John Patitucci Songs, Stories & Spirituals CD

Personnel: John Patitucci (acoustic & electric basses); John Thomas, Luciana Souza (vocals); Tim Ries (flute, alto flute); Elizabeth Lim-Dutton, Richard Rood (violin); Lawrence Dutton (viola); Sachi Patitucci (cello); Ed Simon (piano); Tom Patitucci (nylon string guitar); Brain Blade (drums, percussion).
Recorded in May 2002. Includes liner notes by John Patitucci.
"In The Bleak Midwinter" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists.
Personnel: John Patitucci (acoustic bass, 6-string bass); John Charles Thomas, Luciana Souza (vocals); Thomas Patitucci (nylon-string guitar); Elizabeth Lim Dutton, Richard Rood (violin); Lawrence Dutton (viola); Sachi Patitucci (cello); Tim Ries (flute, alto flute); Eddie Simon (piano, percussion); Brian Blade (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixer: Joe Barbaria.
Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY (04/09/2002/04/10/2002).
Arrangers: John Patitucci; Luciana Souza.
John Patitucci goes for a varied approach on Songs, Stories & Spirituals, as the album's title implies. The main influences, constants in his work, are Brazilian music and American gospel, though he transforms those styles into his own introspective sound. And he adds other elements, notably folk and classical music, in a rendition of early 20th century English composer Gustav Holst's treatment of 19th century English poet Christina Rossetti's "In the Bleak Midwinter," show music with Rodgers & Hart's "It Never Entered My Mind," and post-bop jazz with John Coltrane's "Wise One." All of this hangs together due to the core trio of Patitucci on bass, Ed Simon on piano, and Brian Blade on drums, playing in a low-key manner that supports vocals on two-thirds of the tracks. Those vocals, especially Luciana Souza's, have a removed, ethereal quality in keeping with the instrumentalists' contemplative work. Several of Souza's vocals are in Portuguese, but even when she's singing in English, on "In the Bleak Midwinter" (with John Thomas) and "It Never Entered My Mind," she sounds otherworldly. Patitucci gives Simon, who appropriately hails from Venezuela by way of Philadelphia (or the other way around), plenty of solo time and himself stays in the background for much of the record. (He doesn't even play on his own composition, "Love Eternal," which features Simon with his wife, Sachi Patitucci, on cello.) But he comes out in force on acoustic bass at the end with "Wise One," a duet with Blade that confirms his jazz chops. Patitucci's music and playing tend to be more impressive than engaging, but Songs, Stories & Spirituals rewards repeat listenings. ~ William Ruhlmann
Accomplished bassist John Patitucci has made a remarkably eclectic and intriguing record in SONGS, STORIES AND SPIRITUALS. The collection spans the gamut from classical (Gustav Holst's "In The Bleak Midwinter") to gospel (the syncopated African-roots spiritual "I Will Arise") to Brazilian (Jobim's "Chovendo Na Roseira"). As if this weren't enough, Patitucci also throws in show tunes (Rogers and Hart's "It Never Entered My Mind"), selections from the jazz cannon (Coltrane's "Wise One") and originals. Clearly the ethic of the outing is to encompass as many styles as possible, but what the collection lacks in unity it compensates for in ambition and breadth.
Of particular note here are the tracks that feature Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza. A unique talent, Souza melds the thin, studied tonality of classic Brazilian singers like Elis Regina to more contemporary phrasing and rhythms. Souza's detached, somewhat cerebral style meshes perfectly with the gestural playing of pianist Ed Simon, drummer Brian Blade, and the leader's fluent, melodic bass lines ("Now the River" is a fine example of this chemistry). Performance aesthetic is perhaps the only constant in this grab bag of material, but the excellent choice of compositions, arrangements, and personnel gives Patitucci's outing merit and appeal.JazzTimes (8/03, p.137) - "...An album of subtle surprise and variegated approach..."