Dan Patlansky – Wednesday October 26, 2011

Dan Patlansky

Dan Patlansky - Blues on Fire

What do the blues really sound like?

Listen to Dan Patlansky.
How good can a guitar player get in his 20′s?
Listen to Dan Patlansky
How astonished can you become?
Listen to Dan Patlansky.
It was a different crowd who came. It was a crowd who knew.

See the facebook album of Dan Patlansky at Potter’s Place!

What Dan Patlansky could do with a six-string Fender Stratocaster at the age of 28, most critically acclaimed guitarists will never quite achieve in a lifetime.

In only ten years on the music scene, Dan Patlansky is one of the busiest and most respected blues artists to ever come out of South Africa. Constant touring as a teenager, won Dan the hearts of even the most hardened blues critics. In the winter of 2001, “Standing at the Station” was released, being a completely independent album; many were surprised at its amazing success.

After receiving word that “Readers Choice” had voted him “Best Blues Guitarist in Southern Africa”, it was time for a second release. “True Blues” was produced and released by EMI on the famed “Blue Note label” in 2004. Dan is one of the only South Africans to ever achieve “Blue Note” status.

In February 2005 and again in July 2006, Selwyn Miller, New Orleans based manager of David Gates and Bread, Randy Crawford, and Petula Clark amongst others, brought Dan to New Orleans to showcase this amazing talent. In his time living in the city of the Blues, Patlansky performed at legendry venues (Maple Leaf, Rock & Bowl and Checkpoint Charlie) with many Blues giants such as Henry Gray (Howlin’ Wolf’s Pianist), Snooks Eaglin, The Batiste Family, Rockin Dopsie Jr and many more. Whilst abroad, Dan performed live on both television and WWOZ radio.

What this South African boy achieved in a few months, and the following he built up, many thought would have taken years. Touring was cut short due to Hurricane Katrina and he was deprived of the opportunity to play with legendary and world renowned slide guitarist, Sonny Landreth, which performance was scheduled to take place a week after Dan and Selwyn were forced to evacuate New Orleans.

In 2006 Fender Guitars recognised Dan’s fiery playing and offered him an endorsement deal to promote Fender Guitars and amps. Dan is one of only six Fender endorsed guitarists in South Africa.

Performances:
Dan has played, and more often than not headlined every major venue and music festival in the South Africa e.g. Oppikoppi, Aardklop (with Arno Carstens’ guitarist Albert Frost), The Durban International Blues Festival (where he performed with veteran New York blues guitarist, Phillip Walker and Pat Savage), The North Sea Jazz Festival (CT), Southern Cross, the Walking the Blues Concert, White Mountain Festival, Up the Creek Festival, Cape Town Blues Summit, Splashy Fen, The Catalina Theatre (Durban) and the Sand du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein, BMW Pavilion, Green Dolphin, Die Boer (CT), Blues Room and Tanz Café (Jhb) and many more. Dan continues to extensively tour small towns to big cities.

In 2004 Dan was invited to perform at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Concert, headlined by Earl Klugh and Lee Ritenoir, but had to decline due to prior tour commitments.

At the One World Music Festival (Durban) in 2005 he performed with the renowned New Orleans Batiste family band and shared the stage with the likes of Bob Marley’s son Julian Marley, and past American Idols winner Ruben Studdard. The concert was attended by the President of Parliament of the State of Louisiana. He was so blown away by Patlansky’s performance that he promised him the freedom of New Orleans when next he was there. Unfortunately Hurricane Katrina deprived Dan of this honour. In 2005 Dan performed in Dubai at the annual Coca Cola Company celebration, along with UB40 and Shaggy.

In 2006 Dan Patlansky performed with his New Orleans band at the Cape Town International Jazz Fest sharing top billing with Jose Feliciano, Miriam Makeba, Lou Vega and Freddie Coleman.

Dan collaborated with top R&B artist RJ Benjamin on one of the tracks of RJ’s recently released and highly acclaimed album “Swimming in the soul of music”, one critic stating that the collaboration took the album to another level.

Dan was one of the headline acts with Hugh Masakela and Freshlyground at the newly established international Bushfire Concert in Swaziland in 2007. Similarly he performed at the first Johannesburg Guitar Festival with the likes of Greg Georgiades, Jethro Butow, and the headline acts being Dan, followed by Mauritz Lotz.

Earlier this year Dan played at the Old Mutual Jazz and Blues Roots concert at Emmerentia Botanical Gardens, with international artist Michelle Shocked and Dan, as the two headline and concluding acts.
Dan has recently returned from Mozambique where he headlined the annual STRAB (Subterranean Rhythm and Blues) Festival. His performance was voted best by far in voting polls.

Shortly thereafter, he headlined the Tribute to Jimi Hendrix show at Café Barcelona in Pretoria, which included performances by, amongst others, Jan Blohm, Albert Frost and Mel Botes. Dan has also been approached by Danny K to collaborate with him on a song to be recorded by top South African performers in the fight against crime.

Dan over the years, has shared the stage many times with legendry blues artists and guitarists such as Larry Amos, Julian Laxton, Steve Fataar (ex Beach Boys / Flames), Cedric Sampson, Valiant Swart, The Late big voice Jack (who performed with Mango Groove and the Dave Mathews Band) and Alistair Coakley. Dan recently performed at The Catalina Theatre in Durban with Vicki Sampson.

2009 finds Dan Patlansky in the very capable hands of renowned Independent Record Label, Next Music. Next Music proudly sees the release of Dan Patlansky’s latest offering, “Move My Soul”. “Move My Soul” continues Dan’s commitment and driving passion for Blues music featuring an explosive mix of wild blues rock ‘n roll and breath taking blues balladeering.

Produced by Dan Patlansky at the acclaimed Peace of Eden Studios in Knysna and mixed by Peter Auret (Watershed) “Move My Soul” not only raises Patlansky’s game but also takes his Journey of the Blues to an entirely new level.

“Dan Patlansky is one of the most renowned and fiery blues artists in the southern hemisphere and one of the greatest I’ve ever seen.” - David Batiste Sr. (New Orleans)
“Dan has some of the fastest fingers I’ve ever seen” – Phillip Walker (New York)
“Dan is a great guitarist and ranks with the best” – Selwyn Miller (New Orleans)
“I love Dan’s guitar playing!” – Dozi (South Africa)

Comments
Leave A Comment