Guitar Masters: Tuck & Patti

Tickets available at the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame and BakersfieldMusicHallofFame.com

For more than 36 years this unique, genre-crossing vocal/guitar jazz duo has cast its passionate musical spell worldwide, capturing the hearts of lovers, the respect of jazz buffs and the jaw-dropping awe of guitarists and singers.

To understand Tuck & Patti, start with the wellspring of love within them, then their music begins to make perfect sense. Married 34 years, Tuck Andress and Patti Cathcart continue to stoke the fires, not only of their own love, but also of their love of life and their passion for making music together. They have a long-standing tradition: Minimalist arrangements featuring Tuck’s extraordinary virtuosity and Patti’s rich mezzo soprano.

Patti, renowned for her remarkable ability to touch hearts directly with her voice, exudes the soft, centered yet powerful graciousness of a gospel singer; Tuck almost wears his brain on his skin, anticipating the thousands of musical decisions he’ll have to send to his ten fingers during the course of a performance. Seeing the virtuosity and complexity of Tuck’s guitar work, most are surprised to learn that Patti is the actual writer, arranger and producer. Without even blinking, Tuck-the-problem-solver brags, “Patti writes and arranges; I am just the orchestra.”