Patrick Harison

Born to a goldsmithing accordion player and a ballet teacher, Patrick Harison grew up in a home full of art, music and dance. The basement was full of accordions and polka records. His father encouraged him to pick up the accordion at age 13. Patrick learned how to turn the bulky and boisterous machine into a sensitive instrument by listening to and imitating the masters from every corner of the world. His only formal study was with midwestern accordion hero Larry Malmberg. By 14, Patrick's professional career had begun. The heart of his musical education took place on the bandstands of Minnesota's bustling music scene working with artists as diverse as Connie Evingson, Coach Said Not To, Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble, Mandragora Tango Orchestra, Parisota Hot Club, John Devine, Sam Miltich, Mark Kreitzer and countless others.Patrick's debut album Streetwalker explores his diverse musical roots with a collection of original compositions, earthy grooves and haunting gypsy melodies. After a 16 state national tour, he found himself in New Orleans. There, he hoped to understand the tangled roots of African and American music. In the crescent city, Patrick joined New Orleans' famous Panorama Jazz Band with whom he had the pleasure of performing at the 2006 and 2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Festival Internacional de Jazz in Veracruz, Mexico. Upon returning to Minneapolis he was awarded the 2006 McKnight Fellowship for Performing Artists through MacPhail Center for Music.In the summer of 2007 Patrick moved to New York with the infamous Loose Marbles street band. New York's incredibly diverse music scene has afforded many opportunities to perform his diverse body of work; original and traditional gypsy music with Which Way East, hot hobo jazz with The Baby Soda Jazz Band and forward looking original music with the Patrick Harison Trio.