The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #141285   Message #3250639
Posted By: Joe Offer
05-Nov-11 - 02:09 AM
Thread Name: Leftover Dreams / Patrice Haan Northern Calif Tour
Subject: Leftover Dreams / Patrice Haan Northern Calif Tour
I heard Canadian/Northern California singer-harpist Patrice Haan in a house concert this evening, and she was just wonderful. She plays the Celtic harp beautifully in a variety of styles that ranges from blues to "Latinoid," and the songs she writes are very, very interesting.
I got a kick out of her harp blues song, "Bluest Blue." The four verses begin thus:
  1. Azure is the bluest blue of all....
  2. Indigo's the darkest mood I know...
  3. Lapis for my heart that's like a stone...
  4. Sapphire holds a star within its eye...
Patrice lived in Victoria on Vancouver Island (British Columbia) for 15 years, and she sang two songs that reflected her time there, a cute little song called "Tea Time"; and a song called "Dallas Road" that painted a picture of the beautiful view from Victoria across the Straits of Juan de Fuca.
Being the victim of a classical education, my favorite song of the bunch was "Penelope," which told the story of Odysseus from his wife's perspective.
But I haven't told you the best part - Patrice has an amazing voice. I didn't believe a woman could sing notes so low with such control, and the upper range of her voice is equally remarkable. But it was those low notes that got me. It seemed like she was playing limbo with her voice.
And on top of it all, we just liked her. She's a very gracious, interesting person, and she shares our interest in wildflowers.

Patrice performs with her husband, Tony Marcus, who used to perform with Sylvia Herold in Cats & Jammers, and in the Cheap Suit Serenaders. Patrice and Tony also perform as a duet on vocal "old chestnuts" as Leftover Dreams. They sang just a couple of songs from their "Leftover Dreams" repertoire, and they were right up my alley.

Thanks for a wonderful concert, Patrice and Tony.


Here's their schedule for November, 2011: