Jazz Biography - Pat Moran: Never Went Back

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"Pat Moran: Never Went Back"
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"I don't even like any of my records, except maybe the first one I did with Pat Moran..."
- Scott LaFaro, jazz bassist extraordinaire 1936 - 1961

A young jazz pianist named Pat Moran had an illustrious career in the 1950's and '60's. Then she disappeared from the jazz world.

I was hunting for recordings by legendary Scott LaFaro and discovered a superb album from his pre-Bill Evans days entitled "Pat Moran: Complete Trio Sessions" and wondered what happened to Pat Moran.

Thanks to a kindly neighbor who mentioned her in a blog (in 2014 there was very little on her internet-wise), I was able to reach her and she generously agreed to let me visit and shoot over a weekend in July, 2015.

Pat Moran (aka Patti McCoy) is alive and well, having recorded several excellent Gospel albums and returned to her classical roots. She demonstrates how Shostakovich and Ravel have illuminated and opened up her jazz interpretations.

See also a short (8 minute) companion piece "Bev and Pat: Long Ago and Far Away" (Singer Bev Kelly recounts her time working with Pat):

https://vimeo.com/229370756