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

#46
bucephylus said:
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.
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There are plenty of valid criticisms of Jaco, like any musician, even the greats, but that's not what comes out in threads like this. You're right that a lot of guys very much come across as "I never got good enough to explore this side of the instrument so anyone who did is a bum." Sometimes it's jealousy, or just insecurity, as if they have to put down anyone who can do things they can't do in order to justify their own limitations.

You don't hear many players who can actually solo over changes, or break down Teen Town, or understand the technical aspects of Portrait of Tracy, openly talking trash about Jaco or dismissing his musical ability because of his mental illness.
 
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#48
JonathanPDX said:
There are plenty of valid criticisms of Jaco, like any musician, even the greats, but that's not what comes out in threads like this. You're right that a lot of guys very much come across as "I never got good enough to explore this side of the instrument so anyone who did is a bum." Sometimes it's jealousy, or just insecurity, as if they have to put down anyone who can do things they can't do in order to justify their own limitations.
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Or, perhaps, players just don’t like the style of music or playing. Perfectly fine with me. I don’t listen to this material myself much these days. But, it is important to me as a player that our heritage not be misrepresented. You don’t have to like it; but, don’t misrepresent. That’s where I’m coming from.

JonathanPDX said:
You don't hear many players who can actually solo over changes, or break down Teen Town, or understand the technical aspects of Portrait of Tracy, openly talking trash about Jaco or dismissing his musical ability because of his mental illness.
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Not only that; but, the list of other name players who have been informed / influenced is long and distinguished; this recording being just one example.

 
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#51
Please don't post videos from Facebook.

Screenshot_20250121_115948.png
 
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#52
JonathanPDX said:
Some people don't seem to understand that well-known musicians are often hired to play a role and do "their thing."
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John Patitucci talks about this exact point in Beyond the Bassline, how he hears people complain that he needs to go learn how to really play bass instead of the imporvisational jazz stuff, but that he's on hundreds of sessions you wouldn't know it was him doing all the fancy stuff.
 
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#53
I am unaware of any bass player that plays at a high musical level say that they were not influenced by and/or were not amazed by Jaco. I'm certain there are some, I've just never heard or read it anywhere.

Perfectly reasonable if they don't love him, but it is very unusual.

Once we start discussing his tone, I think we are in a different territory. I love many of his tones, but not so much on this instructional video.
 
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#57
I feel like any bass player that hates on Jaco for any reason, do not appreciate players who have absolutely perfect time and deep groove. Even if you don’t dig his tone, his musical sensibilities should be loved and admired by all bassists. We can all learn from that part of his playing
 
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#58
Regardless of what anyone thinks, he changed the course of electric bass, brought fretless to the forefront(for the masses)and manipulated the sound in a manner that would facilitate that new direction. Innovators are always going to annoy the luddites. I’ll bet there were plenty of surf-style rockers and polite, big box jazzers who couldn’t fathom or cope with Hendrix.
Personally, while I was aware that there was this thing called “fretless bass”, it seemed like a backwards looking uptight jazz thing that certain players would use to imitate the upright sound. The few rock players that had it didn’t play it in a way that distinguished it from fretted. Then… I heard Percy Jones first, his stuff was groundbreaking and a little avant-garde, but Jaco came along right after that and it seemed like a whole new world opened up.
I hardly ever see anyone dis Stanley Clarke, and I thought his tone was worse.
 
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#59
faulknersj said:
I might be in the minority on this one but I greatly prefer the ORIGINAL version of The chicken to Jaco’s. Nothing against Jaco…dude is amazing…just like the original feel much better…

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Honestly, I respect Jaco's work, and maybe I will grow to like it some day. But IMO, this is how this song is supposed to be played: in the pocket. 👊
Another example:



Pee Wee used to be a lot around Cologne/Bonn (Germany) in the 2000s, and I heard his assemblies quite a few times in concert. Unforgettable... 🥰
 
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#60
Mister Magic said:
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.
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Its not even his bass and he was detoxing.
 
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