Joseph Patrick Moore - Decade 1996-2005 (2006)

An excellent fusion-based bassist whose music ranges from post-bop jazz to world music with stops in rock and blues, Joseph Patrick Moore is a very fluent and versatile player. Born and raised in Memphis and now living in Atlanta, he has as of this writing released five CDs as a leader. Decade draws its material from each of those discs and offers a well-rounded portrait of Moore's playing and writing. While Moore has plenty of solo space, including four pieces in which he is heard unaccompanied or playing all of the instruments, he also features his sidemen on many of the numbers. Whether offering tributes to Miles Davis (the brief "Pause #1") and Herbie Hancock ("Herbie"), inventive covers of songs by the Police and Men at Work, or the leader's original pieces, this compilation keeps listeners guessing. The virtuosity, unpredictability, and excellent pacing make this a release of strong interest and, with nearly 80 minutes of music, it gives listeners a strong and generous sampling of the music of the talented Joseph Patrick Moore.

Review by Scott Yanow