In Praise of Patrick Gleeson

CraigP · July-14th-2009, 10:43 AM

The "fusion" movement of the late 60's/70's was a mixed bag, with innovations in rhythm, tonal palettes and the use of electronics charting a new path yet standing alongside indulgent excesses that today you might be embarrassed to admit you listened to (Romantic Warrior, anyone?)

Someone I think is due for more recognition is Dr. Patrick Gleeson, who was part of Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi group that recorded Crossings for Warner Bros. and Sextant for Columbia. If memory serves, I believe he taught Herbie about the synthesizer. He is also an integral presence on Julian Priester's overlooked Love, Love, which I think is a fusion classic. If you haven't checked that album out, which ECM re-released on CD, it's worth your time.

He seemed to disappear for awhile, but he and Bennie Maupin put out Driving While Black in 1998. It's ironic that the advances in keyboard technology and sequencing make him a little more generic sounding than his earlier analog work. I see that he released Jazz Criminal in 2007 with Jim Lang, who appears to be a studio keyboard player. Anyone heard this?

BFrank · July-15th-2009, 12:23 AM

I believe he's doing a lot of commercials and movie stuff in LA these days. He used to live up here in the Bay Area and was someone I met a few times through a mutual friend. Nice guy. Had a great house, too.

Also used to be married to Joan Jeanrenaud (formerly of Kronos Quartet).

Pete C · July-15th-2009, 03:26 AM

One of the few synth players in jazz who didn't just use it as just another electronic keyboard with cheesy effects. I can really only think of Muhal and Tucker Martine (who also worked with Priester) as others in this category.

CraigP · July-15th-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete C

One of the few synth players in jazz who didn't just use it as just another electronic keyboard with cheesy effects.

Yes, I like how he used synths to get really unusual sounds and place them in almost random places in the music (thinking of Love, Love) that ended up being just right. The sounds he came up with weren't by default. The other person who comes to mind, in a different context, is the keyboard player for Simple Minds, at least in their early, pre-commercial success, days.

bigtiny · July-15th-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Gitin

Check out his soundtrack for the remake (Donald Sutherland, Elliot Gould, Leonard Nimoy) of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

To be clear...Gleeson worked on the soundtrack, but it was composed by Denny Zeitlien....

bigtiny