Pat Bergeson

A versatile guitarist as well as chromatic and diatonic harmonica player, Pat’s style incorporates jazz, blues, rock and finger style.

Beginning at the University of Illinois in his home state, he moved on to New York City and picked up a Jazz Studies degree at William Paterson University. After playing in New York for ten years, he arrived in Nashville upon the request of Chet Atkins who heard Pat on a demo tape.

Chet invited him to play on his album Sneakin' Around with Jerry Reed, and later featured Pat’s guitar and compositions on his 1994 release Read My Licks. They were good friends and toured together for several years. Pat was named as one of Chet Atkins' top twelve favorite guitarists in the Oct. 2001 issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine and released a CD entitled “Country Gentleman – A Tribute To Chet Atkins” in 2007, available at Green Hill Music.

He is known for his session work with a variety of artists. Pat has been in the studio with Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Bill Frisell, Martin Taylor, Suzy Bogguss, Bill Evans, Peter Frampton, Michael McDonald and many others.

He has toured with Chet Atkins, Shelby Lynne, Wynonna Judd, Suzy Bogguss and then four years with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band. Pat has been a teacher and producer and has appeared on many movie soundtracks. He has recently toured with Madeleine Peyroux and Suzy Bogguss.

Pat endorses Fender and Gretsch guitars, Visual Sound pedals, Line 6 effects and Seydel harmonicas.

Check out Steve Shapiro & Pat Bergeson on LAST.FM.

Buy Pat's instructional DVD "Contemporary Improvisation" from Mel Bay.