About keyboardist and composer Patrick Bradley, and his latest album “Exhale”.

Recording artists aspire toward a time in their career when their music and the process by which it is realized become as natural as the ordained rushing of a sparkling mountain spring. Keyboardist/Composer Patrick Bradley has arrived at that rarefied space with his 5th album…Exhale (releasing January 15, 2021 via the Patricks Song Factory label).

That he has reached this peak even while working with a new collaborator, producer, saxophonist, composer, multi-instrumentalist Darren Rahn (with Jeff Lorber returning to co-produce 2 of the 11 songs), is even more serendipitous. Exhale sounds and feels as breezy as it was to create – as rewarding for the listener as it is a testament to the growth of the artist.

“This fifth record is coming right on track with my every three-year trajectory,” Bradley quietly marvels. “My goal was to continue my musical journey with some accessible radio music but also stick to my Jazz Fusion and Progressive Rock roots. The project was originally going to be titled ‘Providence,’ the theme about being grateful to God and a title track that I almost slotted onto my last record… until I connected with Darren Rahn.

After three successful albums with Jeff Lorber, I felt it was time to explore a different approach, while still retaining Jeff for two numbers. Dave Koz introduced me to Darren and we instantly connected on many levels. We started in late Fall collaborating and preparing songs. I wanted my new music to provide a release from recent tensions in the world with a Christ-centered foundation. All of these songs are imbued with senses of hope and relaxing – even the more rockin’ ones!”

Setting the tone for Exhale is the album’s title track which rolls out on a celestial sequencer groove with majestic chordal progressions and bubbly synth bass. “‘Exhale’ was clearly the lead single since 2020 has been a tough year for us all,” Bradley shares. “The original title was ‘Soffrito,’ inspired by me cooking Bolognese with my grandson and explaining that it takes all day. He shouted, ‘All day Bolognese!!’ Looking up the recipe, I saw that soffrito is the key ingredient and thought, ‘What a beautiful word.’ When Darren and I worked on the song together, it grew into something more. Then when we entered the COVID world, my wife suggested I call it ‘Exhale.’

Patrick and Darren’s shared Christian faith buoyed beautiful, heartfelt numbers such as “Completely Yours,” “Song of May” and “Lighthouse” (featuring some signature tasty guitar by Allen Hinds). More forthright in terms of inspiration is “In the Heart of the Seas” which shifts between piano-centric verses and guitar driven choruses.

“The term comes from The Book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament which I am referencing in a specific context,” Bradley states. “When you’re flailing in the heart of the seas and you need someone to pull you out, only Jesus – for me – can save you. I had the title first which gave me that vibe – a mental picture of what it should sound and feel like. You can be in the worst situation yet rest in the knowing that it’s all going to work out fine.”

Profound life encounters that stopped Patrick in his tracks lay at the heart of the introspective album closer, “Walk with Me.” “The project was almost completed,” recalls Bradley whose other life work is Regional President of Southern Pacific Region of Whole Foods Market.

“Then protests, riots and marches came into full swing. The whole of America was caving in. I’d even seen a few of my stores broken into. I was feeling mighty low… I kept thinking, ‘What is my role? What should I be doing during this time?’ I continued to pray. Simultaneously, I was writing this Prog-Rock song. How do I love better and be a better person – open to more people and more compassionate overall?’

Then, a couple of things happened. I was walking thru Irvine Spectrum, a huge outdoor lifestyle mall. We were pushing my mother-in-law through in a wheelchair. I had to get the car to bring it closer to where she was. So, I’m walking through all these people – all kinds of people – and I’m thinking, ‘The Lord is showing me his compassion and love in this moment – right now.’ The thought that this is what it means to ‘walk with me.’

Tears were coming down my eyes…for 5 minutes…seeing all sorts of people in different situations. Lucky for me, I had sunglasses on… The song came into fruition from that experience. You’d expect it to be calm and collected, but it’s present.

This wasn’t supposed to be on the album. I thought the vibe was just too different from all of the other songs. I shared the whole story with Darren. He listened and said, ‘Dude, that’s epic! Absolutely let’s do it!’”

Even on lighter songs, magic was ever present. Take for example “Meant to Be.” “I was sitting down writing when the music and title of this song came to me…just completely fell into place. In that one peaceful moment, I was overwhelmed with the feeling, ‘This is precisely what I’m supposed to be doing…’ Darren made the music even better. When he laid his sax parts, he fell right into the melody, too, and said, ‘This feels so natural!’ I said, “I KNOW, RIGHT?!”

The voice you hear on the end is my 3-year-old grandson, Benjamin. My wife and I give our first grandkids the right to nickname us. He calls me ‘Patch.’ I wanted to capture him saying it on video. One day when he was at the house, he asked me for some ice cream. I kept stalling, fumbling with my phone so I could record him. I got it! Later, it came to me that it would be perfect to slide onto the end of ‘Meant to Be.’ It fit so nicely, I might subtitle the song ‘Come On, Patch’ in parentheses!”

Family members of another species take center stage on the groovin’ “Cat Man Blues.” “My daughter had two cats. I was close to both of them…but ‘Zip’ was a lil’ nearer to my heart. Out of nowhere, we had to put him down. It rocked the whole family that ‘Zip’ went before ‘Monkey’ who was older… I had this tune titled ‘Funky Penguin.’ I was just so attached to these cats, so I changed the title to ‘Cat Man Blues.’ Then we got (trumpeter) Rick Braun to put his vibe on it. Now it’s a funky fun celebration in memory of my little kitty friends.”

Jeff Lorber comes shining through on his two co-productions. The winding coastal road soft rocker “Reinvention” was originally a stand-alone single released last spring that stayed on the charts for over 3 months. Then there’s the tambourine-driven hang time vibe of “Sip’n the Breeze.” “Before I moved, I lived behind a golf course where my back porch overlooked beautiful trees and a fairway,” Bradley reminisces. “One evening I was sitting out there enjoying a glass of wine when this cool breeze blew by, giving me the title.”

Ironically, the tour de force of Exhale just might be the song that was originally slated to be the title track, “Providence,” a powerful, hip-skippin’ jam reminiscent of `70s Blue Thumb Records-era work by The Crusaders that features hot organ work by Bradley, a slick change of bassline and a slammin’ rock-jazz ride out from Rahn and his A-Team of guitarist Hinds, bassist Mel Brown and drummer Tarell Martin. “That style is really where my heart is,” Bradley succinctly states.

Since the release of his debut album Come Rain or Shine in 2006, Patrick Bradley has scored many instrumental radio hits including two Top 10 singles on Billboard magazine’s smooth jazz chart: “Tailwind” and “Dear Friend,” both of which peaked at #6. He earned over two million streams of “Can You Hear Me,” a deeply personal song featuring Dave Koz on sax inspired by the memory of his mother.

Now following the success of his 4^th album Intangible which hit #1 on the Smoothjazz.com album chart, Patrick Bradley intends to leave even more of a divine impression with Exhale. “I didn’t even meet Darren until this album was near done,” Bradley chuckles! “I popped into a gig he had at the Seal Beach supper club Spaghettini just to meet him in person. The work that Darren, Jeff and I did for Exhale came together so easily, was way cool and a lot of fun. May it draw you to reflect on the positive side of life.”