Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus
“Hints of the Everly Brothers, Richard and Linda Thompson, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, and Emmylou Harris often permeate the proceedings. Yet, given the nuance of their narratives, they can distinguish themselves as astute storytellers in their right courtesy of concise novelettes revolving around everyday individuals simply striving to find their way in the world. In that regard, Harbortowne provides a place to dock for anyone who’s encouraged to seek their answers.”
-Lee Zimmerman, The Alternate Root
Jim Patton, his wife, and musical collaborator Sherry Brokus make music driven by passion and purpose. Since their first meeting, Patton & Brokus have sung together and been partners in music and life for 40 years. They take sketches of everyday life and transform them into songs that ring and resonate in mindful and memorable ways. Their latest release, Harbortowne, on Berkalin Records, returns to the seminal sound of classic folk-rock and creates an exhilarating sound that provides the essence of true Americana.
Harbortowne was recorded and produced by Ron Flynt of the acclaimed power pop band 20/20 at Jumping Dog Studio in Austin and mastered by Jerry Tubb at Austin’s Terra Nova Studio. Affordable Sound in Austin manufactured and printed the record. Matt Eskey created the cover art, and R Gene Munger is credited as a “spiritual advisor.” The album also features a sterling assortment of acclaimed instrumentalists, among them Flynt himself on vocals, bass, keyboards, harmonica, and acoustic guitar; Rich Brotherton on acoustic guitar and mandolin; Warren Hood on fiddle; John Bush on percussion; and singer BettySoo on backing vocals. Jim sings and plays acoustic guitar, and Sherry provides vocals and percussion.
The musicians on Harbortown are Jim Patton (vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar), Sherry Brokus (vocals), Ron Flynt (background vocals, bass, keyboards, harmonica, acoustic guitar), BettySoo (background vocals), Rich Brotherton (acoustic guitars, mandolin), Warren Hood (fiddle) and John Bush (percussion) The album was engineered and produced by Ron Flynt at Jumping Dog Studios, Austin, and mastered by Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Mastering, Austin.
They have recorded with Lloyd Maines, the guru of Texas record producers, and have played with a cast of prominent Austin musicians. Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus released Collection 2008-2018 on Berkalin Records in North America, including songs from four previously released acoustic albums produced by Ron Flynt over ten years. The songs are infused with a wall of sound harmonies, fiddles, mandolins, and acoustic guitars passionately playing The Byrds and The Band roots-style music. The previous albums the songs were taken from include Plans Gang Aft Agley, as Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus, in 2008, broke into the top 30 on the Folk charts. Their next CD, Ray of Hope, made the top 100 on the Americana charts. They made two more albums in the next decade, The Hard Part of Flying and The Great Unknown. The Great Unknown was named one of the Top 100 CDs of the Year by music critic Geoffrey Himes in Paste Magazine.
Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus will perform shows in Austin and select tour dates in the U.S. in 2023 and 2024.
Reviews for Big Red Gibson:
https://americanahighways.org/2023/10/09/review-jim-patton-sherry-brokus-big-red-gibson/
https://steemit.com/music/@willphoenix/now-playing-jim-patton-and-sherry-brokus-big-red-gibson
Quotes for Going the Distance:
“Like The Rooftop Singers, there’s a mystique between the male-female vocal mix. The material stands up in a nice flow, folky but not campy. Jim Patton (lead vocals/acoustic guitar) has a laid-back old-world folky voice. Its tone embodies the lyrics' authenticity, and Sherry Brokus (harmonies) adds many colors.”
-John Apice, Americana Highways
“Going the Distance is already one of the absolute top hits of 2022 for me. Just another wonderful example of top Americana reaching us from Austin, Texas.”
-Fred Schmale, Real Roots Cafe - The Netherlands
"After Warren Hood's fiddle-powered "Golden Boy," that sharp guitar is back in "Brand New Love" and in the Brooks-written rocking "Austin Night," Patton goes back to the early days of his fascination with music, "I'm not rich or famous, but I'm doing alright; I'm still making music on an Austin night." With that positive attitude, we can expect something from this duo."
-Cis van Looy, Written in Music
“Jim Patton, with his breathy, ‘lived in’ singing style, takes the lead with Sherry Brokus providing shadowy harmonies; in the way Emmylou made famous alongside Gram.”
-Alan Magpie, The Rocking Magpie
"What is good must not (or should not) be changed. We are still huge fans of the eleven songs Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus have selected for their fifth studio record, Going The Distance. As usual, we hear interesting storytelling folk songs presented by this duo on catchy and heartwarming music."
-Rootstime
Links:
Website: www.pattonbrokus.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jimpattonsherrybrokus
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPvjJ_cuR5XtE5qmPO4fGYQ
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/5HuKZ8gVDx0FKpbBncHTZH
