Jaco Pastorius

Visirale · 01-04-2004, 07:38 PM

Jaco doesn't get much attention outside of the bass forum.. So here it goes. If you haven't given this guy a listen.. you need too. He was simply, as he put it "The greatest bass player in the world".

This guy could cover the whole score, on one instrument, all flawlessly- as in he could play his crazy solos up on the frets, we're talking endless 16th note runs with harmonics and all that, and at the same time hold a solid groove down on the lower frets.

And his compositions were... just beautiful. I mean some of it was sort of weird... He had a thing for writing for steel pans. But his "Forgotten Love", a piece for piano and a string section... just took my breath away the first time I heard it, and it continues to do so now...

His solo album is a staple for any jazz fan.

So... anyone want to discuss him?

bass · 01-05-2004, 01:57 AM

yeah, I would...

I've only heard a few of his compositions (River People and Punk Jazz, both on the Weather Report Album "Mr. Gone"), and I must say, his command of the instrument is amazing

But I don't like his tone...too burpy-midrangey for me...

Visirale · 01-05-2004, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass

yeah, I would...

I've only heard a few of his compositions (River People and Punk Jazz, both on the Weather Report Album "Mr. Gone"), and I must say, his command of the instrument is amazing

But I don't like his tone...too burpy-midrangey for me...

Are you talking about his tone on fretless bass? I personally prefer his fretted sounds.

bass · 01-06-2004, 09:40 PM

Hmm...I'm not sure. I need to check those liner notes again. On "Mr. Gone", though, its tough to tell where Jaco is, because Joe Zawinul often doubles his lines on synth...

Anyway, its his tone on "Punk Jazz" that I don't like. I prefer kick-you-in-the-gut, big-bottom bass tone...like Kim Stone's on The Rippington's "Black Diamond".

I think Jaco's greatness is in his compositions, though. I mean, in terms of technique, I'm sure there are guys out there who can outplay him (not that I know any). But nobody will be able to compose like him. That's guaranteed.

Nathanael · 01-07-2004, 12:42 AM

Quote:

On "Mr. Gone", though, its tough to tell where Jaco is, because Joe Zawinul often doubles his lines on synth...

Heh, I remember reading a biography of him where he talked about how he hated that...

Anyway, Pastorius always gets my vote for best bassist ever. Right before Stanley Clarke.

bass · 01-08-2004, 01:35 AM

Of course, as a bassist, I hate it when the keyboards play a line so similar to mine that it drowns me out

Me, I refrain from picking anybody out as "Best Bassist Ever"..."Best Bassist at the Time" maybe, but not "Best Bassist Ever".

One of the things that makes me check myself whenever I hear Jaco is that millions of bassists "worship" the guy (I can't blame them...the guy is awesome), and something inside of me refuses to throw its hat among them. I tend to veer away from the popular guys. It's not Jaco's fault, mind you...

although calling yourself "The best bassist in the world" is something I just can't cheer for.

So I'll take his playing, learn what I can, and tip my hat to a brilliant musician. But that's it.

I hope I'm not offending anyone out there...

Nathanael · 01-08-2004, 02:19 AM

of course not, its your perogative...

What about Stanly Clarke?
[/threadjack]

Benny Hicks · 01-18-2004, 11:06 AM

To my embarrassment, I must confess that I have never heard Jaco's stuff, but I have heard a lot about him. I've heard that Victor Wooten plays faster, but that he has much poorer note selection and his music is generally less musically complex (i.e. he plays too many random notes). I've heard that Jaco focuses less on playing as many notes and focuses more on the musicality of what he plays. Then again, I've only heard Victor Wooten, so I can't really act as though I know that this is the truth.

What do you guys think is the main difference between the styles of Jaco and Victor?

Ben

guyforGod · 01-22-2004, 07:46 AM

I would say that Jaco is better all around, but Vic is a much faster player than Jaco. Get JAco's self-titled cd for starters. It's very good.

LWatford · 01-26-2004, 07:33 PM

I would also recomend a copy of Weather Report's Heavy Weather...if only for Havona (and if you want to hear it done on upright, check out Christian McBride's Sci-Fi CD).

Nathanael · 01-26-2004, 09:55 PM

Are you kidding? The only track that doesn't measure up on that album is rumba moma and its the studio version of teen town. The rest is great.

LWatford · 01-28-2004, 10:28 AM

NO, I'm saying if you only need one reason to buy that CD, that Havona is the reason...can't forget about Teen Town, Birdland (the only real version...), A Remark You Made, etc.

You don't like Rumba Mama? It took a while for it to grow on me, but I enjoy listening to it now...especially Acuna's parts.

I also recomend 8:30, which is cool just to hear the band live (its the Zawinul/Shorter/Pastorious/Erskine lineup from around `79). [

Nathanael · 01-30-2004, 06:15 PM

oh ok, i missunderstood you

i like rumba mama, it just seems a little out of place on the album.

LWatford · 01-31-2004, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nthanael

oh ok, i missunderstood you

i like rumba mama, it just seems a little out of place on the album.

If anything I wish it was longer...that groove they hit towards the end is killer.

Nathanael · 01-31-2004, 11:05 AM

oh yeah, i always felt that the track was 4 minitues short. They should have kept it going and added a song.