Steve Shapiro & Pat Bergeson

Respected studio musicians from New York and Nashville, Steve Shapiro & Pat Bergeson have worked with artists such as: Alison Krauss, Steely Dan, Bill Frisell, Lyle Lovett, Bill Evans, They Might Be Giants, SpyroGyra, Chet Atkins, and Michael McDonald.  Their collaborative sound is an original mix of retro and modern, infused with the lush voice of rising-star jazz vocalist Annie Sellick. Their repertoire is influenced by jazz standards, swingsters like George Barnes and Victor Feldman, and songwriters like Joni Mitchell and James Taylor.  On their latest CD, BACKWARD COMPATIBLE, the musicians include bassists Marc Johnson, Doug Weiss, Tim Ferguson, drummers Clint deGanon, Jochen Rueckert, accordionist Will Barrow, saxophonist Scott Kreitzer, and Sting’s backup singers, Janice Pendarvis and Vaneese Thomas.  Their previous release, LOW STANDARDS, received praise from many critics.
Steve & Pat have been playing together since the late ‘80’s, when they were regulars at New York clubs such as Mikell’s, Visiones, The Bitter End, and the 55-Bar.  In 1992, Pat joined the group of guitar legend Chet Atkins, and moved to Nashville, where he met Annie.  Then, after  her stunning 2003 recording, “No Greater Thrill” (with Pat and organist Joey DeFrancesco), Steve suggested that Pat & Annie come to New York to collaborate.  They have been doing so ever since.  In the meantime, Annie has followed her own celebrated career. The LA Times said, “She’s a comer.” And The Village Voice raved, “Annie Sellick has the most pleasing standards voice I’ve heard in a long time.” 
"From the moment you hear Annie Sellick sing the opening lines from Joni Mitchell’s song “Free Man In Paris,” you feel like she is speaking directly to you. As the song progresses, it becomes impossible to escape Sellick’s powers of seduction, and vibraphonist Steve Shapiro and guitarist/harmonica player Pat Bergeson are perfect accomplices during the takeover. Their blend of jazz, country-folk, and a wee bit of swing makes their latest release Backward Compatible an album that you will want to pass onto your children." -jazzreview.com