I feel he is underrated...

[Altitude]

I think the issue for being a bit overlooked is similar to why more people don't like Jaco - a lot of people just aren't into the type of music John plays

Of course this. He operates within a pretty specific and esoteric musical subvertical, so he'll never be a celebrity and very few non-musicians (non-jazz musicians, really) know about him, versus any number of guys you might compare him to.

But as a musician, as a bass player, as a composer, as a soloist - whatever your criteria that doesn't require big exposure - Patitucci is at the absolute pinnacle of the art. If you know, you know.

Some of his more recent compositional work isn't totally easy to listen to, even if it is musically amazing. The electric guitar quartet work, for example, is very contrapuntal and a lot of the song structures aren't obvious.

On the other hand, he did produce Janek Gwizdala's "Light Years" album, which in my opinion is by three or four levels of quality Janek's best record.

 

[bigjames]

No pain no gain!

I have a 14 lbs bass...trust me, it is mostly pain. LOL

 

[Altitude]

That bass was so cool…but 14 lbs! Yikes!

Edit: I just saw there were 2: a single cut and a double…very cool.

Where did you see that it weighs 14 pounds? I believe you but if a writeup about that bass is out there at that level of detail I'd enjoy reading it.

 

[Benj-jammin]

Saw him for the first time at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival with Chick Core's Electric Band back in the 90's, I believe. Frank Gambale on guitar. Yeah, a bunch of virtuoso's up on stage. Loved watching JP rip it up with that 6 string Yamaha!

 

[thmsjordan]

Patitucci is the best soloist of any bass player living or dead. And whomever is #2 isn’t close.

Strong disagree on that one. Pattitucci is a great bassist but I can't class him with an upright player like Niels Pederson who redefined what was possible on the upright, or Eddie Gomez who was an absolute poet on the bass. Nor should he be put in the same league with someone like Jaco who changed the electric bass and was a visionary on the order of Charlie Parker on the sax, or Wes Montgomery on the guitar. I look at him more along the lines of say Joe Pass who is a master craftsman but not an innovator (Joe defined himself in this way so I am not insulting the man btw.).

 

[Tnavis]

Patitucci was a guest artist/clinician at my college jazz festival in the late 90's; it was of course awesome watching him tear it up every night at the concert, but I was completely floored by what an energetic, patient, and engaging clinician, instructor, and all around person he was for the four days he was with us. Awesome guy.

 

[Altitude]

Strong disagree on that one. Pattitucci is a great bassist but I can't class him with an upright player like Niels Pederson who redefined what was possible on the upright, or Eddie Gomez who was an absolute poet on the bass. Nor should he be put in the same league with someone like Jaco who changed the electric bass and was a visionary on the order of Charlie Parker on the sax, or Wes Montgomery on the guitar. I look at him more along the lines of say Joe Pass who is a master craftsman but not an innovator (Joe defined himself in this way so I am not insulting the man btw.).

I'm confident that if we were able to ask Eddie Gomez and Jaco, both would agree that Patitucci has gone further than they did as a soloist.

Many things can be said about Jaco that can't be said about Patitucci. Jaco was a rock star and an innovator. Patitucci is neither, but he is a far better soloist in my opinion.

 

[albertus]

There is nothing that can be done on a bass guitar or double bass that John Pattitucci cannot do and do really well. My favorite video of JP is him sitting on an Urban Gospel concert, sight reading a song he had transcribed while totally capturing the vibe in the process.

I can't imagine the moment they tell the drummer, "hey guy, Patittucci is subbing tomorrow"

 

[Thud Staff]

Where did you see that it weighs 14 pounds? I believe you but if a writeup about that bass is out there at that level of detail I'd enjoy reading it.

I think I remember it as Bass Player magazine (or another?), where they featured him with the 1st single cut. I think it’s the issue where he is sitting o the front steps of a brownstone..

 

[bassGtar]

I tend to seek out music that moves me rather than virtuoso players per se.

As you should. We don't all like the same things and virtuosity, per se, isn't what makes music great. It can be amazing to see and ponder, but it that were the be-all end-all, music would be more like an Olympic sport than an art form. For me however, I find a lot of his music very moving and beautiful, and would recommend you check it out unless you know from experience you won't relate to it.

I liken it to the so called tourism ‘bucket list’. There are so many incredible places in the world and I’ll never see most of them. It doesn’t matter.

The tourism bucket list is a crazy phenomenon; another example of people chasing their tails. But listening to music is inexpensive, stress-free (usually), and won't raise the temperature (except on TB).

 

[Les Fret]

I don't think he underrated or under appreciated. He is rated highly by most bassists and other musicians, especially the ones that were born in the 70's/80's.
You could not open a Bassplayer magazine in the 90's without seeing JP.
He might not be as popular these days as Victor Wooten or so, but that doesn't mean he is underrated.

 

[Altitude]

I think I remember it as Bass Player magazine (or another?), where they featured him with the 1st single cut. I think it’s the issue where he is sitting o the front steps of a brownstone..

Ah. That picture is the cover shot for the Brooklyn album. I'll go back and look for the article. Thanks.

 

[Killing Floor]

While not into his music, I can appreciate his amazing skills and abilities.

And, am also amazed that he's morphed into Eugene Levy.

Spit take.

Wins the internet.

 

[thmsjordan]

I'm confident that if we were able to ask Eddie Gomez and Jaco, both would agree that Patitucci has gone further than they did as a soloist.

Many things can be said about Jaco that can't be said about Patitucci. Jaco was a rock star and an innovator. Patitucci is neither, but he is a far better soloist in my opinion.

Again, a strong disagree on all points but we are each entitled to our own opinion.
As to what Jaco and Eddie would agree to, I can only say this: Eddie is still with us and I suppose you could email him and ask. Why speculate when he is here to answer for himself? As for Jaco, it is in very poor taste to put words in a dead man's mouth.

 

[Altitude]

As for Jaco, it is in very poor taste to put words in a dead man's mouth.

Not in all cultures.

I transcribed an Eddie Gomez solo (from an "Embraceable You" recording in Evans' band) in college. I do agree he is a fantastic soloist. I'd also agree that John Patitucci probably listened to a lot of him and still does. I just think Patitucci has better soloing chops now.

Jaco wasn't an awesome soloist in my opinion. He was about as good as he should have been but was iconic in other ways. I said that, he didn't.

 

[Bass-ball]

line by line and the angel albums are outragoulsy good. the Rooot may be one of the top 100 all time greatest songs. The Root - YouTube

 

[Altitude]

Not in all cultures.

I transcribed an Eddie Gomez solo (from an "Embraceable You" recording in Evans' band) in college. I do agree he is a fantastic soloist. I'd also agree that John Patitucci probably listened to a lot of him and still does. I just think Patitucci has better soloing chops now.

Jaco wasn't an awesome soloist in my opinion. He was about as good as he should have been but was iconic in other ways. I said that, he didn't.

It was this one. My transcription was the choruses between the 1:00 and 1:58 points. Wow, that was in 1989. I wonder if I have that around somewhere. I think I just listened to it for the first time since I did the assignment because at that point I was really sick of it. That was fun.

 

[ejnachtrab]

We talk about Patitucci all the time on the DB side. Here’s a great conversation with him. Definitely worth multiple listens.

 

[CryingBass]

We talk about Patitucci all the time on the DB side. Here’s a great conversation with him. Definitely worth multiple listens.

He is the consummate pro. Thanks for the post. It should be a mandatory TB read!

 

[Ric Vice]

John is unique, he is a consummate artist on the highest level playing with musicians who
regard him as a bassist that will bring his musical gifts to any project he undertakes. His
contributions to the music and collaboration with his peers on record are available for anyone
to enjoy.