Finding Jaco (my pilgrimage to the holy land and communion with the ghost of a legend)

This past weekend, after a quick three shows in two days, my lovely girlfriend woke me up early Sunday morning and told me to pack a bag. She was going to take us both on a road trip to South Florida to show me where she grew up and spent her childhood.
Little did I know that she had done her research and had a plan...
It turns out that she had lived in Jacos old neighborhood as a child even attended to the same high school. She took it upon herself to research addresses and locations and we visited several key locations relevant to the life and times of Jaco Pastorius, the fallen champion of electric bass.
I want to share my experience with y’all .

 

Jacos childhood home in Oakland park.

 

The home of Jacos childhood friend (name and address withheld)
It was told to us that this is the location where Jaco first touched an electric bass

 

We stopped at Jaco Pastorius memorial park where the building is decorated with life sized murals.
I say life sized because he was a giant and the mural reflect it beautifully.

 

More from the park

 

We then went to the location of the now defunct Peaches records (Now a porn store) where Jacos hand and footprints are cast in the sidewalk cement along side others

 

Our search eventually lead us to a tragic location.
The site of the mid nite bottle club.
The address where Jaco was murdured at the hands of a thug club bouncer.
A liquor store now resides there next to a another night club.
I’m unsure if the nightclub next door was the actual location of the fight. Our sources gave us the address of the liquor store

 

Jacos elementary school

 

Jacos church

 

Our final stop was at the cemetery where we paid our respects

 

After locating Jacos grave, a moment of silent prayer...

 

I laid my bass on the ground and let Jaco check it out for a while
If he chose to play it , I don’t know. But I’d like to think he’d appreciate the offer.

 

Some more assorted pics.

 

Thanks for joining in on my journey everyone.