Cadence Magazine has called Pat Donaher “a young talent worth watching.” His work as a saxophonist and composer takes him from bar bands to concert halls, creating acclaimed, award-winning music for singers, string quartets and pop bands. His wide interests and studies, embracing the jazz and soul traditions alongside European and Indian classical techniques, bring a unique, innovative take on improvised music.
“The amazing thing about being in music right now is that every door is open- so many of the walls between worlds, between genres, between ‘scenes’ have been obliterated, and we are able to inhabit all the spaces created where those walls used to be. The work is to constantly engage, to enter those places headfirst and make them our own, and invite the listener along.”
In 1999, Pat relocated to New York City, working as a freelance musician
in such venues as the Knitting Factory and Detour, and touring in the
Northeast. He composition “PorkPie” was featured in the Knitting
Factory’s webcast “Decompostition” series in 2000, and
his “avant-bar” band Ooomph performed at the 2000 JVC Jazz
Festival. He leads several different projects, highlighting his different
compositional and programmatic interests, which have featured musicians
as Brad Shepik, Curtis Fowlkes, Peter Epstein, Khabu Doug Young, Michael
Plunkett, and Damion Reed. In addition, he collaborated in various multimedia
projects for theatre, poetry and visual art. In 2001 he returned to Boston,
where he completed a Masters degree with in composition at New England
Conservatory with commendation for outstanding performance. He currently
maintains a busy performing, composing and teaching schedule, including
his working quintet Lift, and Illusion of Motion, a project combining
improvised music and dance featured as a pick of the day this summer in
the Boston Globe. In 2003 he was recognized for excellence in jazz composition
by the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) for “Little
Victories”, a piece composed for and performed by Bob Brookmeyer.
Pat has lived and worked in Boston, Rocherster, and New York City. He composition “PorkPie” was featured in the Knitting Factory’s webcast “Decompostition” series in 2000. He leads several different projects, highlighting his different compositional and programmatic interests. These have featured such musicians as Brad Shepik, Curtis Fowlkes, Matt Shulman, Peter Epstein, Khabu Doug Young, Michael Plunkett, and Damion Reed. In addition, he collaborated in various multimedia projects involving theatre, poetry and visual art. His music for large ensembles has been performed at several major venues nationally, including Jordan Hall in Boston and Eastman Theatre in Rochester by collegiate and professional ensembles. His settings of the poetry of ee cummings for vocalists and strings were featured prominently at a cummings birthday celebration in his’ hometown of Cambridge, MA. In 2003 he was recognized by the American Society of Composers and Producers (ASCAP) for excellence in jazz composition.
Recent projects include No Sale Value, an explosive electronic band featuring
singer Sunny Kim, the "composer's quintet" Lift, and a series
of duos with musicians including Huan Chuqi, Khabu Doug Young, and Camille
Jentgen, with plans for a commercial recording of these duos in late 2008.
Pat's broad musical background has allowed him a tremendous variety of
performance opportunities. He has played with , among others, Steve Vai,
Bernard Haitink and the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra, Steve Lacy, Joe
Henderson, Dave Douglas, Michael Cain, Bob Brookmeyer, Steve Lacy, Benny
Carter, Gene Jackson, Maria Schneider, Dave Liebman, Ralph Alessi, Brad
Shepik, David Amram and Matt Wilson. He is a graduate of the Eastman School
of Music (BM, Saxophone and Jazz Studies) and the New England Conservatory
(MM, Jazz Composition).
DISCOGRAPHY
Pat Donaher, Who We Are Together, tentative release date late 2008
No Sale Value, Nu Currency (2002), featuring Jenny Scheinman, Matt Shulman, Chris Vatalaro
Pat Donaher, On Any Given Day (1998) featuring Ralph Alessi, Ben Kibbey
Eastman Jazz, Take the Next Step (1996) featured in duo with Ben Kibbey
