Back Story: Coffee with K-Patt

Karen Patterson with her cello in Lagos, Nigeria

Karen Patterson is back in town. She comes back from Lagos, Nigeria where she teaches cello at MUSON, the national school of music, every year about this time, to help AACW and her mother Faith Patterson get ready for Blues Fest (Sept. 8, 10 & 11). And, every year about this time, we meet at the Emporium so she can catch me up on what's new at Blues Fest and what's going on in her life.

This year, according to Karen, the Gospel, Blues and Jazz Cultural Festival, as it is officially called these days, may seem a bit less jazzy and possibly more bluesy than last year. But that remains to be seen, as some of this year's blues men can really swing; and, as Winton Marsalis is fond of saying, "Jazz is blues and swing."

In February, Karen will be performing in Cairo, Egypt. Faith, who spent a month with Karen in Nigeria last year, will make the trip to Cairo.

Watch the Blog for more Blues Fest news.