could you please sell me on Jaco?

[rendevouz]

Last week it was Lemmy, this week Jaco.

Joins us next week for the Geddy Lee thread.

 

[monkeyfinger]

I think that the contributions Jaco made to bass playing are difficult to appreciate without an historical context. At the time Jaco's first solo album came out, no other recording attempted to make the electric bass such a focal point of the recordings. There have been so many great players exploring the territories that Jaco first opened. Some by building on Jaco's style and some by intentionally moving away from his style and tone. This exploration is much more common these days that Jaco's contributions seem less unique to modern bass players. To me, the question is very similar to asking what did the Beatles do for pop music?

 

[JimK]

I love the collaborative work they did. Love, love.

But let's all be clear - Jaco walked all over everyone else's feet on that live album. Joni signed up for it and surely knew what she was getting, and the result is epic. Any other bass player on any other gig might get fired for playing half the notes Jaco did.

I just listened to the studio version of "In France...".
I rarely listen to this version. That said, it is Max Bennett (a favourite of mine), Victor Feldman, Robben Ford, John Guerin...pretty much the L.A. Express minus Tom Scott.
Jaco takes Bennett's cool part up a few notches...that's what Jazz Fusioneers do when it's a live performance, no? That's what I would expect & pay for.
I don't hear it as 'stepping all over' as much as I do driving the band.
(Sadly, Don Alias - a master percussionist, no doubt, - on drums is holding it down from being an onslaught).

You're correct...pre-hire, Joni was told this was a bassist that rarely played root notes.

 

[madbass6]

Yeah, I don't "get it" either. Sure, the guy had chops. But his tone was fingernails on a chalk board to me. And, while some of it was pretty and melodic, much of his work was just burpy notes and lots of them. Nothing melodic about them.

I do respect what he did for the instrument.

I used to be into martial arts years ago. I didn't sit around watching Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee movies even though they "did a lot for martial arts".

I've just never been entertained by Jaco. And, to me, music is to be ENJOYED, not just "admired" because of raw talent.

YMMV

if comparing a master legend Bass players notes to finger nails on a chalk board or burpy notes
(what ever the hell means! )
is what you call respecting what the man did with the instrument please show your respect a little less!
(With all do respect
the "kicker" you actually think and say jaco was not melodic ? Wow!!!

 

[I am Soma]

Different music speaks to different folks. Personally I find his music, style, and tone horrid....as in I cant turn it off fast enough and see no redeeming quality.

Other people think it's the kittens mittens and I respect that.

Talkbass can be a place where members attack if you dont like what they like so beware

 

[MtManiac]

I like Jaco. I don't like how it always seems like I have to be told how much to like Jaco, and that it always seems I don't like him enough. I feel like Jaco fans get upset just reading this.

He was great, game changer. But for me, so was John Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, Lemmy, Steve Harris, and god how many others?? He can groove. So could Bootsy and Jamerson. He was musical. So was Bruce and Jones. He had a way of playing jazz that was unique, so was Mingus. I don't know, I think he's great but somehow I get the feeling from players that love him that I don't think he was great enough, and that because of that I'm missing something and don't truly appreciate or understand the instrument, and that's annoying to be honest.

There doesn’t have to be just one “bass messiah,” and I don’t get the impression from anyone who digs Jaco that you can’t also dig Lemmy, Jamerson, Mingus, Harris, JPJ, or even Fieldy.

 

[JimK]

I'm still trying to be sold on J. Hendrix, I see 11 year Olds on youtube play better guitar...

...and none of them hit me in the balls like Hendrix did/does.

2-3 notes. Ouch!

 

[JimK]

I took a "stab" at this tune after listening to it for YEARS and thinking 'I'll NEVER be able to play this song, Ever'; but, I think I came somewhat close ... I think

I think you got it...!
A TB-er from yesteryear (he went by 'CowsGoMoo') transcribed it perfectly.
We miss that guy...

 

[madbass6]

Jaco looks like he is smelling his farts way to much in this video, George Clooney style.

Congrats !! you solved the mystery behind the genius ! OP there's what's missing ! lol.

 

[MtManiac]

Some dudes posted a video of the genius of Cliff Williams (bass player from AC/DC) because he was playing the 3rd of a chord instead of the root while the guitar players were playing 5th chords... it must have been viral as I saw it in theee different places, including Talkbass. SMDH...

 

[madbass6]

Exactly! I don’t listen to music to be impressed, I want to feel, I want to be moved.

Not sure I get this comment!
feeling it + moved by it = impressed!

 

[Altitude]

I just listened to the studio version of "In France...".
I rarely listen to this version. That said, it is Max Bennett (a favourite of mine), Victor Feldman, Robben Ford, John Guerin...pretty much the L.A. Express minus Tom Scott.
Jaco takes Bennett's cool part up a few notches...that's what Jazz Fusioneers do when it's a live performance, no? That's what I would expect & pay for.
I don't hear it as 'stepping all over' as much as I do driving the band.
(Sadly, Don Alias - a master percussionist, no doubt, - on drums is holding it down from being an onslaught).

You're correct...pre-hire, Joni was told this was a bassist that rarely played root notes.

I always think of what Jaco plays in "The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines" in general, and specifically behind Brecker's solo. I'm a bass player - so for me what Jaco does there is the best thing ever. To anyone else it might sound like the bass player throwing a bunch of off-key harmonics and stuff where they don't belong. Oooh, I love it though.

 

[JimK]

Just listen to Bright Size Life by Pat Metheny. Ignore how badly the drums sit in the mix. NO ONE EVER PLAYED LIKE THAT before JACO. And Metheny's approach was a new take on the jazz guitar, as well as remarkably mature composing. I heard that album and within months went to have the frets taken off my bass and a Jazz pup configuration with Bartolinis installed. I've gotten over my desire to sound like Jaco, but I've never gotten over that album.

I was thinking about BSL a few years ago...IMO, what woulda been cool?
If Metheny, Moses, & Holland has done their version, years after the fact.
Just one man's opinion.

 

[madbass6]

Still sounds like a lot of frog farts to me.

Never tought frog farts sounded so good! Time for a new pet! lol.

 

[JimK]

I always think of what Jaco plays in "The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines" in general, and specifically behind Brecker's solo. I'm a bass player - so for me what Jaco does there is the best thing ever. To anyone else it might sound like the bass player throwing a bunch of off-key harmonics and stuff where they don't belong. Oooh, I love it though.

It is a funky 12-bar Blues...

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I’ve had that thought several times since coming to TB. If someone can make a good argument, I’d sit still to listen. (Posting a bunch of song videos is not an argument.)

It depends on the kind of music you enjoy yourself with ... if you like death metal then I may say that Jaco is not the bass player for you most likely ...

 

[mellowinman]

I'm still trying to be sold on J. Hendrix, I see 11 year Olds on youtube play better guitar...

You don't get to be sold on Jimi. Jimi is too cool for people who say things like this. Just walk away.

 

[ThaCoast]

Even i tried last week to see what the fuss was about Jaco - somehow i still don't really get it, no matter how many techniques he's developed that makes him what he is.

I can respect him as a player for what he's capable of doing, i can respect others for being influenced by him, or like him.

Personally i don't find him spectacular or any of that, but people might say the same in regards of DeeDee Ramone, of which i'm a fan, influenced & idolize in some retrospect his playing, style & capabilities. He was just fast.

 

[tb4sbp]

I am sure a lot of you get this as well. When people know you are a musician they always bring you stuff to listen to. All different kinds of genres. I usually give a focused listen to what is presented to me and pick out the high points, a vocal line or solo or rift or fill (you get my drift) so the person that brought it to me walks away with something positive. Even if I hate it there is always something that stands out and can be appreciated.

When you come across a musician that is not your 'cup of tea' no need to ask "Why?" appreciate what the artist has done for their genre or even beyond (as in the case with Jaco).

 

[Watchootognbout]

Is there, though? Is there really? How much do you actually incorporate Jaco's innovations into your day to day playing? Before Jaco... a few great bassists and a lot of non-flashy players pounding out root notes. After Jaco... mostly the same thing.

Every time I play a percolating sixteenth note line I automatically start to think of Jaco.
If I play a singing,lyrical line I think of Jaco.
If I try to play a speedy run I think "play lightly with the finger tips over the bridge"
Like Jaco did.
If I want to accentuate "mwah"I play at the end of the fingerboard like Jaco.
If I use a chorus with my bass it's because Jaco did.
If I use a lot of harmonics it's because of Jaco.