Drummer and Composer Patrick Charles Presents Cite Soleil

With accomplished musicianship and a great sense of deep groove, virtuoso drummer Patrick Charles music is both visual and cerebral. His debut CD , Cite Soleil, presents an artist of far-reaching vision and versatility. Released on his Soleil label, Cite Soleil brings Patrick Charles center stage as a composer, producer and band leader. Featuring a stellar cast of LA studio players and world class jazz artists, such as Everette Harp (of George Duke and Anita Baker), Wayne Linsey (of Miles Davis, Kevin Toney a two time Grammy nominated pianist and composer).

Cite Soleil showcases Patrick’s own original compositions and retells hits from legendary artist like Sting and Seal through the language of jazz . But it was upon hearing the news of his sister’s passing that Patrick began to focus on the core material for the album. ”My siter was always an encouraging and supporting force in my life;’ Charlene,’ the last composition on the CD, is dedicated to her. Born in Port-au-Prince Haiti and raised in East Orange New Jersey, Patrick Charles owes his musical awakening during middle school to the trumpet. But the drums quickly chose him, fueled by the love and respect for all genres and styles of music and the emerging culture of Hip-Hop, Music became Patrick’s calling card, Strangely enough, his first encounter with jazz happened by chance.”I found a pile of jazz records in an abandoned building in the neighborhood; in that pile was Miles Davis Tutu,’ I was so taken by the album cover, I picked up the record, I’ve been hooked ever since.” 

Patrick Charles started to gig professionally during high school, during which time he became the regular drummer at the famous Perpermint lounged in his hometown of East Orange NJ, nightly guess artist appearances includes the legendary Lou Rawls, Chaka kahn, Berry White, and now famed Hip Hop artist Naughty by Nature and Queen Latifah. After high school, Patrick set his eyes on the famed Berklee College of music in Boston, while attending Berklee, Patrick Charles performed with esteem professor Carolyn Wilkins and her group the spirit jazz Quartet regularly in the Boston and New York area, in Los Angeles his work as a freelance drummer has brought him acclaim from studio and live performances with such artist as blues legend Linda Hopkins, funk and soul songstress Maxayn Lewis and Teena Marie, and countless top 40 funk/R&B acts in National and international venues like the House of blues LA, Salt Lake City jazz festival, 

Currently a Los Angeles Arts commission Artist, Patrick has performed for Nakaoka Jazz festival and the1st annual universal City Walk jazz festival,The Namm Show, Viper Room LA, Blue Note Kyoto Japan, Cotton club Shanghai China, Commerce casino jazz&blues summer nights festival series, Pachanga Casino, The Roxy LA, Catalina Jazz club,and the MGM Hotel Las Vegas to name a few, Patrick Charles television and movie appearances have include hit television shows Boston legal, Melrose Place, comedy central band, BET Jazz and Screen Media films "Crazy" the life of famed Jazz guitarist Hank Garland. ~ Amazon.com