JOHN PATITUCCI TRIO — Remembrance (2009) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Bassist John Patitucci's tenure with the Concord label has found him working in a variety of contexts, from Latin jazz to string quartets with saxophones, but this, his sixth album for the label and his first release as a leader since 2006's Grammy-nominated Line by Line, is possibly his most stripped-down release to date: a straight trio session with saxophonist Joe Lovano and drummer Brian Blade. Blade has been working with Patitucci for several albums now, but Lovano is a relative newcomer to the bassist's discography, having only previously appeared on a few tracks from 2001's Communion. This disc, like others in his catalog, finds Patitucci alternating between acoustic and electric bass, and while both approaches are equally worthwhile (the guy's a serious talent), the switching back and forth between funk and swing makes for a slightly disjointed listen. A better idea might have been to divide everything up, putting "Monk/Trane," "Sonny Side," "Scenes from an Opera," "Blues for Freddie," "Safari," "Joe Hen," and "Play Ball" up front and leaving "Messiaen's Gumbo," "Meditations," "Mali," and the short but beautiful title track as a four-song coda. But in any case, there are no bad tracks here -- Lovano's soloing is as deft and muscular as always, and Blade's drumming is powerful without sacrificing subtlety -- so a little style-hopping can be forgiven. Phil Freeman 

Tracklist :
 1     Monk/Trance    7:14
John Patitucci
2     Messaien's Gumbo    5:28
John Patitucci
3     Sonny Side    7:27
John Patitucci
4     Meditations    5:04
John Patitucci
5     Mali    7:16
John Patitucci
6     Scenes from an Opera    5:23
John Patitucci
7     Blues for Freddie    5:24
John Patitucci
8     Safari    6:08
John Patitucci
9     Joe Hen    7:44
John Patitucci
10     Play Ball    6:47
John Patitucci
11     Remembrance    1:54
John Patitucci
Credits :
    Bass – John Patitucci
    Drums – Brian Blade
    Saxophone – Joe Lovano
with
    Cello – Sachi Patitucci
    Percussion – Rogerio Boccato