Anyone else out there -Not- a Huge Jaco Fan??

[JimK]

This seems to come up up even more than before, maybe we should have a I-don't-get-Jaco-he-sucks sticky.

Agree. 10 years ago? We woulda engaged.
Now? Ehhhh...will just say that fans of Jaco include Zawinul, Shorter, Erskine, Alex Acuna, Mingus, Tony Williams, McLaughlin, etc.
...basically, an encylopedia of a Who's-Who of Modern Jazz.

Throw in Popster Joni Mitchell, too.

 

[JimK]

Now...Miroslav?...whoa! that´s what i consider a MONSTER.

No doubt, Miroslav is a monster...he plays about the baddest bowed bass solo I've heard (Woodstock Jazz DVD/cd from the '70s w/ Corea, Braxton, Metheny, DeJohnette, etc).

Funny, though-
Zawinul was about to leave Weather Report beacuse he could no longer tolerate Vitous' 'upper registers' forays (thin toned).
So, Alphonso Johnson was brought in...

 

[Timbo]

When jaco grooves I LOVE it.. but when he's playing solo stuff it's not as much for me.

Bass in my opinion is all about the groove and when he did it he definitely did it right. Come on come over is one of my favorite grooves ever.

 

[John Wentzien]

I had to go back and make sure I wasn't in "Teen-Beat" forum instead of TB, after reading this thread.

 

[Jeff K]

I have no interest in Jaco Pastorius whatsoever. When I first got into bass, I saw that he was referenced constantly as an influence by almost every player, so I checked into his music. Nada.
Not for me.

His style isn't what I like in bass. Looking back on it, this may be one major reason I have no interest in Fender Jazz basses. So not only am I *not* a Jaco fan, it's possible that he helped steer me away from the instrument he favored.

There are many Jaco recordings I have not heard, so it's possible he played something I would like. It's irrelevant to me now. I don't play busy, high-register, nasally "lead bass" lines - ever. I like to play solid, in the pocket groove with deeeep fat tone and lots of wattage.
Jaco probably had the ability to play my kind of bass infinitely better than I ever will, but I don't really care.

OK.

While I'd love to have his talent, I'm not a big fan of his type of music.

But whatever you do, don't avoid all Jazz Basses just because Jaco used one! Just do the opposite of Jaco and favor your neck pickup a bit instead of the bridge pickup...

 

[invisaman75]

Me too! He can play but stylistically he is not for me (too busy). I have his first recording and a few Weather Report recordings but I rarely listen to them. He has had his moments. I met him in the late 70's and he was was really nice person to talk with. I was backstage after a gig ("Heavy Weather" tour) and he was young and seemed very happy to be on the gig! He said guys like "Jerry Jermont" was an influence but I really don't hear it. To some it up with a quote from a well know movie: "Just too many notes ... just way too many notes!"

 

[gkbass13]

Sorry, but isn't that the idea of the forum? to discuss points with my fellow talkbassers?

indeed, that is the point of the forum, but i think you missed my main oints of my post.

1) if the OP wanted to comment on this issue he couldve easily done a search to post in oen of the tens(if not more) threads on this exact topic from years past...

2) the OP is clearly into different kinds of music than what jaco played. it is like toby keith writing a review of a public enemy album.

3) it is kind of obsurd to flame someone who is regarded by many to be one of if not THE greatest electric bassist of all time, and then go ahead and say "so and so is better". words liek better are subjective when it comes to art, as that si what seems to be what si being judged here....no one is saying "oh, jaco can play 32nd notes but jeff berlin can lay 64th's" or something insane liek that as a means by which to judge how one is better than the other, the OP and mos tof the people who side with him are saying that they dont dig jaco's music, which is fine...taste is subjective and everyone is entitled to their own opinion...listen to what you want, and ill do the same. BUT, it is kind of annoying, and pointless to do this, and then go ahead and say "so and so is better" just because they play a brand of music that you might understand a bit more easily.

If you dont dig Jaco or his music, cool, dont listen to him. But if you listen to rock and slap music primarily(basing this on the three players that the OP listed as "better" than Jaco...) then you really shouldnt post negatively about him either. sorry you dont get it.

 

[The Lurker]

I'm actually rather tired of Jaco now, having been beaten over the head with him for the last eight years to the point where I now groan whenever I see or hear his name.

Seriously, he was good, but give me a frigging break, ok?

 

[John Wentzien]

Music aint a contest!
You should learn from as many sources as you can. Variety is the spice of life!
Having been around for "many moons"- I just hate this "American Idol" mentality of who's-better-than-who CRAP.......
Music is ART---there's plenty of room for everyone..
Musicians are different from each other..not better than
EDIT: This competitive swill is whats killing music IMO

 

[John Wentzien]

I'll add one more thing-
Jaco won't get any better-He's DEAD!
All of the players mentioned have been influenced by him, and have the luxury of progressing off the road he paved..

 

[gkbass13]

well done, john.

agree completely. at such a high level regarding something that is in no way competitive, saying stupid, subjective things like "better than" is in no way productive and frankly, a bit tiring. especially when you admittingly dont "get" the music that is being knocked in the first place.

 

[John Wentzien]

well done, john.

agree completely. at such a high level regarding something that is in no way competitive, saying stupid, subjective things like "better than" is in no way productive and frankly, a bit tiring. especially when you admittingly dont "get" the music that is being knocked in the first place.

Even if you "don't like it"
You are missing out on a LOT by not at least "glancing over" Jaco's work. he pioneered many of the modern techniques for bass,
...and you can get it at it's source if you'll just get the wax out of your ears.

 

[ghiadub]

I think that jaco's music is without a doubt not listener friendly. It took me a long time to reach a point where i could understand and appreciate jaco's music fully. The man was an absolute genius and there is no way to deny that, however he was twisted and his music is not all that welcoming to the new coming listener.

+1

Also, really, there cannot be much of a point to posting what you don't like.

Well, unless you are trolling.

 

[jollygiantchris]

but less and flea are just rock players...

Why whenever these sorts of threads appear do people that play/listen to jazz always make negative comments about people that don't play jazz. Many people find jazz incredibly boring (the same people that don't like Jaco usually) technical proficiency does not begin and end with jazz.

 

[bassramos]

Flea is not better than Jaco, neither is Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, Jeff Berlin, Billy Sheehan or Les Claypool. They are all worthy of GREAT merit, but your ears must not be so developed if you listen to Jaco's composition Continuum or it's AMAZING solo and then you say that some other bass player is better. Jaco really pushed the envelope and in his prime, Jaco's talent ORIGINALITY and creative energy could not be touched. Live, I'm sure his Bridge pickup tone was fat and Amazing not thin and nasally. Few have ever approached Jaco's harmonic prowess and sensibility in his hey day. He played some very deep music, not just fast or virtuosic. Not only that, he was a prolific composer. Granted, towards the end, some of the recordings sound bad. Jaco was a BAD dude and all of the players mentioned wouldn't be the same players if it wasn't for Mr Pastorius. Marcus Miller knows that. Christian McBride knows that. Anybody with great discernment knows that.

 

[bassramos]

Jaco in his prime played deeper more prolific bass than any of the other bass players mentioned in this thread. Period. Listen to Continuum

 

[sgtdemeo]

so bassramos, Are you trying to tell me that the reason I don't like Jaco's music is that I am just not educated or worldly to "get" it? Seriously, guys, I asked one simple question. In comparing jaco, i was just trying to make the point that to me, those other players I mentioned are more enjoyable, and in my opinion, based on the groove they play, or their energetic playing style, better players. I was simply wondering if there were others who shared my opinion. If you don't, thats fine too! but please, no matter how much you tell me that I should, I am not going to just magically start liking jacos music! And its a little demeaning and insulting for people to just assume I haven't "grown into" it.

 

[John Deacon]

Jaco in his prime played deeper more prolific bass than any of the other bass players mentioned in this thread. Period. Listen to Continuum

This is just my own opinion, but I have tried to get into Jaco many times, and I just don't see anything special. He had a LOT of talent. But it seems like he took it a bit far sometimes, and just tried to play fast, with random notes. Victor Wooten in my opinion, just, its hard to explain. The notes fit with him. It sounds like the song progresses perfectly, with the perfect melodies. I am listening to it, now and the kicker is, it was in the related videos for Jaco. So, I don't mean ANY disrespect for any of his fans, but I can see why some people don't like him. But he did have talent.

 

[bassramos]

Listen to Little Beaver I can dig it baby

 

[bassramos]

But Sgtdimeo you stated Flea is better than Jaco. No offense but Stanley Clarke and Les Claypool aren't playing with the same harmonic and musical depth as Jaco achieved. I like Flea and Stanley too. I played at the blue note last year and Chick Corea and his Eletric Band played the main bill right before us. Victor was on the bass. I mistakenly dropped a Heineken on the spot he was playing the next day of the Week long NY stint. I saw the show and Victor was Incredible! I just don't think he played his incredible lines with the same breadth of harmony and Jazz that Jaco achieved.