Pat Bergeson

Not everybody can say they have met most of their musical heroes and written, toured and/or recorded with many of them. Pat Bergeson, guitarist and harmonica player living, loving and picking in Nashville, Tennessee can.

From the university in his native Illinois all the way to Tennessee, picking up a jazz studies degree at William Patterson University NJ, and working non-stop in New York City for ten years, he arrived in Nashville upon the request of Chet Atkins, who heard him on a demo tape.

A hang and a jam turned into "Sneakin' Around", a first-together recording with Jerry Reed. Chet later featured him on the 1994 "Read My Licks" album. A close friend of Chet's, he toured with him for several years, and later with Shelby Lynne, Wynonna, and Lyle Lovett. Pat is known for his session work in Nashville with a variety of artists such as, Bill Frisell, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Suzy Bogguss, Martina McBride, Kenny Rogers, and Peter Frampton to name a few.

Pat's instructional video "Contemporary Improvisation" is available through Mel Bay Publishing. A new album of original compositions is in the works.

Chaz Mechenbier, local Columbus guitar genius, remarked as he was watching Pat play with Richard Smith and Aaron Till doing their Django Reinhardt routine at The Canal Street Tavern last year, "Wow, this guy is unbelievable."

Here's a sample of Pat's playing on the Saturday Night Guitar Pull web site (click).. (Go over to the pull-down column of performers and slide down a couple players to Pat Bergeson..)