Although already a deeply devout man, a life-threatening illness became a literal “come to Jesus” moment for Billboard chart-topping contemporary jazz keyboardist Patrick Bradley. The immense sense of gratitude and awe that he feels since overcoming the gravely ill month that saw him hospitalized twice informs the ten songs that he wrote for his sixth album, “Gratitude,” which drops September 20 on the Patrick’s Song Factory label. Multi-time Grammy nominated producer Darren Rahn produced the collection and co-wrote seven songs with Bradley.
Before stricken by the undiagnosed illness, Bradley had been on a high since his last album, “Exhale,” was released in 2021. The title track shot to No. 1 on the Billboard chart. A second single, “Completely Yours,” went top 10 and two other singles (“Song of May” and “Reinvention”) reached the top 20.
Not just transformed spiritually, Bradley exhibits some stylistic changes on “Gratitude.” His previous sets were more fusion focused and displayed him primarily playing synth and organ along with some piano. The new project is distinctly more contemporary jazz-based and spotlights Bradley’s piano play, a switch underscored by the album’s cover art showing Bradley standing next to a piano. Instead of spacy and explorative jazz fusion forays, the ten songs on “Gratitude” feel more present, focused and are brimful of joyous energy.
Bradley debuted in 2007 with the “Come Rain or Shine” album, which featured six-time Grammy nominated saxophonist Eric Marienthal. The title track became the keyboardist’s first Billboard top 30 single. Four years later, Bradley returned with “Under The Sun,” which was produced by Grammy-winning fusion pioneer Jeff Lorber and included Marienthal’s shining sax and a highlight performance from trumpet and flugelhorn star Rick Braun. Lorber returned to helm “Can You Hear Me” in 2014, an outing that saw Bradley’s impressive list of collaborators add Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets, Steely Dan), Gary Novak (Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour), David Mann (Sting, James Taylor, Billy Joel) and Michael Thompson (Bob James, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion). Multiple Grammy nominated headliner Dave Koz played an emotional soprano sax solo on the title cut, which is nearing in on ten million streams. Haslip, Novak, Mann and Thompson linked up with Bradley and Lorber again on 2017’s “Intangible.” The album notched two Billboard top 10 singles: “Dear Friend” and “Tailwind” featuring guitar ace Paul Jackson Jr. (Michael Jackson, Daft Punk).
The “Gratitude” album contains the following songs:
“Narrow Path”
“Nothin’ Ain’t” featuring Darren Rahn
“Road Trippin’”
“Gratitude” featuring Darren Rahn
“Transformation”
“Abide In Me”
“The Calling”
“Luminaries”
“There Is No Other” featuring Dave Beegle
“Celebration”