Jaco - just can't help myself

[pfschim]

I know this has been done before, but I could not help myself.

I have been reading the book Jaco, The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius, by Bill Milkokski (the 2005 "anniversary edition").

I have been playing bass for more than 40 years (that's all I am going to own up to .. yikes!). I am one of those thousands of bass players who ripped out the frets of my Fender Jazz in 1977 after first hearing Jaco on the 1976 Pat Metheny, Bright Sized Life recordings. (BTW, lesson learned, it's not a super great idea to convert a bound and blocked maple Jazz neck to fretless ) I was (and remain) a fan of Jaco's work. I don't idolize him, and I appreciate all kinds of other players and styles too. Whether you like his style or not, Jaco did change the way bass is conceived, understood and played by other bassists, and heard by listeners.

I felt I already knew the basic details of Jaco's story from having followed his career/life in the 70's and 80's, but man, I have just been deeply moved all over again by reading about the man's life in detail. Reading the book has actually had an impact on my dreams lately. I guess I need to put this story behind me (and practice a lot more).

Such an amazingly, gloriously talented and driven musician (and person), and yet at the same time, such an unbelievably tragic later life.

anyway, thanks for letting me vent/release some of my feelings after reading this book.

enjoy!

[Matt R.]

I should read it again. Great book.

[Smokin' Toaster]

There are some disputes to the accounts in the book. I think Jaco's wife had some issues with it, and she's not been one to sugar coat the dark side of his persona or his deeds and misdeeds. All in all I think the overall picture it paints is close to accurate. You gotta wonder why being "the world's greatest bass player" wasn't enough, and he felt compelled to do all the other crazy stuff. If I had his talent, I'd just play and amaze myself and others and that would amuse me just fine.

[jbednarski]

Apropos of nothing , but I bet Jaco never played at the Fender or Acoustic booths at a NAMM show back then.

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by jbednarski

Apropos of nothing , but I bet Jaco never played at the Fender or Acoustic booths at a NAMM show back then.

ha, funny. of course he had so many other opportunities to noodle in public (actual gigs, 55 Grand stuff in NYC, crashing recording sessions, jumping on stage uninvited) he may have not felt the need to. I wonder how far back the NAMM show history goes, particularly as it is today ?

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

There are some disputes to the accounts in the book. I think Jaco's wife had some issues with it, and she's not been one to sugar coat the dark side of his persona or his deeds and misdeeds. All in all I think the overall picture it paints is close to accurate. You gotta wonder why being "the world's greatest bass player" wasn't enough, and he felt compelled to do all the other crazy stuff. If I had his talent, I'd just play and amaze myself and others and that would amuse me just fine.

yes, I am sure there are probably disputes (although I have never read any - so far), as there are with any books/reportage of this kind. Tracy actually appears in the "audio biography" CD which comes with the Milkowski book. She is talking about meeting Jaco for the first time.

I hear you, and personally agree, about being surprised that Jaco was simply not satisfied with just being the "worlds greatest bassplayer". But, then of course, I am not Jaco (darn), and we can't know how he felt about any of that. The book seems to suggest that despite his huge confidence, and ego, he felt serious pressure to live up to that reputation after the initial rush of fame in the mid 70's.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

There are some disputes to the accounts in the book. I think Jaco's wife had some issues with it, and she's not been one to sugar coat the dark side of his persona or his deeds and misdeeds. All in all I think the overall picture it paints is close to accurate. You gotta wonder why being "the world's greatest bass player" wasn't enough, and he felt compelled to do all the other crazy stuff. If I had his talent, I'd just play and amaze myself and others and that would amuse me just fine.

It's not crazy at all when your sick.

Originally Posted by pfschim

ha, funny. of course he had so many other opportunities to noodle in public (actual gigs, 55 Grand stuff in NYC, crashing recording sessions, jumping on stage uninvited) he may have not felt the need to. I wonder how far back the NAMM show history goes, particularly as it is today ?

NAMM has been around over 100 years.

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

It's not crazy at all when your sick.

understood. it was some form of sickness; organic like manic/depression, or self induced like substance abuse, or possibly an unfortunate nexus of both). Still, the sense of "craziness" is still there for those who are not so afflicted. Not a cut at Jaco in any way, it makes me feel bad to think about him struggling with those problems.

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

NAMM has been around over 100 years.

wow. 100 years, I had no idea. But surely the format of the show has changed over the years. I was just wondering if it might have had the same format (many people out fiddling around with gear - some great, some less great) back in the early/mid 70's thru mid 80's when Jaco was in his prime, as it does today.

[darkblack99]

Originally Posted by pfschim

The book seems to suggest that despite his huge confidence, and ego, he felt serious pressure to live up to that reputation after the initial rush of fame in the mid 70's.

This, and struggling with a record company mindset that demanded Son Of Heavy Weather and got Word Of Mouth, instead.

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by darkblack99

This, and struggling with a record company mindset that demanded Son Of Heavy Weather and got Word Of Mouth, instead.

well, there is no denying that the paradigm of music for money poses challenges for both inspired musicians trying to do new and creative things, as well as the business people who fund them and have to keep the engines of capitalism working smoothly.

The Milkowski book seems to say that Word Of Mouth was pretty successful financially, despite being something other than "Son Of Heavey Weather". Heck, even Zawinul went on to continued success (creative and financial) without having to replicate HW.

Jaco did apparently feel the enormous pressure to keep writing, producing and playing amazing new music - but none of that really fully explains the stupefying degree of his pursuit of drugs and alcohol. At least in my mind.

But again, my opinion does not matter - its just a cryin' shame.

[Smokin' Toaster]

Originally Posted by pfschim

Jaco did apparently feel the enormous pressure to keep writing, producing and playing amazing new music - but none of that really fully explains the stupefying degree of his pursuit of drugs and alcohol. At least in my mind.

Especially when you consider that Milkowski points out that Jaco was an athlete that shunned alcohol and drugs in his early days.

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

Especially when you consider that Milkowski points out that Jaco was an athlete that shunned alcohol and drugs in his early days.

yep - to me, his earlier "clean living" outlook, even while he was out on the road with The CC Riders band, makes his transition/descent into alcoholism and drug abuse, and his subsequent detachment from reality, even harder to understand.

I know it is a sickness, firsthand. I just lost my brother to alcoholism this past November. While Jaco's life and circumstances, and my brothers, were not at all related, I think reading about Jaco's last years, in NYC and Fla, have hit me in a way that it might not have if my own brother had not recently succumbed to similar demons.

I don't really get what happened to either of them, and it kills me that it happened to them both.

[SBassman]

I read it a very long time ago. I should take another look.
I found it be a great effort, although I don't know anything about what may or may not be totally accurate.

His demise shouldn't surprise anyone these days. Anyone is capable of going from clean life to losing to a vice.
Definitely very sad, and you have to wonder what else could have been ahead if he lived a longer life.

[TN WOODMAN]

Of course prior to the invention of electricity, the early NAMM shows were all acoustic affairs.

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by TN WOODMAN

Of course prior to the invention of electricity, the early NAMM shows were all acoustic affairs.

ha, then maybe there was just a bit less volume associated with all the noodling going on in the general exhibit hall.

[JAUQO III-X]

In the early days of NAMM there were no artists playing instruments. Artist were not even invited to the NAMM show. The invitation of artists came much later when the manufactures needed musicians to demo the instruments.

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

In the early days of NAMM there were no artists playing instruments. Artist were not even invited to the NAMM show. The invitation of artists came much later when the manufactures need musicians to demo the instruments.

well this was a Jaco thread, but I'm curious JauqoIII, how do you come by your knowledge of NAMM history. When did artist start to be invited ? When was the general public invited ?

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by pfschim

well this was a Jaco thread

And it still is.There was the mention of NAMM and how it may relate Jaco.