Pat Leary & Thomas Kelleher come together w/ release “THEN/NOW”

Chicago pianist Pat Leary has been putting in work, not only developing his own artistry, but building alongside some incredible artists throughout the city, including Manasseh. Now, Leary has teamed up with Thomas Kelleher for “THEN/NOW”, a project rooted in strong jazz foundations with warm, almost fall like sonics. There’s something seasonal about the record, reflective, textured, and easy to sit with as Chicago slowly transitions into a different part of the year..

“THEN/ NOW” has some incredible cuts throughout the project, grounded in rich jazz compositions, strong replay value, and a sound that feels capable of living in almost any environment. There’s something especially reflective about this album. It carries the energy of getting your life together, thinking about the next stage, building toward something greater, and hoping that whatever prosperity comes from the work can eventually reach your family and the generations after you. The music communicates that feeling without having to force it. The collaboration between Pat Leary and Kelleher feels incredibly natural here. There’s a musical universe beginning to form between the two of them, and “THEN/NOW” feels less like the end result and more like the foundation for what that universe could eventually become. These are records you can live with, revisit, and introduce to somebody else knowing they may find their own meaning inside of them. We love the foundation of “THEN/NOW”. We love where it’s currently going. But more importantly, we’re interested in where Pat Leary and Thomas Kelleher take it next..

Our biggest critique isn’t necessarily about the music, it’s that we want to see more of the world around it. We know Leary has shows coming up, but “THEN/NOW” feels like a project that deserves a deeper visual rollout. Give us the live performances. Give us the studio footage. Give us the documentary and behind the scenes conversations about how these records came together. Because there’s another story here. Leary has spent considerable time working with and contributing to other artists throughout Chicago. There’s something worth documenting about an artist finding the time and space to build his own body of work while continuing to pour into everybody else’s. That process is part of the art too..

take a listen and let us know what you think..