America The Beautiful (Jaco)

BellBottomBlues · #1 01-01-2008, 02:37 PM

I recently found out the Jaco often played America the Beautiful as a homage to Jimi Hendrix's version of the Star Spangled Banner. So with this information I decided to scour the internets in search of finding a version of it to hear.

I wasn't able to get an audio version, BUT! I did find on youtube a video that has two different versions of America The Beautiful on it by Jaco. It was also the only Jaco performance to be had on youtube for America the Beautiful, at least under my search.

So anyways, watch the whole thing, as the second performance you have Jaco dressed like a homeless man playing a much better rendition of the song. You also see him toss his Fender Jazz in the air. He doesn't catch it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nsKxdx4rvZI

bassbrad · #2 01-01-2008, 03:59 PM

Thanx for that link. I had seen the 1st clip, it is from the '82Montreal Jazz Fest, but that other one is indeed awesome (Japan maybe?).
We will all hope he caught the Bass Of Doom.

BellBottomBlues · #3 01-02-2008, 02:30 AM

thats the night where it shatters.

Baryonyx · #4 01-02-2008, 07:28 AM

He was looking rather rough and haggard in both of the videos there!

BuffaloBass · #5 01-02-2008, 12:28 PM

Poor soul. He couldn't stay clean. God Bless his soul.

Eublet · #6 01-02-2008, 12:32 PM

For a man who had so much to say on his instrument when he was young, watching these latter videos where he just regurgitates these old licks just saddens me. It's a shame no one found a way to help him before he got this far.

worldfamousandy · #7 01-02-2008, 12:47 PM

Jaco's album "Invitation" has the first recorded version. It's on several live albums, too, including the Birthday Concert (probably his best).

By the way, it's spelled "Amerika." Your searches may be more fruitful with that spelling.