Meet Houston Patton | Jazz Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Houston Patton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Houston, what role has risk played in your life or career?
The idea of taking risks has played a big role in my life and music career. I really understood what it meant to take risks when I played soccer. In a game, I would often take risks and try to do a flashy trick or a hard shot. I would often fail, but when I got it right, it made everything worth it. This concept helped me understand that it is important to take risks musically and career-wise. Trying to hit a really high note on a gig is risky for me sometimes. However, when I can do it, I am always so happy.

Career-wise, I took a risk dropping my computer science major just to focus on my Jazz Studies major and professional career. This was a risk due to the fact that the computer science career path seems more stable. But to my surprise, focusing more on music immediately reaped benefits and now my future looks more fun and promising.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In terms of my artistry and musicianship, I am mainly a saxophonist who has played many different genres of music. I first began playing professionally as a gospel musician in church, and in fifth grade, I started to become classically trained. Now I am deep into the jazz lane. The most notable, and definitely the thing that I am most proud of is that I am a member of the band “Tenth World” led by Kevin ‘Bujo’ Jones. This band “combines the harmonic sensibilities of Jazz and Soul with the rhythms of the African Diaspora”. I play in various other bands, and sometimes I lead my own combo in gigs around Michigan.

I believe I am different just because I am me. I have always tried to be innovative and creative, but the best thing to do is just to play and create from what is within. I always try to play honestly. When someone listens to my music, I want them to the most genuine form of me. I may sound similar to someone, and it may be clear who my influences are but I will always be and sound like me at the end of the day.

The question of “how am I different” has actually been a very difficult challenge to overcome. I always ask myself that question, and that question quickly turns into “how am I better” than everyone else? These aren’t bad questions, especially if music is my career. I know I need to compete with others, and my craft has to be unique and polished. However, I find truth in realizing that I need to create my own lane in order to be different or “the best”.

I have always thought about how cats like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane are still regarded as the best musicians, even after several decades. This is because musicians like them had their own lane, and they put a lot of time into their craft. What they played became natural to them because they adopted their music into their identity. This is what I think sets me apart. I am on a journey to match my music with my identity, and I believe that is enough to set me apart, No one will be Houston Patton, and I won’t ever be anyone else. This is a very humbling conclusion.

As a musician, I think it is most important to carry the legacy of those who have taught and mentored you in your life, regardless if they play a role in a musical context or not. I want people to know that my love for music began with my father, but I also want the world to know that I learned character, leadership, and kindness from my Mother.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my friend was visiting, the itinerary would look like this (assuming we share the same interest) :

Monday: We would meet and probably come back to my home. I enjoy my household and I always value it when my friends can spend time with my family. I would ask my mom to cook a meal, and we would spend quality time at the house until the next day.

Tuesday: The plan would be to go to a jam session at “Parts & Labor” in Melvindale Michigan. This is one of my favorite hangs, and they have great sandwiches. The music I great, and the community is greater.

Wednesday: I would take my friend to another jam session at Bert’s Bistro in Detroit. One of my friends hosts a gig there, and it has great seafood there.

Thursday: This is probably the most important day. On Thursday there is a jam session at Bert’s Marketplace in Detroit. This is an outdoor jam session, and it usually has a big crowd. There is amazing soul food, and the atmosphere there is something very special. World-class musicians show up to this jam session such as James Carter, or Dwight Adams.

Friday: I usually play soccer on Fridays with a couple of my friends so that would be on the list for Friday. It is always good to get some exercise and take a break from music.

Saturday/Sunday: I would ultimately leave it up to my friend to see what they would want to do on these days. Of course, if it were up to me, I would take them to a jam session. Somewhere like Cliff Bell’s or the Dirty Dog cafe. But I’m also ok with just chilling and playing video games or something.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out my four biggest mentors in my music career so far. My father, Harry Patton, Dr. Jordan VanHemert, Kevin ‘Bujo’ Jones, and Wendell Harrison. Each of them have taught me so much about life and music alone.

My Father made sure I was exposed to music at a very young age, and he even had me listening to Cannonball Adderley records as a baby. My dad is a saxophonist and pianist who I have always looked up to. I always wanted to be able to play saxophone like me, and he taught me how to play. I always give him credit for my sound.

Dr. Jordan VanHemert was my Saxophone professor at Hope College. Dr. VanHemert was ultimately the reason that I chose to pursue a music career. In our first lesson, I was so inspired by his craft and control of the saxophone that I wanted nothing other than to be able to be on that level. He was very good at teaching, and he was just as good as a musician. He exposed me to the deeper meaning of jazz and showed me how to respect the tradition. Not only was he there for me in an educational and musical way, but he was also there for me when I needed someone to rant or to talk to. I definitely appreciated him being at Hope College while he was there, but it wasn’t until he left that I realized how big his role was in the community and in the music.

Kevin ‘Bujo’ Jones is a mentor and bandleader of mine. In the summer of 2021, Kevin invited me to play with his band, Tenth-World, in a new jazz club in Grand Rapids Michigan called “GRNoir”. Since that day, my life has changed for the better. It showed me the highest level of musicianship that I have ever experienced on the bandstand, the connections I have made have been so crucial, and the fun I have had has been priceless. Kevin has also given me a huge confidence boost. As a horn player, I am usually on the front line and I need to conduct myself accordingly. Making sure I know what I am doing and that I am comfortable being in the front is so important for my career, Also, being able to say that I am in his band is such an honor!

Wendell Harrison is my current saxophone teacher this summer. He has been very helpful and I am so glad that he offered to give me lessons. He is a legend in Detroit, and as a musician from Detroit, I can not think of anyone who I would rather study with. Wendell is very effective, but he also allows me to be free and creative in my studies. As I am developing my identity, I think it is so important for me to study with someone like him so I can carry on the Detroit saxophone legacy. I have only been studying with him for a short time, however, this short amount of time has been very fruitful.

Website: https://linktr.ee/admin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hpattsax/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houston.patton.547/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCnj5YJY8skDcc0Mev7K7HeQ

Other: Band Camp: https://houstonpatton.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits
Jeff Dunn