Growing up amid the social upheavals of the Vietnam era in the 1960s, Patty Carpenter first explored singing through folk traditions. Her early performances took place in coffeehouses as well as gatherings focused on community and peace initiatives, along with various school functions. Exposure to bassist Reggie Workman during a class at the University of Massachusetts prompted a shift in focus to jazz, where she also trained under Archie Shepp. Three albums stand to her credit thus far. Released in May 2002, Under My Hat includes collaborative tracks with her daughter Melissa Shetler; the pair frequently share stages throughout the Connecticut River Valley region in western Massachusetts. This serene locale attracts numerous skilled jazz artists who opt for its tranquil environment instead of the intense demands found in New York City and similar metropolitan hubs, and Carpenter collaborates with many of them. Community occasions rank high among her preferred venues, particularly those aimed at senior citizens, whom she regards as an appreciative and discerning crowd. Such listeners readily connect with the vocal approach and choice of standards in her sets. An energetic clarity marks her delivery, which stays precisely in tune while employing nuanced phrasing. A gentle vibrato serves to highlight select lyrics and passages. Her prior efforts, This Time It's Love and Memories of Love's Refrain, demonstrated a remarkable capacity for blending vocals seamlessly among accompanying instruments, imparting a quality reminiscent of horns. Festival and concert stages have hosted her work, among them a homage to the jazz vocal legends Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae. Away from the stage, her listening spans a wide array of artists, from Frank Sinatra and Etta James to Miles Davis and Diane Schuur, extending further to Dr. John and Paul Simon.
