For those who don't like how Jaco plays...

[logdrum]

The burpy tone was created by Leo Fender when he designed the Jazz bass, because even uprights can be focused and burpy as well, not just thud and thump. People who think upright just sound a certain way, obviously do not play one regularly.

Blame Leo and not Jaco if the burpy and nasally tone bugs you. He certainly saw a need for it, other wise he would have just have just given us 1 volume to control both pickups.

 

[meisi]

Didn’t do it for me. I still must not be a fan.

I’d love to hear more notes he doesn’t play. Would make his runs more impressive. IMO.

 

[Formula73]

God that tone sounds like a series of anxious, unsure farts.

 

[antfarm]

This may be the best video of Jaco playing bass, but it definitely isn't a video of his best playing.

Here is some video of his best playing in my opinion:





And one more for the haters:

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

Yea thats not too bad.

Was he stoned sometimes or all the time?

 

[bherman]

I'm another guy in the camp of "admire his chops but can't stand to listen to him". I think in this case, he overplays to the point of detracting from the really terrific playing of the other guys. His double-stops etc are distracting and clash with what Scofield is doing.

 

[Mister Magic]

I wouldn't bother trying to persuade anybody who doesn't already love Jaco as a bass player any more than I would bother trying to dissuade someone from loving Gene Simmons as a bass player. That said, there are much, much better video recording examples of his playing.

Jaco is already widely celebrated as one of the greatest bass players ever. His musical genius legacy is doing just fine.

And for anyone that doesn't know...the day that instructional video was filmed, Jaco did not even show up. He was found destitute sleeping on a park bench. I'm shocked he sounds as good as he does throughout the video.

 

[Geogio]

Always enjoyed this instructional tape or dvd (I think I have a DVD now). What I liked about it was it really showcased Jaco's beach music influence. It's all over the place!

Having lived in beach towns most if my adult life, I've seen a lot of beach bands. There still is a kind of a "shag" and retro scene going on. And there were quite a few good quality outfits out there, local and regional filling those summer dance clubs.

Jaco is seething that beach vibe, in this session. There are a few stories regarding the session and what it took to get it done and sadly, those anecdotes are not very pleasent, but the producer managed to get the session put together, on tape and distributed successfully.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Not a super fan boy of Jaco...more of a "appreciater ".
But I really dislike the "over-player" thing. I've been tagged at times with the "busy bass player"
thing, usually by other players. Never from audiences.
You rarely hear of guitarists, drummers, or keyboard players described as such.
The whole " stay in your lane" thing dosent fly with me. As long as your taking care of the pocket...I say FLAME ON!!

 

[logdrum]

I think you just have to like Jazz Fusion and R%B . If he overplays so does Rocco.

Many people who complain about Jaco do not complain about Billy Sheehan who basically shreds on bass guitar. Maybe because Jaco plays through changes and not just wailing on the Pentatonic scale so Jaco is interpreted as playing too much. BTW I love Billy Sheehan equally - who is a nice person and has great energy.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

He more or less invented that tone, which later became kind of the fretless "cliche" tone ( he sounds like he's playing a fretless even with frets").

Being broke and on drugs will get ya that tone as well, even with frets.

 

[SteveCS]

I hear that alot about his tone. It’s his signature, for sure.
...
Maybe if he’d lived long enough we’d seen him experiment more with that. IMO
...

I remember having my Wal serviced by Wal and picking it up from Ian's flat in Shepherd's Bush, London. That was the evening of 21st September 1987 and I was there when Ian got the call telling him that Jaco had died. Turned out Jaco had been in communication with Wal through the summer about having them build a bass for him. Had the events of that summer turned out differently it sure would have moved the dial in terms of his 'signature' tone. Sadly we'll never know...

 

[Smooth_bass88]

OMG TB you disappointed me

 

[SLO Surfer]

This entire Modern Electric Bass video kinda makes me sad. I’m pretty sure Jaco was homeless and didn’t even own a bass when this was recorded.

He was very good at bass.

 

[depalm]

I like Jaco.

He was able to find his own voice on this instrument. This is (for me) the most important thing about him.

Most of the time I don’t care much about people playing imitating Jaco.

 

[roccobass]

I wouldn't bother trying to persuade anybody who doesn't already love Jaco as a bass player any more than I would bother trying to dissuade someone from loving Gene Simmons as a bass player. That said, there are much, much better video recording examples of his playing.

Jaco is already widely celebrated as one of the greatest bass players ever. His musical genius legacy is doing just fine.

And for anyone that doesn't know...the day that instructional video was filmed, Jaco did not even show up. He was found destitute sleeping on a park bench. I'm shocked he sounds as good as he does throughout the video.

When he utters the words “get me a gig” to Jerry Jemmott is where it hits home on how bad things had gotten .

 

[Mister Magic]

I think you just have to like Jazz Fusion and R%B . If he overplays so does Rocco.

Many people who complain about Jaco do not complain about Billy Sheehan who basically shreds on bass guitar. Maybe because Jaco plays through changes and not just wailing on the Pentatonic scale so Jaco is interpreted as playing too much. BTW I love Billy Sheehan equally - who is a nice person and has great energy.

Agreed.

I saw Billy at a bass clinic in Nashville with Jeff Berlin a couple of years ago and he was struggling to play over a 12 bar i-iv-v blues progression.

The only times Jaco sounds obnoxious to me was when he was obviously high on drugs or having an uncontrolled manic episode.

 

[bassbrad]

I really enjoy the WR videos that are coming out with Jaco on bass as a much better way to experience the power, grace and joy of Jaco's bass mastery.

I still remember my first experience seeing Jaco with WR, the initial shock of not seeing Alphonso Johnson and then being totally blown away by the skinny white guy.

 

[roccobass]

I think you just have to like Jazz Fusion and R%B . If he overplays so does Rocco.

Rocco is Mr. 16th Note. I’m totally biased in his favor. In the midst of it all, I believe he remained tasteful, IMHO.


In the Jaco bio, Jaco cites him and Chris Squire as two bassists he admired.

Ironically, someone ask Rocco why he never solos. If I remember right, he responded,
“I’m soloing all the time.”

 

[bucephylus]

As Thumper says, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.”

I am constantly amazed at how on earth one of the greatest bass guitarists, Fusion Jazz composers, and band leaders is so easily flamed by a bunch of ill informed hobby bass players here on TB. Literally LOL.

“Burpy tone?” That oft repeated meme in posts on TB is the first clue that ignorance is on display.

I get it that everyone has different tastes. That’s perfectly fine. Don’t like a given player or style of music? That’s just dandy. No problem. Have at it. But, pejorative comments based on false information are simply inaccurate.

A Fender Jazz Bass into an Acoustic 360 does NOT “burp.” I recommend trying it some time. Is it different from a Precision Bass? Yup. Does it “burp?” Absolutely not.

Here is a link to a later date in Jaco’s playing time. I suppose for those who have decided to “hate” Jazz, this will be TL;DL. Try to keep in mind that in 1982, we didn’t have chromatic tuners; and many players couldn’t even get their instruments properly in tune. LOL. Enjoy. Or, don’t.




Edit: I would just like to add that Jaco, the Musician, was only with us in a broad performance sense, for 13 or so years; but, in that time, he left us with a massive library of creative work, which can only be compared to the likes of Charlie Parker. Jaco had significant mental health issues, which very unfortunately went without proper treatment. Aiming “druggie” comments at him is further indication of pretty nasty ignorance. Please be kind.