Born in Kansas City, John Patton learnt the organ from his mother, before developing his own style that blended elements of blues, R&B and gospel with traditional jazz. His recordings on Blue Note are highly regarded for their groove and improvisation, with “Let ‘Em Roll” showcasing the perfect balance of blues, hard bop and soulful melodies. Later in his career he explored more modal and free jazz sounds, often in collaboration with John Zorn, which showed an altogether different side to his immense talent and soulful touch.
