Marco Pacassoni: Life

There are several types of triangles. Isosceles triangles have two sides of equal length and scalene triangles have no side or angles that are similar. Triangles are germane to this review because Marco Pacassoni's album with bassist John Patitucci and drummer Antonio Sanchez appears to maintain the status of an equilateral triangle throughout the performance. The trio maintains a balance of equal angles and sides throughout the recording.

Patitucci and Sanchez are veterans and established names in music. Besides leading his own bands, the bassist was a key collaborator in Chick Corea's various ensembles and Wayne Shorter's Quartet. Sanchez caught attention as the drummer for Pat Metheny and Gary Burton before rocketing into stardom with his score for the film Birdman (Milan, 2014) and later a string of Bad Hombre releases.

The trio creates an evenly balanced and relaxed presentation of eight Pacassoni composition and two improvisations. The influence of Gary Burton, with whom Pacassoni studied, can be heard throughout. Opening with "Time Vibes," an elegant model of simplicity, Pacassoni's vibraphone delivers an efficient and well ordered sound. His strength is in an economy of notes as displayed in the gamboling sounds of "Marimbass" and "Train Trip." Each piece is shared generously with Patitucci and Sanchez as they deliver their own solos. Pacassoni is a lover of infectious melodies such as "Anita" and "Italian Creativity," both of which are attention grabbing. Maybe even more so are the two improvised pieces, "Conversation #1" and "Conversation #2." The first offers a constantly accelerating chase between the players, fueled by Sanchez's drumming and Patitucci's electric bass with the the vibraphonist pushing as well as pulling. The second improvisation applies a playful whimsical approach with a gossamer-like sound as the players glide through as a balanced trinity.