John Patitucci (born December 22, 1959) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

bassist and composer.

Biography

John James Patitucci was born in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, New York. He began playing the electric bass at age 10, performing and composing at age 12, and at age 15, started playing the acoustic bass, as well as piano by age 16. He listened to bass parts in R&B songs on the radio and on his grandfather's jazz records. He cites as influences

Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. As a virtuoso who is considered to be one of the greatest Jazz piano, jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordin ...

's albums with Ray Brown and

Wes Montgomery John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. Montgomery was known for his unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and for his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a ...

's with

Ron Carter Ronald Levin Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy Awards, and is also a Cello, cellist who has reco ...

. For the development of rhythm, he points to the time he has spent with

Danilo Pérez Danilo Pérez (born December 29, 1966) is a Panamanian pianist, composer, educator, and a social activist. His music is a blend of Panamanian roots with elements of Latin American folk music, jazz, European impressionism, African, and other mu ...

, a pianist from Panama. Wayne Shorter and John Patitucci

In the late 1970s he studied acoustic bass at

San Francisco State University San Francisco State University (San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Francisco, California, United States. It was established in 1899 as the San Francisco State Normal School and is ...

and Long Beach State University. He began his professional career when he moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

in 1980 and made connections with

Henry Mancini Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flutist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Awards, ...

Dave Grusin Robert David Grusin (born June 26, 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader. He has composed many scores for feature films and television and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, incl ...

, and Tom Scott. From the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s he was a member of three Chick Corea groups: the Elektric Band, the Akoustic Band, and the quartet. As a leader he formed a trio with Joey Calderazzo and

Peter Erskine Peter Clark Erskine (born June 5, 1954) is an American jazz drummer who was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead. Early life and education Erskine was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S. He began playing the d ...

, and a quartet with

Vinnie Colaiuta Vincent Peter Colaiuta (born February 5, 1956) is an American drummer known for his technical mastery who has worked as a session musician in many genres. He was inducted into the ''Modern Drummer'' Hall of Fame in 1996 and the ''Classic Drumme ...

, Steve Tavaglione, and John Beasley. He has played with

Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. Hancock soon joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he helped to redefine the role of ...

Wayne Shorter Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader. Shorter came to mainstream prominence in 1959 upon joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, for whom he eventually became the primary comp ...

, and

Roy Haynes Roy Owen Haynes (March 13, 1925 – November 12, 2024) was an American jazz drummer. In the 1950s, he was given the nickname "Snap Crackle" for his distinctive snare drum sound and musical vocabulary. He is among the most recorded drummers in ja ...

. Patitucci switches between double bass and electric bass. He was the artistic director of the Bass Collective, a school for bassists in New York City and is involved with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program. He was Professor of Jazz Studies at

City College of New York The City College of the City University of New York (also known as the City College of New York, or simply City College or CCNY) is a Public university, public research university within the City University of New York (CUNY) system in New York ...

. In June 2012 he started the Online Jazz Bass School. He was appointed artist in residence at

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music () is a Private university, private music college in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern Music of the United ...

Back in Brooklyn

''Back in Brooklyn'' is a documentary about Patitucci released by August Sky Films in 2015. Directed by Patrick Cone, the film includes footage from rehearsals, studio sessions, live performances, and interviews with Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock. The documentary was filmed during or around the time Patitucci's album ''Brooklyn'' was recorded.

Awards and honors

* Most Valuable Player,

National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (NARAS), doing business as The Recording Academy, is an American Learned society, learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is widely kno ...

, 1986 * Best Jazz Bassist, ''Guitar Player'' magazine Readers' Poll, 1992, 1994, 1995 * Best Jazz Bassist, ''Bass Player'' magazine Readers' Poll, 1993–1996 * Grammy Award nomination, ''Beyond the Sound Barrier'' as member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group, 2005 * Lifetime Achievement award, ''Bass Player'' magazine, 2019

Discography

As leader/co-leader

* ''

John Patitucci John Patitucci (born December 22, 1959) is an American jazz bassist and composer. Biography John James Patitucci was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began playing the electric bass at age 10, performing and composing at age 12, and at age 15, s ...

'' ( GRP, 1987) * ''On the Corner'' (GRP, 1989) * ''Sketchbook'' (GRP, 1990) * ''Heart of the Bass'' ( Stretch, 1992) * '' Another World'' (GRP, 1993) * ''Mistura Fina'' (GRP, 1995) * ''One More Angel'' ( Concord, 1997) * ''Now'' (Concord, 1998) * ''Imprint'' (Concord, 2000) * '' Communion'' (Concord, 2001) * ''Songs, Stories & Spirituals'' (Concord, 2003) * '' Line by Line'' (Concord, 2006) * ''Remembrance'' (Concord, 2009) * ''Viva Hermeto!'' with André Marques, Brian Blade (Borandá, 2014) * ''Brooklyn'' (Three Faces, 2015) * ''Soul of the Bass'' (Three Faces, 2019) * ''Spirit Fall'' (Edition Records, 2025)

As group

Tamarack * ''Tamarack'' (Parbar Music, 1981) The Hudson Project with Peter Erskine, John Abercrombie,

Bob Mintzer Robert Alan Mintzer (born January 27, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader. Early life Mintzer was born and raised in a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York, on January 27, 1953. He attended the Inte ...

* '' The Hudson Project'' (Stretch, 2000) – live recorded in 1998 The Great Jazz Trio * '' 'S Wonderful'' with

Hank Jones Henry Jones Jr. (July 31, 1918 – May 16, 2010) was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer. Critics and musicians have described Jones as eloquent, lyrical, and impeccable. In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts h ...

Jack DeJohnette Jack DeJohnette (born August 9, 1942) is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. Known for his extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians including Charles Lloyd (jazz musician), Charles Lloyd, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, B ...

(Eighty-eight's, 2004) * ''Speak Low'' with Hank Jones and Jack DeJohnette (Eighty-Eight's, 2005) * ''Stella by Starlight'' with Hank Jones and

Omar Hakim Omar Hakim (born February 12, 1959) is an American drummer, producer, arranger and composer. His session work covers jazz, jazz fusion, and pop music. He has worked with Weather Report, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Chic, Sting, Madonna, Dire S ...

and guest Sadao Watanabe (Eighty-Eight's, 2006) * ''July 5 th - Live at Birdland NY'' with Hank Jones and Omar Hakim (Eighty-Eight's, 2007) * ''July 6 th - Live at Birdland NY'' with Hank Jones and Omar Hakim (Eighty-Eight's, 2007) Others * ''All Strings Attached'' with Tal Farlow, John Abercrombie,

Larry Carlton Larry Eugene Carlton (born March 2, 1948) is an American guitarist who built his career as a studio musician in the 1970s and 1980s for acts including Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. One of the most sought after guitarists of his era, Carlton has ...

Larry Coryell Larry Coryell (born Lorenz Albert Van DeLinder III; April 2, 1943 – February 19, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist, widely considered the "godfather of fusion". Alongside Gábor Szabó, he was a pioneer in melding jazz, country and rock ...

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951) is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he ...

(Verve, 1987) * ''Continental Talk'' with

Randy Brecker Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock music, rock, and R&B. Early life Brecker was ...

Steve Gadd Stephen Kendall Gadd (born April 9, 1945) is an American jazz fusion drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and most highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction i ...

, Stanislav Mitrovic, Ratko Zjaca (In+Out, 2009) * ''Children of the Light'' with Danilo Pérez, Brian Blade (2015) * ''TRIO'' with Vinnie Colaiuta, Bill Cunliffe (2021)

As sideman or guest

With Karrin Allyson * ''Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane'' (Concord Jazz, 2001) – recorded in 2000 * '' Many a New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein'' ( Motéma, 2015) With David Benoit * '' Freedom at Midnight'' (GRP, 1987) * '' Waiting for Spring'' (GRP, 1989) * '' Letter to Evan'' (GRP, 1992) With Cheryl Bentyne * ''Something Cool'' (Columbia, 1992) * ''Talk of the Town'' (Paddle Wheel, 2002) With Alessandro Bertozzi * ''Crystals'' (C&C Records, 2014) – featuring Patitucci's bass on jazz fusion compositions blending funk and contemporary styles. With

Gary Burton Gary Burton (born January 23, 1943) is an American jazz Vibraphone, vibraphonist, composer, and educator. Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the prevailing two-mallet technique. This approach caused ...

* ''Departure'' (Concord Jazz, 1997) * ''For Hamp, Red, Bags, and Cal'' (Concord Jazz, 2001) With

Chick Corea Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (June 12, 1941 – February 9, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and occasional percussionist. His compositions "Spain (instrumental), Spain", "500 Miles High", "La Fiesta", "Armando's Rhumba" ...

* '' The Chick Corea Elektric Band'' (GRP, 1986) * ''

Light Years A light-year, alternatively spelled light year (ly or lyr), is a unit of length used to express astronomical distances and is equal to exactly , which is approximately 9.46 trillion km or 5.88 trillion mi. As defined by the International Astro ...

'' (GRP, 1987) * '' Eye of the Beholder'' (GRP, 1988) * '' Chick Corea Akoustic Band'' (GRP, 1989) * '' Inside Out'' (GRP, 1990) * '' Alive'' (GRP, 1991) – live * '' Beneath the Mask'' (GRP, 1991) * '' Time Warp'' (GRP, 1995) * ''Live from Blue Note Tokyo'' (Stretch, 1996) – live recorded in 1992 * '' Rendezvous in New York'' (Stretch, 2003) – live * '' To the Stars'' (Stretch, 2004) * ''The Musician'' (Concord Jazz, 2017) CD– live With others *

The Manhattan Transfer The Manhattan Transfer was an American vocal group founded in 1969 in New York City, performing music genres like a cappella, Brazilian jazz, Swing music, swing, vocalese, rhythm and blues, Pop music, pop, and standards. They have won eleven G ...

, '' Vocalese'' (Atlantic, 1985) – 1 track * Emiel van Egdom, ''This is for You'' (Optimism, 1988) – recorded in 1989 *

Frank Gambale Frank Gambale ( ; born 22 December 1958) is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released twenty albums over a period of three decades, and is known for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques. Recording career Sol ...

, ''Present for the Future'' (Legato, 1987) * Martin Taylor, ''Sarabanda'' (Gaia, 1989) – recorded in 1987 *

Everything but the Girl Everything but the Girl are an English musical duo formed in Kingston upon Hull in 1982, consisting of lead singer, songwriter, composer and occasional guitarist Tracey Thorn and guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer, producer and sing ...

, '' The Language of Life'' (Atlantic, 1990) – recorded in 1989 *

Roger Waters George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. In 1965, he co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd as the bassist. Following the departure of the group's main songwriter Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became ...

, ''Amused to Death'' (Columbia, 1992) *

, ''

Possibilities ''Possibilities'' is the thirty-ninth studio album by American jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, released on August 30, 2005, by Hear Music and Vector Recordings. Background The album features a variety of guest musicians such as Trey Anastasio an ...

'' (Hear Music, 2005) *

Pat Martino Pat Martino (born Patrick Carmen Azzara; August 25, 1944 – November 1, 2021) was an American jazz guitarist and composer. He has been cited as one of the greatest guitarists in jazz. Early life Martino was born Patrick Carmen Azzara in Philad ...

, '' Remember: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery'' (Blue Note, 2006) – recorded in 2005 *

Norah Jones Norah Jones ( ; born Geethali Shankar; March 30, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She has won several awards for her music and, , has sold more than 53 million records worldwide. '' Billboard'' named her the top jazz artist of ...

, '' Day Breaks'' (Blue Note, 2016) – recorded in 2015 * Dan Costa (composer), ''Beams'' (Dan Costa, 2023) * Chris Potter, '' Eagle's Point'' (Edition Records, 2024) – recorded in 2022

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Patitucci, John 1959 births American jazz bass guitarists American jazz double-bassists American male double-bassists San Francisco State University alumni California State University, Long Beach alumni City College of New York faculty Jazz fusion bass guitarists Living people Post-bop bass guitarists Musicians from Brooklyn Jazz musicians from New York City American jazz musicians American people of Italian descent People of Calabrian descent 21st-century American bass guitarists Guitarists from New York (state) American male bass guitarists 20th-century American bass guitarists 21st-century American double-bassists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Chick Corea Elektric Band members GRP All-Star Big Band members Criss Cross Jazz artists Concord Records artists