Drummer, Composer, Teacher

 

Pat Close is a professional freelance drummer both studio and live.

Born on October 13th 1956, Pat is the son of legend jazz musician E. Hugh Close from the Cleveland Ohio area that played trumpet, drums, and upright bass. Beginning at age 5, Pat started drum lessons soon after his Dad saw him playing along to his albums. As a kid, barely able to hold a heavy awkward parade snare drum, he marched in the drumline with The Knights of St. John marching band which were mostly all war veterans traveling and performing in many parade competitions. Pat’s Dad also had him playing snare in the city concert band along side his drum teacher. Pat credits his finely tuned ears to early ear training from his Dad who had perfect pitch. At age 6, he was seen on the

front page of the newspaper conducting the Lorain Ohio city concert band performing the dramatic song Stars and Stripes Forever. 

During his 10 years of studying rudiments, technique and all styles of drumming before he was legal to drive, Pat was already playing wedding gigs at age 12 and was accepted early into the American Federation of Musicians Union local 146.

 

Even before the age of 16, Pat credits his Mom for taking him to his gigs. While still in High School in 1973 at age 15, Marottas Music Store

on Broadway in Lorain Ohio, offered him a job teaching drums starting with 25 students a week while he played a show band gig on weekends at

The Aqua Marine Lodge in Avon Lake Ohio through 1975. After High School in the 80’s he became a sought after studio session drummer

where he was able to work with producers, arrangers and writers mastering the art of playing ‘’for the music’’ and chart reading while playing with tremendous feel and time. He has done numerous radio jingle recordings and television commercials such as BF Goodrich Tires, The Blue Angels and NBC Sports. In 1982 he worked on a recording project with singer Glenn Leonard of ''The Temptations’’ and singer/dancer choreographer Darcel from the famous television show ‘’Solid Gold’’ on her dance instruction album. Before deciding to relocate to FL Pat was in The Lorain County Community College 22 piece big band playing challenging charts by his 2 biggest influences Louie Bellson and Buddy Rich.

 

Once moving from Cleveland Ohio to Florida in 1988 he quickly jumped into the Smooth Jazz concert scene and also played with pianist 

Manfredo Fest and Jazz legend trumpeter Marcus Hampton at The Hampton House Jazz Club in St. Pete FL. Pat performed in many live

concerts and Jazz Festivals with the likes of L.A. producer/guitarist Paul Brown in 2006, and did Master Classes with guitarist Larry Coryell

and keyboardist Jay Oliver at The Players School of Music in 2018. Pat holds the ''drum chair’’ for the Clearwater Jazz All Stars After Party

rhythm section and performed in many Clearwater Jazz after party jams with featured guests BK Jackson, Brian Culbertson and more.

Drumming for Smooth Jazz recording artist Allon Sams over the years specifically from 2007-2021 Pat has opened shows headlined by

Euge Groove, The Rippingtons, Ken Navarro, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Eric Darius, Greg Adams, and Gerald Albright to name a few.

 

His work can be heard on airwaves of Smooth Jazz radio nationwide and abroad also on compilation discs with keyboardist Allon Sams 

featuring guitarist Peter White and vocalist Richard Jackson that were number 1 hits in London. In 2004, Pat also had the honor of opening

The 25th Anniversary world famous Clearwater Jazz Holiday with bassist Brian Bromberg and the late Kenny Drew Jr. on keys and also performed 

The Jazz Holiday in 2012 with his own band The Groove. in 2005 Pat was touring Europe which included Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Egypt

performing shows for our U.S. Military. As you listen to his playing or watch him live you can’t deny his sense of time, groove and feel for all styles of music that he plays. He can be powerful yet subtle and musical and yet dynamic at the same time. Pat’s set up includes acoustic drums as well as triggered drums and pads. He also does drum programming, sings, plays synth bass, keys and percussion on his own music.

 

Pat recorded and produced his own CD released in 2017 entitled "Rhythms of My Soul’’ which featured guest artists world renowned bassists Brian Bromberg, Jimmy Haslip, Doug Johns and more. The CD was reviewed in the 2017 March issue of Down Beat Magazine and iBass Magazine. Pats original music and drumming for other artists continues to get airplay in London, Swiss radio and many more stations also streaming on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube etc. He is able to travel abroad and also teaches drum lessons worldwide using Skype, Zoom. Pat is a member of The Professional Drum Teachers Guild and is on the teacher faculty at The Player School of Music in Clearwater FL. In 2020, Pat was added to the Clearwater Jazz Education Outreach Program doing live Master Classes and interviewing world renowned musicians which can be seen at ClearwaterJazz.com. Pat is currently in the studio recording a new CD which promises to be a big hit. Pat is available for touring and studio sessions.

 

The official website for Pat Close:  www.patcloselive.com

Studio:  P & P Studio Productions

e-mail:  patclose@live.com

Phone:  727.278.8712