Let it breathe

Two San Diego jazz artists, vocalist Leonard Patton and pianist Joshua White, are heading to NYC to make a record with some of the biggest names in modern music, including members of Pat Metheny’s Unity Band (drummer Antonio Sanchez and bassist Ben Williams), James Farm pianist Aaron Parks, and ex–Herbie Hancock guitarist Lionel Loueke.

The record is Patton’s baby, and it’s been in the works for awhile.

“I went to Berklee with Antonio Sanchez back in ’94–’95,” says Patton. “I connected with him over a year ago about doing a project. I met Aaron Parks at a Joshua Redman concert, we chatted for a while. Haven’t met Lionel Loueke or Ben Williams, but we have a few mutual connections, and Joshua White we all know and love from our own hometown.”

Antonio Sanchez won a Grammy Award for his work with Metheny on the 2003 release Speaking of Now and is one of the world’s most in-demand drummers, appearing with Chick Corea, Gary Burton, and Danilo Perez.

“Making a record with Antonio Sanchez is huge!” Patton says. “There is no better drummer in the modern-jazz world today. This won’t be a typical singer’s project. The energy is gonna come from the dynamic that is created from these amazing musicians. I’m gonna let it breathe and do what it needs to.”