Jaco playing Standards

[DocBop]

I friend was cleaning out his CD collection and brought me over a box of CD by bass players he thought I'd like to have. One I never heard of before Standards Zone by The Brian Melvin Trio with Jaco Pastorius on bass. Jaco playing mainly standards and according to the liner notes the CD was recorded about a year before Jaco passed when he was hanging out on the West Coast.

It definitely sounds like Jaco his tone and style. Cool hearing Jaco just Walking on some parts and doing a laid back solo on If You Could See Me Now. Any ever hear of this CD before and know more about it???

Update:
Went to the Jaco website and appears Jaco did three CD's with Brian Melvin in the last couple years before he transitioned.

Thank you Jaco for all the great music and inspiration.

[RHFusillo]

Standards Zone is a nice CD. Very much worth hearing for those who haven't, and an interesting recording of Jaco playing straight-ahead jazz.

Link to allmusic page for Standards Zone.

[morf]

I think I'll buy this eventually, it looks interesting

[Bruce Lindfield]

I don't think you can buy the CDs any more, but there are some tracks on one of the recent Jaco compilations...?

[jerry]

I thought Jaco sounded great on Standards Zone! I think it was his last period of lucidity before he died. The recording quality is pretty good too, probably the best of the mid-80's Jaco boots. IMHO

[bassbrad]

I really enjoy Jaco with Brain Melvin and Jon Davis on "Standards Zone" as well as the live "Curtain Call".

[Baryonyx]

Sounds interesting! It's a shame that now, with the release of the Trio of Doom record, that we must have heard pretty much all the Jaco stuff fit for release...thought there are probably loads of snidey tape recordings and stuff hanging about!

[JimK]

I'm assuming Bob Bobbing (the guy behind the A Portrait Of Jaco boxset)still has plenty of decent stuff.

[burk48237]

You can still find them used if you keep your eyes opened. Like most of Jaco's manic era, it's inconsistent stuff. I have a lot of the later Jaco material including the entire punk jazz series, and I have mixed feelings about it. It contains some great playing, and some miserable excesses. But I always have this nagging feeling that I'm witnessing a train wreck or something.

[jerry]

Originally Posted by JimK

I'm assuming Bob Bobbing (the guy behind the A Portrait Of Jaco boxset)still has plenty of decent stuff.

I've always heard Methney has some killer live tapes from when the trio with Moses was young and hungry up in Boston.

[Baryonyx]

Originally Posted by burk48237

But I always have this nagging feeling that I'm witnessing a train wreck or something.

You are, sadly.

[Bruce Lindfield]

I find it sad that there is so much obsession with Jaco that people will buy anything - but while the best of Jaco is up there with the greats - a lot of the later stuff is much worse than the standard I would hear at my local Jazz Club every Friday night!

I think people would be much better off looking to the future and great Jazz artists who are up and coming, rather than dredging up the last remnants of a short and tragic life...

[morf]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I find it sad that there is so much obsession with Jaco that people will buy anything - but while the best of Jaco is up there with the greats - a lot of the later stuff is much worse than the standard I would hear at my local Jazz Club every Friday night!

I think people would be much better off looking to the future and great Jazz artists who are up and coming, rather than dredging up the last remnants of a short and tragic life...

If theres something I learned about music is that you cant fake talent, but you also can't throw it away.

While Jaco in his later years didn't play as well as he could have, there is no doubt in my mind that he has a lot more to teach than the local jazzman.

[Baryonyx]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

a lot of the later stuff is much worse than the standard I would hear at my local Jazz Club every Friday night!

Unless there is some diabolical stuff on his later works, I've got to come to your jazz club!

[Bruce Lindfield]

My local Jazz clubs has some very high standard UK Jazz stars like Julian Joseph, Stan Tracey, Kenney Wheeler etc. and occasional visitors from the States like Michael Formanek, Jimmy Raney ....!

There are also great young groups - Tom Arthur's Centripede,Acoustic Ladyland,Polar Bear, Ingrid Laubrock etc etc.

I'd far rather people support acts taking Jazz further, rather than raking over the embers..

Some of the Jaco sets I have heard, would get him booed off at my local Jazz club....

[Baryonyx]

But if it was Jaco playing them, surely adoring fans would flock from far and wide to cheer him on...

[JimK]

I'm a huge Jaco fan.
Nevertheless, the latter stuff (especially the "Live In NYC/Punk Jazz" series + the Modern Electric Bass Method video) is pretty painful.

[jerry]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I find it sad that there is so much obsession with Jaco that people will buy anything - but while the best of Jaco is up there with the greats - a lot of the later stuff is much worse than the standard I would hear at my local Jazz Club every Friday night!

I think people would be much better off looking to the future and great Jazz artists who are up and coming, rather than dredging up the last remnants of a short and tragic life...

Bruce, I'm curious....are you talking about the 'Standards Zone' LP specifically or the other NY boots?

[Bruce Lindfield]

I haven't heard the whole Standards album - just a few tracks on a compilation - they were alright but nothing special I thought?