could you please sell me on Jaco?

[retslock]

I love JB's bass players, but Jaco took this groove to the next level.

You see, my ears tell me that the original version feels better - that is the intangible quality that you can’t grab a hold of in music. The bass here, although it has a less defined tone, meshes with the rest of the band in a way that Jaco’s doesn’t. His version sits right out on it’s own and once again doesn’t seem to be “with” the band. Even though it’s not a solo he still sounds like he’s playing lead bass and to me the groove just isn’t as good as the original.

 

[retslock]

If you don't get Jaco, thats a personal problem. The broader your knowledge and appreciation of musical stylist are, the better your bass playing will be.

It’s actually not a problem at all. Nobody is required to admire every bass player who came before. I’ve heard good stuff and some not so good stuff from Jaco. All things in perspective - he had influence but I don’t want to play like he did. He was on his own trip - perhaps he was too out there for this world, he didn’t endure. Some of his music will though.

 

[jerry]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.

That was a hard album to find for a long time, great stuff!
These too:

 

[squidtastic]

what the heck are people idolize him anyway? what's missing?

It's very hard not to assume a post like yours is merely trolling, but assuming you're not, simply listen to the first track of his first solo LP, "Donna Lee" (I see someone embedded a YouTube clip in this thread). His sheer virtuosity is immediately obvious, but he wasn't merely a great technician (arguably the greatest) -- he was incredibly musical. I love his compositions on Word Of Mouth, and his playing with Joni Mitchell and others.

Seems that all you have to do is listen to a few tracks to hear how remarkable he was. And remember that he forever changed the landscape for electric bassists.

 

[JW56789]

The discussion of his talent and accomplishments I'll leave to all of you, and this will continue for as long as people think of Jazz bassists.

To me, he is a sad cautionary tale so often and tragically common in the music business. To me, how this guy could die homeless and alone and battling serious mental illness and other occupational hazards of 'the business' is of far greater significance to me, and a warning to us all: We all know or have known players who were riding the 'Long Black Train' fighting addiction and mental health issues, and yet so many of us have just chalked it up that 'hey, that dude's just out there', or the evergreen 'sex, drugs, and rock and roll', or even worse, enabled them is some way to keep the gig going.

You can't reach everybody. Sometimes it takes a while to get 'sick and tired of being sick and tired'. But IF you see a way to help or offer a hand up, TAKE IT. It's good for you, you may very well save a life.

As far as I can tell, playing music does not requite Blood Sacrifice, but I swear, sometimes I just think it must when I think of so many we've lost for no good reason except neglect and wrong attitudes. If you look at the list of 'dead musicians', you'd wonder why you'd want to be a musician . . . . or smoke in a dynamite factory, jump out of planes without a parachute, or swim with white sharks.

We've got to do better.

 

[mobdirt]

It's like Hendrix
either you get it or you don't

 

[cnltb]

what the heck are people idolize him anyway? what's missing?

This again...?

 

[Watchootognbout]

There was bass before Jaco........And bass after Jaco.
Big difference.

 

[retslock]

There’s bass before Jaco and after... You had to be there to fully understand the importance of him.

I saw Weather Report live in Sydney many years ago. Jaco did a solo performance - the rest of the band left the stage while he did his thing. It was the first time I ever saw looping in action and it was an intriguing performance. I could see what amazing ability he had but I was left thinking that it was something else rather than bass on show and it was. He innovated and played outside of conventional bass thinking. His ingenuity and technique were obvious. His groove was not so obvious to my ears. I still feel that way.
For me, the groove is my thing and I lay it down in a supporting roll. I don’t believe Jaco saw himself in a supporting roll but he wanted to forge new paths in music and that’s totally fine. I want to hear a solid groove that makes me feel and I don’t get that from Jaco.
As a unit, the band made wonderful music but I didn’t leave that concert as a Jaco fan.

 

[Bassist30]

Bass playing comes in 2 parts. Pre Jaco and Post Jaco. One of my favorite Jaco Tunes Is Havona, both in comping and solo.

 

[Watchootognbout]

You either "get it"or you don't.
No one should have to help you.

 

[bass71]

Its simple.

a, he knew the fretboard backwards and inside out.
b, he was the first player to play down by the bridge.
c, he developed a unique style which was copied then and now by everyone.

But if you don't get it, its ok.

 

[two fingers]

I wonder if music like this would be uninspiring and dull, it must be because it was written in the early 1700's...

Jaco appreciated this kind of music and did a blazing version of Chromatic Fantasy on Bass.

Open your ears and minds gentlemen!

People who enjoy one kind of music over another are not closed-minded.

I like baroque music more than the classical period. I like impressionist art more than some other periods. I like novels based on some truth like Arthur Hailey, ert.

When it comes to jazz, I much prefer the kind many would call "easy listening". It's relax music to me. Fourplay, Yellowjackets and the like.....

And I am not fond of sitting and listening to much of Jaco's work. It doesn't speak to me. Tons of music does.

I am not closed-minded.

Do you like ALL kinds of music and art?

 

[Korladis]

For me Jaco did his best stuff with Weather Report. The two examples on Joni’s songs don’t do it for me at all. His tone is hard, there’s very little space and he sounds like he’s on his own trip and not really supporting the vocal.
However, I just love the Heavy Weather album - one of my all time favourites. In this setting Jaco does some really beautiful playing. He certainly was an influential and polarising player.
My own feelings about him are polar - his undeniable ability to create beautiful melodies and his tone - sweet at times but hard and cold at others. I don’t believe he influenced my playing at all except to say that he steered me away from the bridge pickup - a sound that to me has no warmth and one I don’t care for.

Guess I have poor taste. I've tried many times to get into Jaco's stuff. I honestly can't ****ing stand Weather Report. I tried many times to get into that album. Gave up in frustration and annoyance.

Music is like food. You taste it and either like it or you don’t. You can’t argue someone into likeing food or music.

Exactly. Jaco's stuff is like brussels sprouts. Healthy, but I will never like it.

Jaco. One of the 5 greatest players ever to pick up an electric bass.
Just go listen to his first solo album. Heavy Weather by Weather Report And Shadows And Light Joni Mitchell. Just to start.
He introduced the world to fretless Bass. He is on the Mount Rushmore of electric Bassists.
If your not a fan of his style of music, ok cool. But his command of the bass still has impact 40 years later.

I've listened to Heavy Weather many times. I find it tedious. He's a way better bassist than I will ever be, but it just isn't fun to listen to.

If the album Heavy Weather doesn't explain it you will nevet get it.

I guess I'll never get it. Incredibly boring, monotonous album to my ears.

There was bass before Jaco........And bass after Jaco.
Big difference.

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.

 

[gumbynotpokey]

To my ear, his lines and tones are a niche and an acquired taste. Sometimes he's a bit much. Overall, he's super-impressive for his innovation on many levels, IMO. If there was one album to listen to, that some might not have heard before, that gives a great window into the reason his playing could be appreciated - for me it's Pat Metheny's debut album. Dig it. (headphones, of course).

 

[retslock]

Its simple.

a, he knew the fretboard backwards and inside out.
b, he was the first player to play down by the bridge.
c, he developed a unique style which was copied then and now by everyone.

Hold the phone....not everyone. Not even close.

 

[Mr.Ace]

Brought bass to the forefront. Musical mastery. Weird thumbs.

 

[mobdirt]

Guess I have poor taste. I've tried many times to get into Jaco's stuff. I honestly can't ****ing stand Weather Report. I tried many times to get into that album. Gave up in frustration and annoyance.


Exactly. Jaco's stuff is like brussels sprouts. Healthy, but I will never like it.


I've listened to Heavy Weather many times. I find it tedious. He's a way better bassist than I will ever be, but it just isn't fun to listen to.


I guess I'll never get it. Incredibly boring, monotonous album to my ears.


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.

try this(?)

jaco and pat methany rowtco here

 

[DrayMiles]

I saw Weather Report live in Sydney many years ago. Jaco did a solo performance - the rest of the band left the stage while he did his thing. It was the first time I ever saw looping in action and it was an intriguing performance. I could see what amazing ability he had but I was left thinking that it was something else rather than bass on show and it was. He innovated and played outside of conventional bass thinking. His ingenuity and technique were obvious. His groove was not so obvious to my ears. I still feel that way.
For me, the groove is my thing and I lay it down in a supporting roll. I don’t believe Jaco saw himself in a supporting roll but he wanted to forge new paths in music and that’s totally fine. I want to hear a solid groove that makes me feel and I don’t get that from Jaco.
As a unit, the band made wonderful music but I didn’t leave that concert as a Jaco fan.

For the record, I found/find him and Stanley had a tendency to act to pop-star-ish occasionally. Even Miles too... The live concerts didn’t reflect the same precision a lot of times imo. When he was alive I had to work extra hard to listen to his records. I didn’t get it... but then again, I have an open mind and don’t have “a locked mind or locked ears.” His place stands. He came up with innovative techniques... period.

 

[equill]

Jaco forever changed peoples' perceptions of what was possible on the electric bass similar to the way Jimi Hendrix changed the way people thought about the electric guitar. Jaco had a singular tone: fretless jazz bass, favoring the bridge pickup. No one was doing this in 1976. Sure, there were incredible bassists back then, but Jaco could absolutely BLAZE. He inspired an entire legion of copy cats.

Thankyou; I'm yet another of the "what's the fuss?" brigade, but this explanation makes sense.

Reminds me of trying to explain to kids what the big deal was about Star Wars, actually: it might not do anything for you, with the stuff you've grown up on, but at the time it was groundbreaking.