acclaimed songwriting skills.

Patsy's most obvious influences are blues, traditional Irish music, jazz and country, with obvious nods to such masters as Hank Williams, Rory Gallagher, Son House and a host of others, Patsy's cross cultural explorartions within songwriting and composition genres have lead him on an interesting path.

He has played with Punk Rock bands, country bands, big-band swing and Jazz ensembles, Irish folk groups, tradiional Irish music groups and most recently and most successfully, as asolo guitarist and singer.

He has been known to supply the driving guitar rhythms on Irish/World Music diva Eileen Ivers' European tours, and regularly treads the boards with Piping legend Paddy Keenan, who also sprinkles some of his own magic onto a few tracks on Patsy's last album.

On Patsy's solo recordings, his interest in contemporary songwriting as well as his jazz influences are also apparent - this being most evident in a jazz/blues version of "Star of The County Down" with Paddy Keenan on low whistle, an arrangement of the old Irish ballad that inspired Irish music critic Paul Dromey to declare Patsy "Ireland's best - kept musical secret." , and has recently been featured on NPR's "All Songs Considered"

Critical acclaim

* "Patsy O'Brien's songs are sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, but always delivered with a strong sense of style and energy." - (FREETIME NY)

* "I can imagine a wonderful evening of stories, songs and good humour with plenty of time to admire the musicianship." - (whisperinandhollerin.com)

* "An Irish Robbie Robertson" - (uncredited)

* "Falls in the void between Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson....stomping and ocean breezy - sure footed and fragile." - (New Haven Advocate)

* "Easily one of the best local releases of last year" - (New Haven Register)

* "Like a good wine, guitarist and singer/songwriter Patsy O'Brien has let his musicianship flourish.... throaty vocals, languid guitar." - (Irish Times)

* "Ireland's best kept musical secret-CHECK HIM OUT!" - (Irish Examiner)

External links

* [http://www.patsyobrien.com Patsy O'Brien's Official Website]