Jaco's approach

[rhix]

Is it fair to say that Jaco approached the bass more as a trumpet or sax player than a bassist? Not saying that he didn't provide a solid foundation and groove but listening to some of his runs and fills it sounds very horn like in the note selection. In alot of his songs it seems he switches seamlessly from a standard jazz or funk line into a run that sounds like it could be Miles if only on a different instrument. Just wondering if anyone felt the same.

[elpelotero]

this exact reason, from what I understand, is what made him so famous. He gave a new approach to the bass guitar solo.

[morf]

He didn't approach the instrument as anything other than what it was made for, IMHO His sound defines what bass should, IMHO, sound like.

[DistantTremor]

Originally Posted by rhix

Is it fair to say that Jaco approached the bass more as a trumpet or sax player than a bassist? Not saying that he didn't provide a solid foundation and groove but listening to some of his runs and fills it sounds very horn like in the note selection. In alot of his songs it seems he switches seamlessly from a standard jazz or funk line into a run that sounds like it could be Miles if only on a different instrument. Just wondering if anyone felt the same.

Oh, definitely. Melodically, one the best things to do on a bass while soloing is to play it like a horn. It's what my bass teacher keeps on telling me when practicing a solo.

Of course, when you're not the main focus anymore, you play the bass like a bass.

[Tslicebass]

A lot of the non traditional bass player approach that Jaco was able to explore was because of Joe Zawinul's approach. The whole "everybody solos, nobody solos" mindset of Weather Report opened doors for Jaco that would not have been possible if not for that group. Also, Joe can frequently be found on recordings doubling or playing an independent bass line with his left hand, which gave Jaco even more freedom to explore higher timbres and different roles.
If you listen to some of the Jaco Big Band stuff and Jaco leader album's with a larger group he actually plays quite subdued. I know a lot of people get surprised by this, but I think on his good days Jaco was a very tasteful sideman and bassist. Check out The Birthday Concert for examples of Jaco's playing in a very disciplined large group setting.