Patto

The Profile

Patto were a British jazz-rock/progressive band formed in 1970 from the ashes of Timebox: Mike Patto (vocals), Peter “Ollie” Halsall (guitar, piano, vibraphone), Clive Griffiths (bass), and John Halsey (drums). They released three studio albums (1970–1972) and a shelved fourth (Monkey’s Bum) recorded in 1973 that surfaced decades later.

Core lineup: Mike Patto (vocals), Peter “Ollie” Halsall (guitar/piano/vibes), Clive Griffiths (bass), John Halsey (drums). Early work on Vertigo; albums include Patto (1970), Hold Your Fire (1971), and Roll ’em Smoke ’em Put Another Line Out (1972). BBC-derived recordings compiled on Hanging Rope. Origins traced to Timebox. Reviews emphasize Halsall’s virtuosity and Mike Patto’s expressive voice. Mike Patto died in 1979; Ollie Halsall in 1992; a serious car accident left bassist Clive Griffiths paralyzed; John Halsey is noted as the surviving drummer in later years.

The reviews hail Patto’s high-wire blend of jazz, blues, and rock, spotlighting Ollie Halsall’s startling virtuosity and Mike Patto’s expressive voice. The early ’70s albums are treated as cult essentials, with BBC-derived material adding depth. There’s praise for adventurous songwriting, live energy, and nonconformist humor. Biographical notes recall the Timebox roots and the band’s brief but blazing run.