Double Bass John Pattitucci

P

phunkjam

Aug 29, 2000
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Clarks Summit, Pa.- About 10 minutes from Scranton
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#1
I saw Herbie Hancock and his quintet that he put together as a tribute for Miles Davis's and John Coltrane's 75th birthdays. They were down at Lehigh. Amazing Jazz show.

Anyway, his bassist John Pattitucci played the meanest, best upright I've ever seen in my 17 year life span. Anyone ever see this guy? He's incredible! I mean, not just his style, but how he gets so into the music!

Comments? Concerns? Nate's bugging you?


:p
 
#3
Originally posted by Chris Fitzgerald
Be careful starting threads about him down here, though....for reasons I can't quite figure out, he has quite a few detractors on the board.
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Really? Why is this so?

JP is one of the bassists that really got me interested in playing bass - I have most of his albums - he is not only brilliant with the acoustic bass (in my opinion) but he is also excellent on his 6-string signature Yamaha. He is (also in my opinion) a brilliant composer, and is one of the few true jazz innovators. He is brave enough to step out into different genres, and is a great session bassist as well - I have great respect for his music.

I would be interested in listening to some opposing views.
 
#4
Here's an opposing view. I really admire Patitucci's soloing and doubling skills (not only is he a monster with pizz, but his arco skills are great, too), but I've been less impressed by his efforts as a composer. His writing has a somewhat "static" quality to it, IMO; he'll write a nice hook, but he'll just repeat it ad infinitum and the tune won't really go anywhere. (FWIW, I think Sting does the same thing, too, as he no longer has Andy Summers' harmonic inventiveness at his disposal. But I digress.)

I think JP is much better when he's playing other people's music; I really like him on Lee Ritenour's "Stolen Moments" and the Danilo Perez trio thing he did recently. In the past, his acoustic tone was a little strained-sounding, but that could just be his equipment. He sounds a *lot* better on his new recording than he used to. And I want his Yamaha bass.
 
#7
Pattitucci has huges chops, but his playing always seems kinda sterile, like I'm hearing the result of some sh*t he practiced, not some sh*t he's really saying. I know some cats that would suck his d*ck in a second, I'm not one 'em.

I'd be really careful about calling him, "one of the few true innovators." Whatever dope would state something like that is really being naive.
 
#9
Originally posted by David Kaczorowski
I'd be really careful about calling him, "one of the few true innovators." Whatever dope would state something like that is really being naive.
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Ach - that dope was me. :)

I must be really naive. I like his music. But I agree that he does stay "within the square" when he plays, unlike some musicians who do venture "out there".
 
#10
Originally posted by David Kaczorowski
Pattitucci has huges chops, but his playing always seems kinda sterile, like I'm hearing the result of some sh*t he practiced, not some sh*t he's really saying. I know some cats that would suck his d*ck in a second, I'm not one 'em.

I'd be really careful about calling him, "one of the few true innovators." Whatever dope would state something like that is really being naive.
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Wow, David said that so much more "succinctly" than I would have! Actually, when I was a pianist / guitarist in high school and first heard the Akoustic Band, I thought he was unbelievable. This was my FIRST exposure to jazz. When I came to college, the lead trumpet laid some Mingus on me, and that was it. I bought a few things with Pattituci on them after that, but they always got tired out quickly. However, I will say that he is a sideman on a few Criss Cross releases where he does play much better stuff (Mostly when Tain is kicking his butt). Still can't stand his solo stuff.

Monte
 
#11
Originally posted by Bass Guitar
I must be really naive. I like his music. But I agree that he does stay "within the square" when he plays, unlike some musicians who do venture "out there".
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There's nothing wrong with you liking his music, but there is a huge difference between stating you like someone's music and stating that he's one of the "few true innovators of jazz." That's a phrase that should bring only a very, very select few figures to mind.
 
#12
I think he has been a bit of a hero to those of us who want to play Jazz on electric bass - mainly because he's one of those people who has a distinctive style and doesn't sound anything like Jaco! :D

I always find his double bass playing a bit dull - but he gets the top gigs and only seems to play in the UK with stellar names and at the biggest venues. So I can see why he does it! ;)

I also think he gets a good name with the electric bass community as he is a recognised educator who takes electric seriously - but of course this won't cut any ice with the double bass players over here! ;)

I like his playing on electric, but probably only because I'm thinking about how I can apply this stuff - difficult to be objective now; but I've heard more interesting players locally on double bass.

But then what do I know if people like Chic Corea and Herbie Hancock amongst many others on the same level are seeking him out for big international gigs?
 
#13
This is more a observation than a criticism. I just finished listening to quite a bit of JP with the CCEB, and just like when I've seen him live, on both EBG and Bass, his solo's are often times repeats of stuff he's already done i.e. it's pre-cooked, frozen and then quick thawed in the microwave and put on the table. This leaves me imagining about the flavor and texture had it been cooked right then and there. That's just my impression.
 
#15
his solo's are often times repeats of stuff he's already done i.e. it's pre-cooked, frozen and then quick thawed in the microwave and put on the table. This leaves me imagining about the flavor and texture had it been cooked right then and there. That's just my impression.
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I play both upright and electric bass, the other day I was playing this gig and the trumpeter asked why I didn't play all the chord stuff, I told him that I've done it before and I am always working on something new, and then he tells me that that particular audience never heard those chords and it would be new to them, as a good recipe is always a good recipe, I am not saying that we should all learn a bunch of licks, just something to think about, we are all trying to create the right balance.
Bijoux
Denver-CO
 
#16
When I first started playing Electric Bass, John was one of the first solo bassists I heard.

At least to me, I can't put on one of his records and let it play all the way through. Maybe I'm not that open minded yet, but there are some tunes that I think are great on every album I have of his, Unfortunately, they are not on the same album.

I have parts of the Akoustic Band "Alive!" video and I like to watch it every change I get. I think some of the solos and lines he plays at that gig are pretty good. I always catch myself staring in amazement. Am I easily impressed; probably so. :)

The songs that always gets me coming back for more are the ones he does on solo bass. Like the "Bach Prelude in G Major" and "Mullugh" (sp?) off of his "Heart of the Bass" cd. My other favorite is "Peace Prayer" from "Another World." IMHO, they are some of most beautiful sounding solo bass music around.

Just wanted to contribute my opinion.

JazzRBass
 
#17
Pattituci no doubt can play but after one listen I have head it and am done with it.

Now Mingus, Pettiford, Brown, Chambers, every time I listen to these guys it is like I had never heard them. Sparks my interest every listen.

Speaking of Pettiford, my sister just married one of his nephews about a month ago. For some odd reason my playing hasn’t gotten any better because of this.
 
#20
I love Blanton, Pettiford, Chambers, Crosby (yes! Live at the Alhambra!), LaFaro, Gomez, Holland, Clarke, Stafford James, Buster Williams, Michael Moore and others . . . I can't be any of them. My hat is off to anyone else who doesn't try to be them. I guess that includes JP.
 
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