Take one part Andrews Sisters (all of 'em!), one part Tom Waits, a generous dollop of Judy and a spicy dash of Lena: Chicagoland's Patti Ecker is a bright, energetic light with a big, warm soulful voice and a strong, percussive guitar style.
Patti taught herself guitar at fifteen and started playing in Chicagoland coffeehouses six months later. While in college at NIU, she drifted into the legendary Juicy John Pink's. At her regular Wednesday night set, she met and became friends with guitarist/mandolin player Mike O'Connell, guitarist/songwriter David Williams, multi-instrumentalist Dave "D.K" Kolars, songwriter Glenn Galen and luthier Dale Ludewig.
Then, on a dare, she moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Almost immediately, she fell in with a diverse group of South Florida musicians and singer/songwriters whose talent and friendship would influence her for years, among them Wayne Humphrey, Scott Avery, Larry Rubin and Gale Trippsmith and the late Gaye Levine. And she learned her craft. She fronted rock bands in the Big Daddy's circuit and regularly performed around town and at the Musician's Exchange as a solo act, and with eclectic groups the Ecktones, the Wingnuts and her jazz/original band, Patti's Red Wagon.
After South Florida, Patti returned to the Chicago area to reclaim her musical roots. She spent 4 years in the female pub duo, LadyHawke. She became a teacher at Chicago's famed Old Town School of Folk Music. Recently, Patti has enjoyed a musical Renaissance. In the summer of 2006, Patti joined the Hanlon-lees Action Theater to portray Annie Oakley in America's Favorite Wild West Show at the Piqua, OH Heritage Festival. She is a member of the Chicago-based “Shameless Hussies” cabaret-style show featuring Jacquie Manning, Tricia Alexander, Kate Moretti, Margaret Nelson and Diana Laffey. She recently showcased at FARM (Folk Alliance Region Midwest) and has appeared live on the WDCB radio show, “Folk Festival” with Lilli Kuzma. Bringing together years of diverse influences and some of Chicagoland's finest musicians, she released her long-awaited CD, Gypsy Lover's Eyes in November of 2007.
Patti’s vibrant and enduring songwriting continues to receive accolades and professional recognition. "Elsie" and "Indifferent Love" each received an Honorable Mention award in the 2008 Great Lakes Songwriting Competition. "Elsie" was a finalist in the 2008 Great American Song Contest.
Patti Ecker and Louise Brodie are a Chicago-based guitar/vocal/fiddle duo who deliver acoustic folk, swing, Celtic and original songs with an entertaining and funky jazz-blues style. Patti and Louise pull off this eclectic range of styles with panache and high energy.
About Patti
With a performing style that embraces the audience, Patti Ecker plays guitar in a strong, percussive style that complements her warm, soulful voice. She sings classic and torchy tunes, but she can tickle and surprise you with her quirky, slice-of-life compositions and absolutely break your heart with her ballads and blues.
Patti is an artist for the Old Town School of Folk Music's Global Roots Outreach program in Chicago. She also performs with The Shameless Hussies, a yearly cabaret-concert event that features six Chicagoland female artists. Both of her CDs, the award-winning "Prairieland" (2002) and the sultry "Gypsy Lover's Eyes" (2007) feature Louise Brodie's inventive fiddle work.
About Louise
Since she was a child, Louise Brodie has played any and every style of music she could. She is able to switch musical gears on a dime. She flies on the fiddle, taking the listener from a Celtic festival to a smoky blues bar to a place of enchanted dreams. Her husky alto voice is tinged with country and conviction, and her original fiddle tunes pull from her deep love of traditional music.
Louise has performed in productions at the Blackstone and Goodman Theaters and is a member of the Celtic group Glen Ayre. Louise appears on Glen Ayre's 2005 CD, "The Uneven Bridge."
It was Kismet when Patti and Louise met at the Old Town School and began melding musically. They've decided to join forces and have some fun. You're invited!
Raves:
"...a wonderfully diverse and surprising range of music." -- Betty Trowbridge, Black Hawk Concert Series, Mount Morris Wisconsin "
'Gypsy' begins with Louise Brodie's mournful violin and turns into a poppy treat with vocals that remind me of a ‘50s or early 60s-style girl group. Patti Ecker is a gifted songwriter in many styles, and a singer who can tackle any kind of song." --Chip Withrow, The Muse's Muse Music Reviews
"Expect the unexpected from this Chicagoland duo - Celtic, jazz, blues, ballads" --Kathryn Morski, D.A.F.T Folk Festival, Escanaba, Michigan
We’re Patti Ecker and L.J. Slavin — the Red Oak String Band. We perform as a duo, trio or a full band. Our experience is wide and our repertoire is deep — we started playing Bluegrass and Old Time music together nine years ago, but soon added Celtic tunes, jazz standards and some lively rock and pop arrangements.
We met while both of us were on the teaching staff at The Old Town School of Folk Music. Since then, we’ve performed at corporate events, private parties, special events and children’s concerts throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest.
Let us tailor an event for you!
Recent Performances: Chicago Public Library Book Beats Summer Reading Tour; Long Grove Arts and Music Summer Concert Series; Deerfield Farmer's Market; St.Charles Sportsman’s Club; Naperville Breakfast with Santa; Arlington Heights Summer Concert Series; Glenview “Little Bearfoot in the Park,” Concert; Chicago Yacht Club, Belmont Yacht Club, Lisle Depot Days; Autumn on Parade (Oregon, IL); Downer’s Grove Heritage Fest; Berwyn Centennial Celebration; Chicago Botanical Gardens; Chicago Historical Museum; Old Town School of Folk Music Jamboree; Grove Folk Fest; Fourth of July events at: Elmhurst, Skokie, Grayslake, Zion, Hoffman Estates, Oak Park.
Bawdy and provocative music in a Cabaret-style show, featuring 6 of Chicagoland's finest female performers: Tricia Alexander, Patti Ecker, Diana Laffey, Jacquie Manning, Kate Moretti with Margaret Nelson as Emcee and Erotic Poet!
Hussies fan mail: "Get there early because last time seats were hard to come by. Bawdy, witty, silly, empowering, saucy, titters to guffaws... Adult women at their best - while behaving their worst! Nothing gross or excessively vulgar, just good clean (dirty) fun with an edge of intellect and a dash of provocativeness. Great evening out, either with the girls or with a mixed group." (Eric Bricker)
"The Rack Pack! It's like they've been playing casinos together for 10 years." (Lisa Crowe, Musician)
