Biography

Paddy Byrne: chromatic and diatonic harmonicas, guitar and vocals

Paddy learnt to play diatonic harmonica in the 60’s during the British Blues ‘Explosion’ having had next to no musical education. Early idols were Sonny Terry and Little Walter. The method was trial and error – find the right key and play along to the vinyl and spend every possible hour doing it. Jamming with Chicken Shack on stage at the Clouds Club in Derby was an early thrill. Early trials with the chromatic were unpromising, but hearing Stevie Wonder soon changed that. A long career in the NHS put the harmonica a bit on the back burner, but he gained 3rd prize in the NHL Blues competition in 2007. He fell in love with the work of Toot Thielemans and was lucky to seen him on four occasions at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands.

Since retiring Paddy spent three years on the Jazz Course at Citylit College in London – the first harmonica player ever on the course. He has studied with top players including Adam Glasser, Julian Jackson, Jim Hughes, William Galison in New York, Hermine Deurloo and with Antonio Serrano at the 2016 Hohner Masters Course in Trossingen. He was very proud to carry off the NHL Jazz player of the year award in 2016. More excellent playing experience has come annually at the Dordogne Jazz Summer School which has a range of top jazz tutors.

The quintet ‘Chromactive’ was formed from Dordogne Jazz players and has played regularly in London at Langham’s Hotel, Mayfair, supporting Defibrillatortheatre.com and at OfftheCuff Winebar in Herne Hill, London. CD and live recordings are on SoundCloud and live videos on Youtube. Pre-pandemic Paddy played regularly in London with Carmen Carr and the Red Roosters (Blues) and the Beaumatics (Rock). Paddy has played on stage with UK jazz greats Alan Barnes, Gareth Lockrane and Quentin Collins and in 2022 made his debut at Ronnie Scott’s Upstairs with the Karen Lane Band.