A prolific, highly lauded bassist, has distinguished himself as a technically adept and boundary-pushing player known as much for his fusion-influenced electric bass work as his own acoustic post-bop albums. Blessed with speed, versatility, and a clear tone, emerged to acclaim in the '80s as a member of before earning a Grammy nomination for his chart-topping 1988 debut, John Patitucci. Along with his continued association with , he earned Grammys as a member of 's group. He's worked on equally notable projects with , , , and , among others. While jazz is his idiom, 's albums have found him regularly exploring Afro-Latin, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban traditions, on albums like 2000's with drummer and saxophonist , 2003's with singer , and 2015's with pianist . He has continued to explore new sounds, collaborating with his inventive electric guitar quartet for 2015's Brooklyn and showcasing his virtuosity as an unaccompanied soloist on 2019's Soul of the Bass. In 2024, he re-formed the trio with and to record the 2025 album Spirit Fall.

Born in Brooklyn in 1959, started out on electric bass at age ten and by his teens was composing and performing on the acoustic bass. Initially self-taught, he gained facility playing along to records featuring bassist (a big early influence), as well as albums by and . Given a crate of jazz LPs from his grandfather, he quickly fell under the sway of players like , , and . In the early '70s, 's family moved to the West Coast. There, he began taking lessons with teacher Chris Poehler, and started piano lessons and learning about music theory. It was during this period that he greatly expanded his skills, studying the work of legendary acoustic bassists like , , , and , as well as the electric style of players like , , and . Live work followed, including early dates with (brother of ) and veteran vibraphonist . After high school, studied music at San Francisco State University and Long Beach State University. Following his graduation in the early '80s, he found himself in-demand for session and touring gigs, playing with luminaries like , , , and others.

In 1985, joined keyboardist , making his recorded debut with the group the following year on their Grammy-nominated Top Ten jazz album The Elektric Band. The band was 's first ensemble-oriented project since the breakup of his landmark fusion ensemble and, along with , introduced such jazz stars as drummer , saxophonist , and guitarist . was on board for the group's 1987 album Light Years, which took home the Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance Orchestra, Group or Soloist. He would remain a collaborator with throughout his career, appearing on albums like 1989's Chick Corea Akoustic Band, 1990's Grammy-nominated Inside Out, and 1991's number two Billboard Jazz Album Beneath the Mask.

As a leader, made his debut in 1987 on GRP with John Patitucci, backed by fellow bandmate , drummers and , as well as tenor saxophonist . The album, which showcased his crisp brand of crossover jazz and funk, landed at number six on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and took home the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance. He returned with several more well-received albums for GRP, including 1989's Grammy-nominated On the Corner and 1990's Sketchbook. arrived in 1991 on 's Stretch Records label and featured as well as percussionist Alex Acuña and pianist . rounded out his time on GRP releasing albums like 1993's - and -produced and 1994's Mistura Fina, the latter of which found him expanding into Brazilian sounds and working with vocalists , , , and others.

then moved to Concord and made his debut for the label with 1997's , which found him embracing a more acoustic post-bop sound. Along with appearances by his wife, cellist , the album featured saxophonists and , drummer , pianist , and more. The similarly post-bop-leaning followed a year later and again featured and , as well as guitarist and drummer . Along with his own work in the '90s, appeared on projects with , , the , , , and others.

In 2000, the bassist released the adventurous Latin jazz-infused , featuring drummer , saxophonist , pianist , and drummer/percussionist . That same year, he contributed to the Hudson Project, an all-star quartet album with guitarist , saxophonist , and drummer . He and then joined drummer for a trio album. The following year, picked up a Grammy nomination for , which found him exploring Afro-Cuban and Brazilian sounds alongside vocalist , pianist , saxophonists and , drummer , and others. Another Grammy nomination followed with 2003's , which featured a mix of folk, classical, and Latin sounds. That year, also rejoined for the Grammy-nominated and the reunion album , which reached number eight on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts.

In 2005, was back with 's acoustic quartet, appearing alongside drummer and pianist on the Grammy-winning . That same year, he contributed to 's . He then returned to his solo work with the 2006 small group date , again featuring , saxophonist , and guitarist . Along with dates for and , joined for the saxophonist's final studio album, Pilgrimage, released posthumously in 2007. Following sessions with , , and , the bassist picked up a further Grammy nod for his 2009 trio album , with and . He played on 's Music We Are and joined for the singer's 2011 album .

In 2015, released Brooklyn, an electric guitar quartet collaboration with guitarists and . The album reached number 11 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. Likewise that year, he joined longtime associates drummer and pianist for . In 2018, he was back with for the saxophonist's Grammy-winning . The following year, he issued the intimate solo bass album Soul of the Bass, which featured guest spots from his wife, cellist , and his daughters. He then joined pianist and drummer for 2020's . Another trio album, Pride & Joy, this time with pianist and , appeared in 2022. Later that year, appeared from Le Coq Records.

In August 2024, the bassist brought in his longstanding collaborators, saxophonist and drummer , the same trio that recorded back in 2000. The leader, deeply affected by the 2024 election and its ensuing political and social changes, knew that music was a force for bringing diverse groups of people together. He composed nine tunes with that theme firmly in mind, and the trio also included a cover of 's 1965 composition "House of Jade." Spirit Fall was released by Edition Records in February 2025. ~ Matt Collar

John Pattitucci

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