Responder

Guitarist Patrick Butler's 2009, ten song CD Responder features clean, jazz guitar over funky grooves and Hammond B3 backing. Butler started studying with Harry Leahey at age 15. Leahey, nicknamed "Buddha of the Guitar," was a member of The Phil Woods Quintet and was a student of Johnny Smith and Dennis Sandole, whose most famous students included saxophonist John Coltrane and guitarist Pat Martino. Upon graduating high school, Butler spent a short, intense period of time playing and studying with James Spaulding, while Spaulding taught at Rutgers University. He later recorded with The Fatback Band, their album ("Brite Lites/Big City") going gold. Butler then spent the next several years touring extensively and recording two more records with Fatback. Moving to Los Angeles, Butler recorded with Stephen Perkins' acid jazz jam band, Banyan. He also appears on Mike Watt's "Ball Hog Or Tug Boat" on a track featuring Henry Rollins. He is currently studying under Uli Jon Roth at the Sky Academy.