BEST TRIO IN THE UNITED
STATES: THE SATIN DOLL TRIO
Photo: The Satin Doll Trio consists of
Guitarist Ken Kilpatrick, vocalist Patrice Ferris and
bassist Fred Ferris.
The Satin Doll Trio is an elegant ensemble renowned for
their excellence in the intimate “supper club jazz” style
that was popularized during the early 1950’s by artists such
as Julie London, Sarah Vaughan, and Peggy Lee. Like the
guitar-bass-voice trios that came before them, the Satin
Doll Trio has learned from the best and taken the art form
to new levels. Their musical interests are firmly rooted
classic American jazz songs of the period. They have
appeared on the stages of The John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts, The Corcoran Gallery’s Armand Hammer
Auditorium, and have made television appearances on the BET
Jazz programs “Jazz Central” and “Impressions”. Since
forming the group in 1997 they have remained consummate
performers making more than two hundred appearances annually
at prestigious venues throughout the Washington D.C. area
and Eastern United States.
 Patrice
Ferris in concert.
The group has received exceptional reviews from the
Washington Post, the Washington Times, and from
JazzReview.com. Last year saw the Satin Doll Trio returning
to the stage of the John F. Kennedy Center for a packed
house performance at the KC Jazz Club and completing of
their long awaited third CD release titled “In The Middle of
a Kiss.” Other accomplishments by the trio include
performances at the Mark Twain awards (awarded to Woopie
Goldberg), Washington’s prestigious Cosmos Club, and again
filming live television performances and for News Channel 8
WJLA Washington D.C. Satin Doll Trio vocalist Patrice Ferris
was born in Honolulu Hawaii. She began her musical career by
studying piano and flute at a young age but always loved to
just sing. During her teen years she studied performing arts
and began singing in choirs, musicals, and various vocal
ensembles. While attending college at American University
she studied with her most influential teacher, the renowned
opera voice teacher Ms. Lois Darling. Her interest in the
vocal styles of artists like Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan,
and Carmen McCray led her to the Elliston School for Jazz
Studies where she studied with jazz vocalist Ronnie Wells.
Patrice developed her distinctively smooth singing style
while performing five nights a week in Washington D.C. area
nightclubs. Patrice’s greatest strength lies in her innate
ability to connect with her material and communicate that
intimacy with the listener.
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Patrice Ferris
Patrice is solidly accompanied by guitarist Ken Kilpatrick,
a native of upstate New York, and bassist Fred Ferris, a
Washington D.C. native, who have both been part of the D.C.
areas music scene for the past twenty years. While attending
American University guitarist Ken Kilpatrick studied music
theory, jazz improvisation, and was a member of the American
University Jazz Band. He has spent his musical career
studying the guitar styles of guitarists such as Oscar
Moore, Charlie Christen, Barney Kessel, and Howard Roberts.
Bassist Fred Ferris attended Johns Hopkins University as
engineering major but also studied jazz improvisation, music
theory, and has trained with well-known bassists such as
John Previti and Myke Lyons.
He
credits Joe Comfort, Ray Leatherwood, and Ketter Betts as
his greatest influences. Reviews: In a recent review of the
trio’s third CD, “In the Middle of a Kiss”, Mike Joyce of
the Washington Post said... “Glowing interpretations help to
make this session particularly alluring. Singer Patrice
Ferris’s affinity for romantic ballads is always
evident…Clearly, guitarist Ken Kilpatrick and bassist Fred
Ferris, Patrice’s husband, have worked alongside each other
long enough to develop a hand-in-glove rapport. Kilpatrick’s
arpeggiated fills and melodic solos complement the vocalist
and the tunesmiths, while Ferris softly underpins the moody
pop with warm tones and understated swing.” O’s Place Jazz
Magazine gave the new CD a five star (highest) rating.
Reviews from JazzReview.com said “Bassist Fred Ferris keeps
the rhythms in a tight pocket, allowing guitarist Ken
Kilpatrick to craft melody lines and inventive chord
structures that would make Barney Kessel proud.”
The Satin Doll Trio and Ms. Patrice Ferris are listed in the
World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment
2007
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