PAT PETRILLO, Contemporaneous

While his promotion team presents Pat Petrillo’s ultra-eclectic, massively power-packed album Contemporaneous as a mix of Snarky Puppy, Brecker Brothers, Weather Report and Grover Washington, Jr., the veteran, surreally versatile and well-deserving Modern Drummer cover subject is truly in a freewheeling creative lane all his own.

The fact that he’s previously charted in the smooth jazz realm with several singles and on Relix/Jambands.com Roots Music Review for his 2022 star studded The Power Station Sessions album clues the listener in for the wild adventurous artistry here – but little will prepare the listener for the journey that darts around from hip, silky Philly soul, horn-fired blues shuffling and fast burning New Orleans second line fire to furious high octane funk, blistering jazz/rock and even a little Indian tabla magic on the brief but seriously intoxicating title track.

While Petrillo’s vast resume includes everyone from Patti Labelle and Nile Rodgers to top Broadway hits, Contemporaneous finds him vibin’ with some of the greats he’s enjoyed working with in the contemporary/urban smooth jazz world – including Chieli Minucci, Blake Aaron and Will Donato. His ensemble also includes guitarist Oz Noy, tenor sax and flute player Scott Mayo and some killer horns. It’s a serious jam showcasing numerous aspects of Petrillo’s ever-evolving artistry and mastery of multiple grooves.