What critics are saying.

"The album has an airiness and freshness all too desperately needed." ★★★★★

--BBC Music Magazine

"Intricate arrangements and superb playing... The musicians sound completely at home with each other."

--London Jazz News

"Acadia: Way of the Cairns moves with purpose, style, energy, and soul. Patrick Cornelius writes to the strengths of his musical partners and they respond in kind. This music pulls the listener, leaving one satisfied but ready to dig right back in. That's what the best music does!"

--Step Tempest

"Written with a clarity that fits in with classical European tradition... the album takes the listener on a journey through a set of inspiring scenes."

--France Musique

"A uniquely exciting compositional voice, and a modern jazz virtuoso."

--Jazz Artistry Now

"Cornelius' vigorous straight-ahead playing and composing are the key sculpting elements, supported by Janisch's forceful presence."

--All About Jazz

"Cornelius’ sax echoes the theme while the piano and bass interplay alternates between light and dark like a torch beam lost in the night." ★★★★

--UK Vibe

“The compositions have a poetic foundation and an ever-warm sound and atmosphere… a great jazz album that deserves a lot of attention.” ★★★★ ½

--Written in Music

"The album combines the fire of New York City with the melancholy finesse of Europe in an intelligent and selfless way." ★★★★

--Jazz'n'More

“Twice winner of ASCAP’s Young Jazz Composers Award, Patrick Cornelius has devoted the bulk of his second recording to original works. The seven examples given here show a dusky elegance that owes much to Wayne Shorter while retaining a unique identity.” 

-- Forrest Dylan Bryant, JazzTimes 

“...Enjoyable, clever music, which does interesting things with what it inherits from the jazz tradition... Well-schooled music, but music played with feeling, commitment and imagination,”
-- Glyn Pursglove, MusicWeb international 

“...In an impressive debut by one of the new young lions of jazz, Patrick Cornelius crafts a captivating and engaging recording... Lucid Dream is a disc worth more than a listen and sure to garnish critical acclaim.” 

-- Ed Blanco, eJazzNews 

“Throughout [Lucid Dream], Cornelius and company are utterly in sync, interacting and supporting each other to make sophisticated but powerful music.”
-- Peter Hum, The Ottawa Citizen 

“[Patrick’s] solo debut CD, "Lucid Dream," is packed with excellent original compositions plus a sharp rendition of Charlie Parker's "Billie's Bounce" and a couple of other covers. It's Cornelius' originals, however, that serve notice the reedman is ready. In the straight-ahead vein, the songs on "Lucid Dream" are imaginative and accessible.” 

-- Jim Beal, San Antonio Express-News 

“From beginning to end, this music is a satisfying mix of contemporary sounds.”
--Mark F. Turner, AllAboutJazz.com 

“This fine effort from Patrick Cornelius and company is aptly titled, as the music is both lucid (accessible, musically logical) and dream-like (filled with fantasy and invention)... taking the listener on a fulfilling tour led by a multi-talented artist on a star-bright trajectory.” 

--Andrea Canter, JazzPolice.com 

"The music and performances are inspiringly creative and the musicians are fully committed to the task of performing cohesively as a unit"
--Frank Bongiorno, Saxophone Journal 

"compositional smarts and a centered warmth in his attitude mark him out"
--Michael Jackson, Downbeat 

"streamlined, precisely crafted and keenly contemporary, as well as, at times, very powerful."
--Peter Him, Ottawa Citizen 

"a confident, highly accomplished assertive musician with a strong take-no-prisoners sound."
--Tony Hall, JazzWise Magazine

"bold performances that are creative and, yes, occasionally fierce"
--Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz 14/10/2010 

"a warm, inviting and often rather measured—thoughtful, considered and reflective—collection of lovely tunes."

--Bruce Lindsay, All About Jazz

"Cornelius is articulate and plays the kind of improvisations the listener can follow all the way with ease while still enjoying the excitement of the sudden unexpected turn"
--Peter Bacon, The Jazz Breakfast (UK)

"US altoist Patrick Cornelius calls this album 'the distillation of all the joy, hope, exhilaration, and wonder that music has brought to my life', and for sheer vitality and exuberance, its nine tracks are indeed hard to beat." 

--Chris Parker, Londonjazz 

"the freshness, spontaneity and vitality of the session is immediately discernible to the listener.“Fierce” simply bristles with intent."
--Ian Man, www.thejazzmann.com 

"In the excellence of his compositions, and in the skill of his playing and the playing of those around him, Patrick Cornelius has made a truly notable album."
--Mark Hayes, "Passing Notes" 88.9 FM WDNA 

"Cornelius infuses Fierce with texture built on a sense of adven- ture, a sense of fun, an abundance of accessible melody and a true band approach to the playing. "
--Jim Beal, San Antonio Express-News

"The interplay of the rhythm section with the leader is impressive and Cornelius responds with solos that range far afield but never lose focus. He's got fire and grace, showing no needto compromise on his vision."
--Richard B. Kamins, "Step Tempest"

"There's a certain jolt of energy in the music of alto saxophonist Patrick Cornelius."

—The Village Voice

“New York resident Patrick Cornelius blows his alto with authority while receiving crackling support from a stellar crew”

--JazzTimes

"An alto saxophonist with a coolly rounded sound and fleetfooted delivery... elegantly polyphonic themes..."

—The Guardian

“Affirmational but never sentimental, this is a gem of a CD, full of memorable tunes and inspired solos executed by top-notch musicians."

—The New York City Jazz Record

“This work shouldn't just be labelled "chamber jazz" since it's very much more than that. Like its elegant cover, it's actually a work of art."

—★★★★ All About Jazz

"An entire album peppered with goosebumps-inducing moments... Cornelius’s music and messages resonate broadly and vividly, reminding any listener of what’s most precious to us all."

—Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen

“With the talent to convey thought-provoking stories through his music, Patrick Cornelius pens a fresh chapter of personal and emotive composition”

—All About Jazz