John Patitucci (born December 22, 1959) is an American jazz bassist and composer. Biography John James Patitucci was born in Brooklyn, New York. When he was 12, he bought his first bass and decided on his career. He listened to bass parts in R&B songs on the radio and on his grandfather's jazz records. He cites as influences Oscar Peterson's albums with Ray Brown and Wes Montgomery's with Ron Carter. For the development of rhythm, he points to the time he has spent with Danilo Pérez, a pianist from Panama. In the late 1970s he studied acoustic bass at San Francisco State University and Long Beach State University. He began his professional career when he moved to Los Angeles in 1980 and made connections with Henry Mancini, Dave Grusin, and Tom Scott. From the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s he was a member of three Chick Corea groups: the Elektric Band, the Akoustic Band, and the quartet. As a leader he formed a trio with Joey Calderazzo and Peter Erskine, and a quartet with Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Tavaglione, and John Beasley. He has played with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Roy Haynes. Patitucci switches between double bass and electric bass. He was the artistic director of the Bass Collective, a school for bassists in New York City and is involved with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program. He was Professor of Jazz Studies at City College of New York. In June 2012 he started the Online Jazz Bass School. He was appointed artist in residence at Berklee College of Music. Back in Brooklyn Back in Brooklyn is a documentary about Patitucci released by August Sky Films in 2015. Directed by Patrick Cone, the film includes footage from rehearsals, studio sessions, live performances, and interviews with Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock. The documentary was filmed while or around the time Patitucci's album Brooklyn was recorded. Awards and honors Most Valuable Player, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 1986 Best Jazz Bassist, Guitar Player magazine Readers' Poll, 1992, 1994, 1995 Best Jazz Bassist, Bass Player magazine Readers' Poll, 1993–1996 Grammy Award nomination, Beyond the Sound Barrier as member of the Wayne Shorter Quartet, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group, 2005 Lifetime Achievement award, Bass Player magazine, 2019 Discography As leader/co-leader John Patitucci (GRP, 1987) On the Corner (GRP, 1989) Sketchbook (GRP, 1990)