The Roy Patterson Quartet

The Roy Patterson Quartet is led by Nova Scotia-born guitarist Roy Patterson, a musician described by The Toronto Star as a "perfectionist with a big, round and dominating sound" and by The Globe and Mail as an artist whose every note has "a purpose and a place." Catching the tail end of the 1960s, Patterson drew from a broad palette of musical styles while performing in Atlantic Canada before moving to Toronto in 1978. Bringing an intense practice routine and a burning desire to play, he quickly became a staple of the Canadian jazz scene, performing with elite artists such as Don Thompson, Terry Clarke, Doug Riley, The Bob Mover Quartet, and Pat Labarbera. In 1996, the Roy Patterson Quartet achieved a historic milestone by winning the Prix de Jazz at Montreal’s Festival International de Jazz, becoming the first Toronto-based band to receive the honor. This victory led to national radio and television exposure and a tour that concluded at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Patterson’s discography includes seven albums as a leader, beginning with "The Release" (1989) and including "The Acadiana Suite" (1993), "The Coming of Angels" (1995), "Inland Passages" (1997), "On a Cloud" (2000), "Live at Zooma Zooma" (2008), and "Songs From My Father’s House" (2014), alongside a collaboration with Brazilian singer Maria Farinha on "Uwattibi" (2012). Patterson was named Guitarist of the Year by Jazz Report magazine in 2000 and is profiled in Scott Yanow's "The Great Jazz Guitarists: The Ultimate Guide." His musical interests extend into an exploration of Americana with a jazz sensibility, a style influenced by his rural Nova Scotia roots and contemporary artists like Bill Frisell. Beyond performance, Patterson holds a Master of Music degree and has taught at McGill University and the University of Toronto. He is currently an adjunct faculty member at York University and served for decades as a contributor to the quarterly "Just Jazz Guitar."