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Does anyone not enjoy Jaco?

I'm going to talk a bit more about Donna Lee because I'm really passionate about this stuff, and that's a guilty pleasure of mine. I guess it's hard to appreciate Jaco's rendition of the tune without being familiar with it and its history. The tune is a bebop melody that was written over the chords of a popular song of the early 20th century Back Home Again in Indiana. Bebop players (Charlie Parker & co) invented a knew melodic vocabulary, that relied on fast playing, busy melodies, extended and altered arpegios, chromaticisms and ornementations. Their preferred method was to take popular tunes of the time, tunes that traditionnal jazz musicians already used as a basis for soloing, and put their new vocabulary on the chord changes of these tunes. For a listener of that time, the chord changes would sound familiar, yet the melody avant-gardist. Nowadays it would be similar to taking a Taylor Swift tune and put some shredding arrangement over it. In fact, some modern jazz musician do just that, check Justin Biebe'rs "Baby" by Dirty Loops :

For a today listener, there already is a barrier, in that these tunes that serve as basis are no longer popular, so the chord changes may not sound as familiar as they were in 1940. So if one is interested, he must first familiar itself with that Indiana song. Here are a few versions :

Early vocal rendition of the song (traditionnal american), the chorus (the only part used in jazz renditions) starts at 0:40 :

Typical 1940s' vocal group rendition (chorus starts at 0:40) :

Traditionnal jazz rendition (Louis Armstrong) :

A sung rendition, while being arranged in a typical bebop fashion. The song is easily recognizable in the sung exposition, and during the guitar solo you can see how bebop players would envision improvisation over the tune :

In a totally different style, modern sung version, I don't know how to call this genre (american trad singing ?)
Note that I absolutely hate this style, but it's still interesting to see the different reaches this song has.

Now let's go to Donna Lee. As I said previously, the chords changes are exactly the same, however the melody was replaced with a more convoluted one, using all bebop idioms. The famous Charlie Parker version :
If you are now familiar with the Indiana tune, you can try to sing along its melody over the head played by Charlie Parker (not an easy exercise, I just tried myself ^^).

Before dwelving into Jaco's tune, I think it's also important to familiarize itself with various versions of this tune. Here's a somewhat more "relaxed" approach of the tune :


And there, a blazing fast version ! For me it's totally joyous to listen to this, that's what I dig about bebop.

For a change of instrument, here it's played on guitar and upright bass :
(btw, Niels Henning Orsted Pederson on upright bass, who is I believe the fastest upright bass player of all time). The Donna Lee tune is a testimony of virtuosity whatever your instrument. I guess Jaco started the trend to play it on any instrument to demonstrate your technical ability.

And now, I think that when you are really familiar with Indiana and Donna Lee, hearing Jaco's tune sound totally different, because it doesn't exist in a vacuum anymore. Jaco Pastorius - Donna Lee

Finally, to put that into historical context, Jaco's Donna Lee is the opening track of his debut album. To me, the song is in part here to make several statements :

- That he is a virtuoso, able to play this tune that was still considered to be exclusively for horns, guitar and piano players.
- That he knows the jazz tradition. Like "ok guys, let me play this traditionnal bebop tune as a bass solo, now I'm gonna play a bunch of fusion stuff and no one can put my jazz knowledge into question". It's a big thing among jazz musician, that you may play modern stuff but you need to know the tradition as well to be respected. He tells that he's not some guy coming from a rock or funk background, but a true jazz musician, whatever he might play next. I think the song is not made to cater to a broad audience, but to jazz educated listeners and his fellow jazz musicians.

Brilliant post. Thank you for that.
 
Coming soon to your favorite basketball forum:
Do Lots of People Think Michael Jordan Was Overrated?
Featuring excellent thoughts like:
"It's my opinion, and I hated the way he played."
"He was good only because he played way back in the '90s."
"The kind of basketball that I understand is the kind they played in the '30s-- slow, unathletic and basic. Jordan was a random noodler."
"His personality was too boisterous. That's why I hated his playing."
"I can do anything he did on the court. It was easy."
 
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Like many artists/musicians/performers, I respect his talent but don't find his stuff is for me.

It should be as easy as that.
It's totally that easy.

Where the ummmm "nonsense" begins is when his (or anyone's playing for that matter) is ridiculed as being 'fart-noodling".

That sets those who respect the players output OFF, as maybe it should. Or not. I personally have opinions on many bassists and their music, but I could not care less about who else likes/dislikes what.
I wouldn't post a thread though, seeking a referendum, "baiting" those who can't handle Mr. Pastorius on bass, for whatever ridiculous reasons!!

JK JK- They're entitled!!
:roflmao:
 
Holy goodness, a poop storm started, to start a thread on TB you either make fun of classic rock, challenge someones opinons or say something on Jaco LOL.

Kidding aside and ot not be toxic like some users, I do enjoy his music, it took me a bit but some of his more rhythm driven songs were caught me.

However I struggle to separate artist from the music sadly, maybe it is just part of my GAD but knowing Jaco started bar fights for fun and was causing trouble makes me struggle to enjoy him at times. He was suffering though from addiction so I feel awful about that maybe he didn't truly mean it.

Either way, like some of his songs, not too into showy solo playing but he inspire millions, sad ending to his life and inappropriate behaviour.
 
Holy goodness, a poop storm started, to start a thread on TB you either make fun of classic rock, challenge someones opinons or say something on Jaco LOL.

Kidding aside and ot not be toxic like some users, I do enjoy his music, it took me a bit but some of his more rhythm driven songs were caught me.

However I struggle to separate artist from the music sadly, maybe it is just part of my GAD but knowing Jaco started bar fights for fun and was causing trouble makes me struggle to enjoy him at times. He was suffering though from addiction so I feel awful about that maybe he didn't truly mean it.

Either way, like some of his songs, not too into showy solo playing but he inspire millions, sad ending to his life and inappropriate behaviour.
Jaco was in mental distress, he wasn't starting bar fights for fun, sometimes people commit suicide without actually doing it themselves. If Jaco died young in a car crash like Scott LaFaro before his mental illness took over, we would be having a different discussion in my opinion.
 
However I struggle to separate artist from the music sadly,
Well unless you have unshakeable self belief, you'll likely struggle to rise above everyone else in the popular imagination. On top of that, how can art from a perfect world be anything but rainbows and unicorns? Humbly suggest that art is the transcendence of flaws, not the lack of them. If I want my art to be produced by immaculate human beings I should probably start by lifting my own game.

Other side of that coin is I can find something of value in most artistic endeavours. If we are calling Lemmy the antiJaco, fine. But he played a big part in the superseding of the screaming symphony that was metal when it still needed the heavy prefix. I've mentioned elsewhere Hendrix's often overlooked pioneering of soundscaping as its own artform. Don't even get me started on dub and dancehall being the grandparents of all the music after rock.

Basically, you can find fault with any art. Or you can look for the good bits. And enjoy it for those reasons.
 
I don't know what if any treatment or meds are available today that weren't in use during Jaco's lifetime.

I do know that he was mentally ill, I'm not a shrink so I don't know if it was Bi-polar, schizophrenia, or whatever, but he had mental issues.

That can be the case sadly w/ some artists, scholars, etc with an extremely high IQ, and no doubt Jaco had intelligence off the charts.
His demise-being pummeled to death by a Bouncer is quite a sad ending.

I mentioned earlier I saw him live w/ Weather Report a long time ago in LA. I thought he was over-active, even hyper; I think some of WR's music called for that, but, Man, he was prowling that small stage!

At the time, I didn't really understand the scope of Weather Report or Jaco; I was a teenager.

Since then- I've learned a lot and what they did resonates with me quite differently now.

P.S. This thread, started by a now remorseful OP, doesn't HAVE to be a S***storm;
If you don't dig Pastorius, just say so w/out calling him a "fart-noodler"! :laugh:
 
I don't know what if any treatment or meds are available today that weren't in use during Jaco's lifetime.

I do know that he was mentally ill, I'm not a shrink so I don't know if it was Bi-polar, schizophrenia, or whatever, but he had mental issues.

That can be the case sadly w/ some artists, scholars, etc with an extremely high IQ, and no doubt Jaco had intelligence off the charts.
His demise-being pummeled to death by a Bouncer is quite a sad ending.

I mentioned earlier I saw him live w/ Weather Report a long time ago in LA. I thought he was over-active, even hyper; I think some of WR's music called for that, but, Man, he was prowling that small stage!

At the time, I didn't really understand the scope of Weather Report or Jaco; I was a teenager.

Since then- I've learned a lot and what they did resonates with me quite differently now.

P.S. This thread, started by a now remorseful OP, doesn't HAVE to be a S***storm;
If you don't dig Pastorius, just say so w/out calling him a "fart-noodler"! :laugh:
Sorry if I misunderstand what you mean in your first sentence but if I am understanding right, drugs for sure were around at that time, hence the reason many mental health facilities shrunk or were abandoned as we see so many left. However those early drugs were used inappropriately like Thorazine and many who did need some form of group home living were abandoned and took street drugs to deal with mental illness. However you we have way better SSRI and also mixing with therapy is key, but some people who struggle with addiction and bipolar actually have reverse effects with some SSRIs. I am sure you know but they use to be given out way more casually in the 90s sadly.

I am not a mental health expert or doctor by any means, but am a huge advocate for mental health and sadly it is a huge problem we see only more and more with the internet and stuff. It is sad to think Jaco would of for sure benefits from some modern treatment but again I am by no means here to judge just give my opinion and view.

No matter what a sad situation for sure.
 
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drugs for sure were around at that time, hence the reason many mental health facilities shrunk or were abandoned as we see so many left.
Yeah but people used to go off their meds then for the same reasons they go off them today. Because they're physically and psychotropically unpleasant to be on.

But try telling that to an accountant for a large healthcare organisation.
 
Sorry if I misunderstand what you mean in your first sentence but if I am understanding right, drugs for sure were around at that time, hence the reason many mental health facilities shrunk or were abandoned as we see so many left. However those early drugs were used inappropriately like Thorazine and many who did need some form of group home living were abandoned and took street drugs to deal with mental illness. However you we have way better SSRI and also mixing with therapy is key, but some people who struggle with addiction and bipolar actually have reverse effects with some SSRIs. I am sure you know but they use to be given out way more casually in the 90s sadly.

I am not a mental health expert or doctor by any means, but am a huge advocate for mental health and sadly it is a huge problem we see only more and more with the internet and stuff. It is sad to think Jaco would of for sure benefits from some modern treatment but again I am by no means here to judge just give my opinion and view.

No matter what a sad situation for sure.
I'm sure psychtropic drugs were around when Jaco was in decline. Reviewing some details, I understand that the meds offered to Jaco were not taken as prescribed because he felt they adversely effected his playing.

IDK the diagnosis of JP's condition, or how he was treated (if at all) or who treated him.

I have some sad experiences-musically, professionally, and as a friend-with someone plagued by mental illness. In my case a Guitarist.
Without a doubt one of the most brilliant, creative players I've had the pleasure of working with. He was also an unbelievably talented Artist- (Painter that is).
He not only tanked a lot of opportunities musically, but also lost many opportunities to display and sell his work at Galleries because he was prone to outbursts, and that does not sit well with Modern/Fine art Dealers ('Cept if it were Van Gogh I guess.) or Music Contractors, Producers, Booking Agents, or Band Leaders.

Sadly he passed (not from a beat-down) but from other medical complications-His Wife felt that some of the meds he was supposed to take effected his health.

It's a very sad thing, exacerbated when someone is gifted with an inordinate amount of talent.
Jaco's story is a real tragedy and a sad loss; he left us way too early.

And that's whether one digs his playing or not.
 
Used to play with some guys for a while. Apparently used to bust their ex second guitarist out of a mental institution when they had gigs. Lovely bloke. Never saw him acting out. Lot of dynamic from before my time.
The saddest thing IME was that there was NOTHING I could do to help him, other than being a good friend. And that was not easy, because he went off on me too!
I took higher ground, and realized it would be the same thing as rejecting someone if they had cancer or another disease, 'cause that;s what Mental Illness is-a disease with treatments that are not absolute.

I miss Steve (his name) and always remember the highs of his music, rather than remembering the times he fell into the "Dark Zone".

These days; this World, It's hard enough t be stable without being plagued with a personality disorder.
 

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