Communion

1	Bariloche 4:43
2	Calabria 6:19
3	Choro Luoco 4:40
4	Isabella 8:03
5	Communion 6:45
6	Misterioso 4:19
7	Valentine 6:09
8	The Sower 7:04
9	Soul Eyes 3:44
10	Bohemia After Dark 2:44

Barnes & Noble

Bassist John Patitucci assembled an impressive array of contemporary jazz players for this album, including Tim Ries, Brad Mehldau, Branford Marsalis, Chris Potter, and Joe Lovano -- and the results are fresh and satisfying. The material on the disc consists almost entirely of Pattitucci’s original compositions, and his writing throughout is confident, melodic, and sophisticated. This is not simply a showcase album with a lot of virtuoso bass solos -- it is a thoughtful, well-rounded exploration of Patitucci as a bandleader, composer, and musician. That said, it is nice to hear the great bassist’s warm tone and incredible comfort with his instrument when he does step into the spotlight, such as on his singing acoustic solo on “Calabria” or, in a snappier context, with the six-string electric on “Choro Luoco.” There is a Brazilian element to some of the tunes, such as “Isabella,” which features exotic percussion and vocalizations by Luciana Souze over Chris Potter’s soprano saxophone. A highlight comes with the inclusion of a string quartet on the title cut, where Branford Marsalis’ lyric saxophone line combines with the amber-toned strings to produce a truly lovely effect. The album ends with two notable covers. First, there’s a duet between Patitucci on electric bass and Brad Mehldau on piano, playing the Mal Waldron classic “Soul Eyes.” They take it at a slow, easy tempo, and the interplay of their musical lines is fascinating to hear. The last number, “Bohemia After Dark,” by another legendary bassist, the late Oscar Pettiford, is taken by Pettituci as a solo on the acoustic upright. Pettitucci’s playing -- fluid, masterful, and full of soul -- represents a true communion between one great bassist and another. This is an outstanding disc. Will Meyerhofer

All Music Guide

John Patitucci's fourth Concord release is a sprawling, ambitious affair, employing 18 musicians over the course of ten tracks. Playing both upright and six-string electric basses, Patitucci continues to explore Afro-Cuban and Brazilian sounds -- to greatest effect on the vibrant "Choro Luoco," featuring the wordless vocals of Luciana Souza. Patitucci's compositions are brought to life by some of the best players around: pianists Brad Mehldau, Ed Simon, and Bruce Barth; saxophonists Joe Lovano, Tim Ries, and Chris Potter; drummers Brian Blade and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, and more. Some of the cuts are less than memorable ("Isabella," "Misterioso"), and the stronger ones succeed more in terms of orchestration than melody. Highlights include Tim Ries' overdubbed woodwind snippets on "Calabria" and Branford Marsalis' soprano sax feature on "Communion," framed by Mehldau and a string quartet. David R. Adler