Peter Sprague and Leonard Patton Join Joe Rathburn at Vision
by Larry ParisMay 2012
Leonard Patton and Peter Sprague perform at the San Diego Troubadour's 10th anniversary fundraiser last year. Photo by Dennis Andersen.
On May 10 at 7pm, Vision is hosting a very special evening with world-renowned jazz guitarist Peter Sprague and his vocalist partner, Leonard Patton. Mr. Sprague is already considered one of the best guitarists in history who began playing when he was only 12 years old and concentrated on jazz at the age of 15. He has performed with such musical greats as Chick Corea, Sergio Mendes, and Pat Methany to name but a few and has authored a musical theory book titled The Sprague Technique, which has become the textbook for aspiring jazz guitarists. Among his numerous awards is Best Jazz Artist, Best Jazz Musician (SD Music Awards), Best Contemporary Jazz recording, and CD of the Year. He hosts an annual concert every Christmas Eve in Del Mar that has become legendary, a tradition stretching back 33 years to 1978. Last year’s event was voted the Best Jazz Concert in 2011.
Mr. Sprague will be joined by the up-and-coming star in the San Diego jazz scene, Leonard Patton, at this unique and special event. Mr. Patton is best known for his rich, smooth, and smoky voice with a special style and a sensational scatting technique. Many reviewers have commented that he is destined to become one of the world’s best jazz vocalists who is blessed with a slightly deep and husky burnished tenor voice that has been known to mesmerize his audiences.
This concert is part of the Folkey Monkey Concert Series, which takes place at Vision on the second and fourth Thursday of the month and is hosted by San Diego guitar star and teacher Joe Rathburn. “Having a legend like Peter Sprague appear at Vision is certainly a feather in our cap and signals the Folkey Monkey Concert Series rising to a new and higher level. It is an important step in our quest to bring the highest quality music to our community. I hope that the parents of guitar students will bring them to this concert to experience this exceptional musician,” said Rev. Patti Paris.
Tickets are only $15 and can be purchased in advance on the Vision website. The price for active military personnel is only $10 and can only be purchased at the door with proper ID. Vision is located at 11260 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. For further information about this and other concerts at Vision, visit www.visioncsl.com.