Bass Player: John Patitucci

When Manhattan Transfer recorded their ‘Vocalese’ album in 1986, they based a number of arrangements of classic Jazz performances from the history of the music including this Clifford Brown tune, ‘Joy Spring’. The recording includes a number of tracks featuring the Count Basie Big Band as well as members of the bands regular touring group (one track features NO band and was a vocal arrangement of ‘A Night In Tunisia’ featuring Manhattan Transfer, Jon Hendricks and Bobby McFerrin. Retitled ‘Sing Joy Spring’ the tune featured in this transcription was driven by the bass of a new face on the scene at the time, John Patitucci. Patitucci was starting to make waves with the Chick Corea Electrik Band but this was a double bass gig and a fantastic opportunity to show that Corea’s new gun was not a one trick pony. The tune is a full transcription which includes Patitucci’s solo (trading fours).

The album earned 12 Grammy nominations making second only to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ album as the most nominated recording in the history of these awards.