Greg Pattillo

Greg Pattillo (b. 26.06.1977, Seattle, Washington) is a beatboxing flautist originally from Seattle, but now operates in Brooklyn, New York. Pattillo is recognized throughout the world for his redefinition of the flute sound. He was lauded by the New York Times as "the best person in the world at what he does."cite web |title=INK; A Flute With a Beat, and You Might Dance to It |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/nyregion/22ink.html|first=David K |last=Randall |date=2007-05-22 |accessdate=2007-06-19] His performance videos on YouTube, showcasing "beatbox flute," have been viewed more than 20 million times. His inspector gadget remix, for instance, as of September 27, 2008, was viewed 14,648,183 times.

Pattillo has been heavily influenced by the work he did in S.F. with the Collaborative Arts Insurgency. Blending the instrumental music of classical, jazz, and hip-hop, with performance poetry, folk music, comedy and dance, the CAI and the weekly space at 16th and Mission shaped this flautist into a kalaidescope force of genre and energy. You can listen to some of these efforts with Aoka and Contajous, two artists that appear in the myspace band pages. His biggest influences come from the classical and jazz realms (String quartet music, Monk, R. R. Kirk, and Beethoven). This sound has been built out of the experiences of playing Concert Halls, Chamber Series, Vaudeville Clubs, Rowdy Bars and the Parks and Subways of the World. It is meant to be Genre bending and blending---jazz/classical/hip-hop/worldmusic/pop--nothing is off limits!

Pattillo earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Joshua Smith, the principal flautist of the Cleveland Orchestra. After a summer spent as the acting principal flute of Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Pattillo moved to San Francisco where he was a founding member of the Collaborative Arts Insurgency and the 16th and Mission Thursday night gathering for performers. It was there that "beatbox flute" materialized in its present state.

Pattillo enjoys freelancing as a soloist, and is the flautist of the group PROJECT, the Lalo Quintet, as well as a featured performer at The Box in New York City.citation |url=http://whatisproject.org/Projectsamplebio.htm |title=The Project |accessdate=2007-10-23]

In June 2007 Pattillo was named one of 21 winners of the Metropolitan Transit Authority's "Music Under New York" program. Among other things the award gives Pattillo an official permit, of sorts, to play music in the subway.cite web |title=Laying down tracks: MTA’s winning performers add beat to commute |first=Michael |last=Rundle |work=Metro New York |date=2007-06-14 |url=http://ny.metro.us/metro/local/article/Laying_down_tracks/8987.html |accessdate=2007-06-19]

Pattillo was also seen on an episode of Nickelodeon's TV series, iCarly (and was said to be Sam's cousin that wasn't in jail) and has videos and recordings on iCarly.com.

Pattillo was also on an episode of Lily Allen and Friends in the UK shown on BBC Three

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/freedomworksfilms Greg Pattillo's videos]
* [http://www.myspace.com/pattillostyle Greg Pattillo on MySpace]
* [http://whatisproject.org Greg Pattillo's group "Project" ]