Pat Harris

PAT HARRIS
Bassist/Songwriter
Austin, TX

Pat Harris is a bassist, songwriter, and composer residing in Austin, TX. Originally from Michigan, he has had the honor of performing with many extraordinary musicians in countless different settings. He graduated magna cum laude from Central Michigan University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Bass Performance and a minor in philosophy. In 2009, he earned his Master’s degree with academic honors from the University of Texas at Austin in Jazz Studies. Pat has released three albums of original music under his own name: Live: 4/9/09 (2009), Traveling by Moonlight (2011) and Hour Before the Mourning (2013). In addition to performing, Pat teaches private bass lessons, he’s currently the instructor of bass at Concordia University and endorses Muckelroy bass guitars.

With musical roots in jazz, classical, and American traditions, Pat maintains an active and eclectic performing schedule, and can be seen and heard live or in the studio with many talented musicians and groups including Reed Turner, Phoebe Hunt, The Austin Piazzolla Quintet, Revel, James Anderson, John Arndt, Carter Arrington, Javier Chaparro, Floyd Domino, Paul Glasse, Rich Harney, Masumi Jones, Lex Land, Jake Langley, Kevin Lovejoy, Wayne Salzmann, Steve Schwelling, David Sierra, David Stevens, Peter Stoltzman, Mitch Watkins, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, as well as leading his own groups.

In November 2012, he spent a day in the studio recording an album of original music with John Arndt, Carter Arrington, Keith Gary, and David Sierra. The musicians were recorded live in one large room without isolation, click tracks, or overdubs. Hour Before the Mourning was released on Tuesday, January 8, 2013. Most recently, Pat has been in the studio and on stage throughout the United States and Canada performing extensively with Reed Turner, Phoebe Hunt, and the Austin Piazzolla Quintet.

“This is precisely the style of music that helped to put Austin on the map as a music town.” – Rod Ames, From Under the Basement

“Harris shows himself to be the consummate tunesmith.” – Chuck Dauphin, Music News Nashville

“Left Me Like You is the stand-out record here. It is a crowd-friendly tune for those who prefer radio-friendly folk over the special interest sound of bluegrass, and it is a sweet ballad for the heartbroken.” – Kailyn Terlato, Long Island Pop Culture Examiner

“As a songwriter, Mr. Harris has a very bright future before him, and his contribution to this album is immense… Songs so good and so clean in their construction that they feel almost ageless upon first listen… All of them benefit from production that is almost perfect for each song. For that we should all tip our hats again to G. Pat Harris.” – John C. McClure, Victory Acoustic Music Magazine