JACO PASTORIUS

A friend of mine and I had a discussion of great bassists. I fondly mentioned James Jamerson, Stanley Clark, Marcus Miller, Carol Kaye, Victor Wooten, Nathan East, and Richard Bona. He posed a question, "Have you ever heard of Jaco Pastorius?" "No," I replied. "You heard of Weather Report?" My reply, "My Mom used to play them all the time when I was a child." He retorted, "More than likely you heard Jaco." I stated, "More than likely I have."

Recollecting, Mom getting up early Saturday morning cleaning the house turning on the wooden, elongated stereo, with the disco lights inside the cabinet with the speakers pulsating in concert, with the beat of Teen Town, by Weather Report suddenly rushes to my memory. She had the volume loud enough neighbors would walk pass our house bobbing their heads, snapping their fingers. Some would yell, "They're jamming in that house!"

Joining  a fraternity of innovators: Jimi Hendrix (electric guitar), Charlie Parker (alto sax), Miles Davis (Horns). Composer, musician, Musical Director, Producer, Big Band Leader, John Francis Anthony Pastorius III, also claimed to be the greatest bass player in the world! An unquestionable giant in the jazz world, is the first to play a fret-less electric bass. He took the frets off a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass, as a result, it gave a bright direct sound and singing  quality. He also managed to bring the bass to the fore front by playing intricate harmonies and solos. Traditionally, the bass was relegated to be the base for higher pitched instruments. When playing solos on his fret-less bass, he played in higher registers, achieved harmonies, rhythmic, and textured playing.

His eclectic musical styling were versatile ranging from classical to soul and beyond. His father was a musician (drummer/singer), Jaco followed his footsteps. His influences in music are: Cannonball Adderly, Miles Davis, Stravinsky, The Beatles, Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, John Coletrane, and Charlie Parker.

Jaco was a drummer and member of Las Olas Brass at the age 15. While playing football, he seriously injured his wrist and could not play drums. The bassist of the band left and Jaco declared  he will play bass, although, he did not know how to play the instrument. He bought a 1962 Fender Electric Jazz Bass; Jaco taught himself how to play bass and read music. "You concentrate and learn by ear and by trial and error, that is how I learned," explained Pastorius.

Pastorius was in R&B Bands, Dance Bands while in high school. He performed in night clubs, roadhouses, and dances. "I did all my learning in night clubs, playing eight sets a night. It was real killer stuff, going in at 9:00PM and leaving 6:30AM in the morning with out any days off. Doing that for a year and a half is always fun," stated Jaco.

His big break came when he procured first chair bass with Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders. He toured with the band and gained valuable experience. Jaco's first recording was with Little Beaver and played with Ira Sullivan's Quintet, and Woodchuck.

Bobby Colomby, drummer of Blood, Sweat, and Tears, was in Jaco's hometown Fort Lauderdale, Florida when he met Pastorius' wife Tracy when she told him she was married to the greatest bass player in the world. Eventually Colomby met with Jaco and he auditioned immediately. Astonished, Bobby told him he is an A/R  rep for Epic Records and will try to get him a recording deal. Jaco took the gesture with a grain of salt and handed Colomby a cassette of his work.

Colomby went and played the cassette to two Record Executives (who are also bass players). They were amazed and said, "We don't know what to do with him." They signed Jaco Pastorius to a record deal. Bobby sent for Jaco to come to New York and began working on his debut album. Jaco (bass) and Don Alias (congas) played Miles Davis' Donna Lee as the first recording. They finished in one take. What made this version a stand out, Jaco playing chords and changes and Don Alias passionate conga accompaniment.
 Bobby was able to get Herbie Hancock, Sam and Dave, and other notable musicians to lend their talents on Jaco's debut self titled album, Jaco Pastorius.

Bobby Colomby invited Jaco to tour with his band Blood, Sweat, and Tears because of issues with their bassist. Columby handed Pastorius a cassette of their show. When it was time to perform their first time with Pastorius, the group and Columby were astounded with Jaco's mastery of their work and his remarkable playing skills.

His mastery of harmonies of the bass is credited to a friend who played harmonies tuning his guitar, Jaco thought it sounded like a melody and explored it further; he composed, Portrait of Tracy. His bass solo created the most beautiful, heartfelt, loving piece that actually brought tears to my eyes. He played with much emotion, it touched my heart. Sam and Dave lent their vocals to the soulful composition, Come On Come Over written by Pastorius with Herbie Hancock playing funky keys.

Pat Metheny was recording his debut album Bright Sized Life with Jaco Pastorius and Bob Moses. Pat Metheny (guitar), Jaco Pastorius (fretless bass), and Bob Moses (Drums). The title song  Bright Sized life sounds like a duet of guitar and bass interchanging and exchanging harmonies with Bob Moses skilled drumming rounded the piece. Methney's and Pastorius' albums came out the same year 1976.

"Joni told me that a guitar player Robben Ford who was playing for her while she was touring when my album came out. He played her the album and she was knocked out.!" exclaimed Jaco.  Though he was not familiar with her music, he accepted her offer to be part of her band, Pat Metheny rounded out the super group. Jaco was the bass player of her dreams, he was doing things other bass players wasn't. Joni blended rock and jazz, some say it was the beginning of World Music.

They collaborated on four albums: Hejira, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Mingus, and Shadow and Light (live). He was also her music director while on tour together. My personal favorite is Hejira, the words, the music takes you on on emotional roller coaster. The bass actually sang along with Metheny's guitar as Joni sang.

He met Weather Report's founder Joe Zawinul when he taught at the University of Miami. He was writing music for Miami's Big Band. The band was opening for Weather Report's concert, the group was late arriving to their concert. Zawinul did not hear him play with the Big Band. Jaco came back later to retrieve his equipment, as he was leaving, he literally ran into Zawinul when he bumped into him as Jaco went around the corner. He gave Joe a cassette of his work, Jaco later joined Weather Report as their new bassist.

Jaco Pastorius recorded seven albums with Weather Report: Black Market, Heavy Weather, 8:30 (Live), Mr. Gone, Night Passage, The Jaco Years, and Live&Unreleased.

Virtuoso, genius, John Francis Anthony Pastorius III, is credited how the bass is played and revered. He investigated the capabilities of the electric jazz bass. He managed to play in higher ranges which was never done until he achieved this feat. His solos were legendary as well as exquisite. His love of music was profound, passionate, inquisitive, and relished. Jaco was a well rounded musician who loved all genres of music and played them all. Many bassists cite Jaco as a revolutionary of the electric bass guitar and how his technique influenced today's music and the way the bass is utilized. In today's music, you can hear the Jaco Sound.  




http://www.jacopastorius.com/

VIDEOS

PORTRAIT OF TRACY  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsZ_1mPOuyk
CONTINUUM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-DC7nEBIR0
4 AM (HERBIE HANCOCK with JACO PASTORIUS) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcEwFuU5irU&feature=related
BIRDLAND (WEATHER REPORT/ JACO PASTORIUS)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae0nwSv6cTU
TEEN TOWN (WEATHER REPORT/JACO PASTORIUS) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSQkNviZ5Qk
BLACK CROW (JONI MITCHELL/JACO PASTORIUS) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GLJCZ5L2sQ
HEJIRA (JONI MITCHELL/JACO PASTORIUS) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQPB_HAQyB4
BRIGHT SIZE LIFE (PAT METHENY/JACO PASTORIUS) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q-c0Hraac4
UNITY VILLAGE (PAT METHNEY/JACO PASTORIUS) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIeT0O7JX4I

DISCOGRAPHY http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jaco-pastorius-mn0000113480
 

Year		Title	Label
1974		Jaco	I.A.I. - (Improvising Artists) / Improvisingartists
1976		Jaco Pastorius	Epic
1981		The Birthday Concert	Warner Bros.
1981		Word of Mouth	Warner Bros.
1983		Invitation	Warner Bros.
1986		PDB	DIW (Japan)
1986		Live in Italy	Jazz Point Records
1986		Curtain Call	Another Hit Record
1986		Heavy 'N Jazz/Stuttgart Aria	Jazz Point Records
1989		Jazz Street
2002		Another Side of Jaco Pastorius	Jazz Point Records
2003		Night Food	Absord
2005		Gospel for J.F.P. III	MoonJune Records
2005		The Extraordinary & Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius	Backbeat Records
2007		Jaco: L'Ascension d'un Génie	Jazz Magazine
		Jams-Rare Collection	Universal Distribution
		Live In Cannes 19/12/1984	B13
		Music Instruction: Bass	DCI Records
		Nightfood	Grateful Dead
		Word of Mouth Band: 1983 Japan Tour	WEA Japan