What would someone have to do to surpass Jaco in history?

[elpelotero]

*If you don't like Jaco, then please don't come here to disrupt. It's my opinion and, consequently, many in the bass community regard Jaco as the best of all time. Many will disagree, but such is the nature of life.*

I was watching a video of Wooten and it got me to think, "What would Wooten have to do with his playing in order to surpass Jaco as the best of all time?"

Then I thought further, "What would ANYONE have to prove to the world in order for everyone to say this guy is better than Jaco?"

[Kalyptic]

if i knew i'd be doing it. my theory is the best of all time probably isnt even famous, he or she probably just sits at home playing and never got a big break

[bassman275]

IMHO,Do something that had never been done on,a newly invented instrument that,is in F clef,in popular music @ exactly the right time.I'm sure that makes no sense but,..good luck!

[Siegy]

Jaco got so big because he was doing things that people had never done before in the right musical setting. With the way that the industry is now, and how people are always doing new things, it would take a hell of a lot for someone to surpass Jaco.

[waffle puzzle]

this is basically an "answerless" question, since the word "best" or "better" is
purely relative to the listener's tastes and inclinations.

sure, as far as technique goes, dozens of schooled bassists can play "anything"

as far as creating an individual style that transcends theory alone, and elevates the
player to "top" status...many qualify and continue to do so

one (and only one) example :
some Jaco fans could care less about Primus
and some Claypool fans could care less about Weather Report
neither are "better" than each other, simply "top" in their particular idiom.

[MyUsernameHere]

Living 'till 36 would be a good start.

Other than that, Jaco's rep will go the same way every other great player's rep has. More and more people will become less and less familiar with him as new players emerge. Until, at some point, he'll be considered nothing more than one great player in a long continuous line of great players--each with fans arguing over their individual merits and accomplishments.

Guess what I'm saying is that no one has to do anything to surpass Jaco, time will take care of that on it's own.

[Disco_Gee]

I think there are players who already have. To the people who hold Jaco in such high regard he will always be the best, but to others (like me) he isn't.

[j.a.e.r.i.p]

i think jaco took the electric bass so far, that anyone around now has an advantage being able to learn from jaco. trying to play like jaco is frikkin' tough, imagine being the first to play that, it's not just the playing it's the discovery of what can be done on the electric bass. in my opinion, jaco in his short life opened most of the doors that can be opened, i think that as long as i'm alive (hopefully for longer than jaco) no one will surpass him in progress made on the bass. the man was a genius, if he hadn't picked up a bass, the world would be a worse off place.

[Wissen]

Taking the sentiment from the OP, I think Wooten will unfortunately fall short of Jaco's legacy because of the uniqueness of Jaco's career.

When Jaco was playing his music, fusion and jazz rock were actually commercially acceptable. He also had the opportunity to play with other musicians like Joni Mitchell, so he benefited from that increased exposure as well. Everyone respected Jaco, bassists especially for what he did on the instrument. Like Jamerson, he was identified with an era in music that helped cement his legacy.

These days, a band is an indivisible entity, and pop stars use no-name session musicians (if there is even a bass player in the session at all). Any bass player who gains public notoriety will do so only within the context of the group with which he's playing. So someone may recognize Flea's skills, but there will always be that, "But Jaco..." How many people know Flea played on Alanis' "You Oughta Know" or Young MC's "Bust a Move"?

As for Victor, his reputation and spot in history in the bass community has certainly been cemented. To me, it's Jaco and Vic as 1 and 1a. But because he won't get the high-profile guest work and the Flecktones will never score a Top 10 pop album, his reputation will remain solely in the bass community.

[Graham Monette]

Originally Posted by Kalyptic

if i knew i'd be doing it. my theory is the best of all time probably isnt even famous, he or she probably just sits at home playing and never got a big break

No kidding. There are some absolutely stellar bassists that aren't even known. Why? I dont know, perhaps a lack of ingenunity or whats now defined as "originality".

[James Hart]

I am not of the opinion that Jaco is the "Best Ever"... what Jaco is to me is a great innovator and visionary. He is to Electric Bass what Jimi Hendrix is to Electric Guitar.

To surpass Jaco in history would take manipulating time and break out of the mold with his flair first.

[jakusx]

It's funny seeing people talk about Jaco. I live right next to his old place in Oakland Park florida and his twin sons played my engagement party at a local bar here.

Around here, in his own home town, no one really knows who he is.

It's so sad.

[69nites]

Originally Posted by Wissen

Taking the sentiment from the OP, I think Wooten will unfortunately fall short of Jaco's legacy because of the uniqueness of Jaco's career.

When Jaco was playing his music, fusion and jazz rock were actually commercially acceptable. He also had the opportunity to play with other musicians like Joni Mitchell, so he benefited from that increased exposure as well. Everyone respected Jaco, bassists especially for what he did on the instrument. Like Jamerson, he was identified with an era in music that helped cement his legacy.

These days, a band is an indivisible entity, and pop stars use no-name session musicians (if there is even a bass player in the session at all). Any bass player who gains public notoriety will do so only within the context of the group with which he's playing. So someone may recognize Flea's skills, but there will always be that, "But Jaco..." How many people know Flea played on Alanis' "You Oughta Know" or Young MC's "Bust a Move"?

As for Victor, his reputation and spot in history in the bass community has certainly been cemented. To me, it's Jaco and Vic as 1 and 1a. But because he won't get the high-profile guest work and the Flecktones will never score a Top 10 pop album, his reputation will remain solely in the bass community.

I think wooten will fall short because he's not dead....

[T-MOST]

[quote= To me, it's Jaco and Vic as 1 and 1a. But because he won't get the high-profile guest work and the Flecktones will never score a Top 10 pop album, his reputation will remain solely in the bass community.[/QUOTE]


The only people I meet who ever heard of Jaco are other musicians and out of them most are bass players. It's other musicians that are responsible for his legendary status. As it's been said Jaco was an innovator. He took the electric bass to a new level as did Jamerson and Graham who are also legends. Why he gets the "crown" I don't know. You can say the same for Victor's contribution for sure so as far as I am concerned he is already a living legend.

[nortonrider]

Death sure plays a big part in gaining "unobtainable legend" status.
Bonham, Hendrix, SRV, Morrison, even Dale Earnhardt.

[69nites]

if we're talking about popular music and defining a genera I think bootsy collins surpasses Jaco by far.

[MyUsernameHere]

Originally Posted by nortonrider

Death sure plays a big part in gaining "unobtainable legend" status.
Bonham, Hendrix, SRV, Morrison, even Dale Earnhardt.

You're only truly a legend when you can defy death itself.

i.e. Jesus...Elvis...

[Basshole]

Originally Posted by elpelotero

*If you don't like Jaco, then please don't come here to disrupt. It's my opinion and, consequently, many in the bass community regard Jaco as the best of all time. Many will disagree, but such is the nature of life.*

I was watching a video of Wooten and it got me to think, "What would Wooten have to do with his playing in order to surpass Jaco as the best of all time?"

Then I thought further, "What would ANYONE have to prove to the world in order for everyone to say this guy is better than Jaco?"

It's not a contest, and taste is subjective, and ever-changing. Some might argue that other people's accomplishments on bass are just as profound; James Jamerson, Stanley Clarke, Anthony Jackson, John Pattitucci, and as you mentioned, Victor Wooten.

I'd say that someone comes along periodically, as is the case with any instrument, and redefines the whole instrument for their contemporaries.

It's happened on guitar with Charlie Christian, Jimmi Hendrix, and Eddie Van Halen, to name a few.

It's happened on drums with Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, Carl Palmer, and more recently Dave Weckl and Dennis Chambers.

People like that are mileposts in the historical development of their respective instruments. They come, they go, and each era has its heroes.

Music is ever-changing, ever evolving.

Something tells me, though, that no matter how much it evolves, and no matter how many luminaries com and go, certain things like the Hammond B-3 and the P-bass with flats are here to stay.

[gweimer]

Be popular?

[Mark Wilson]

They'd have to revolutionize music.