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Jaco clip causing some controversy
- Thread starter PahaPeikko
- Start date
+1
It reminds me of someone I used to date that asked me to take her to Shakespeare plays. After the first one she asked me if I liked it. I thought for a minute and said no, but I'm glad I went. We went to about 6 plays that year. I don't think I could say I like any of them, but I'm glad I went.
Musical tastes change over time. Some people need to be less close minded. You can dislike something without denigrating it.
To me, his playing in the OP just doesn't sound like it works with the sax. To me, it sounds like he's trying to solo under another solo, there's very little musical support to my ears. (The mix of the performance probably doesn't help)
It fits better when it comes to the singing, but I would definitely rein back the playing under the sax.
It fits better when it comes to the singing, but I would definitely rein back the playing under the sax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyP5L-iIkfM
Here's a great clip of Jaco stepping out of the spotlight and playing some super-simple blues, backing up none other than James Patrick Page.
Here's a great clip of Jaco stepping out of the spotlight and playing some super-simple blues, backing up none other than James Patrick Page.
First off-
Joni's Shadows & Light tour was approx. 1980-ish? Jaco was still in Weather Report (or had just left).
Weather Report's M.O. (per Zawinul) = "We always solo, we never solo".
Check out some Weather Report in concert...if someone is soloing, the other 3-4 guys sometimes sound 'bombastic' in their "support" of the soloist.
I cannot recall the exact tune (maybe "Fast City"?)...I read Peter Erskine retell the story when it was just he & Wayne Shorter were in a "duel" (sounded like two guys doing a solo).
IIRC, Erskine was happy/thrilled with his "support" of Shorter's solo...Shorter told him it was not a duel...but a duet.
I guess that's a suggestion to tone it down.
Which always made me wonder of Shorter's thoughts on Steely Dan's "Aja"...in that tune, he & Steve Gadd are involved in two "duels".
Most people I know always comment about how great Gadd's drumming was on that tune...Shorter seems to get the short end as far as the comments I have heard.
Anyway...carry on.
If it had been Adam Clayton in that vid pounding out root notes we'd have people complaining about that.
Agreed - as Frank Gravis referenced obliquely in the Milkowski biography (regarding JP's teaching techniques: "You'll never get better by practicing, the only way to get better is to watch television"), we as mature musicians lived in a time where top-notch musicianship and composition/arranging skills were everywhere, even in television show themes and incidental music cues, and these pieces were played by studio orchestras filled with seasoned players, not single-O keyboard pro-tool plunkers thumping out tripe to some committee-driven formula - "Here's the happy scene so play major key, three chords, not too busy...now the sad scene, two minor chords, slow feel".
It's a different world now, and not always a better one.
Bottesini, the Bach cello suites etc must all be garbage too.
I once begged for my parents to buy me a bass in junior high because I thought Steve Harris was cool.
I still thought he was cool when I played portrait of Tracy for the all county HS jazz audition.
At that point I pretty much thought in my all knowing teens I could carry the iron maiden gig if given the opportunity. At the same time this Jaco guy I could practice for hours and couldn't scratch the surface.
At that point I'd listen and practice anything someone with more experience then me recommended.
There is an expression on the DB side that goes something like this... Demonstrate your expertise and I will value your opinion. If not shut up and listen.
I once begged for my parents to buy me a bass in junior high because I thought Steve Harris was cool.
I still thought he was cool when I played portrait of Tracy for the all county HS jazz audition.
At that point I pretty much thought in my all knowing teens I could carry the iron maiden gig if given the opportunity. At the same time this Jaco guy I could practice for hours and couldn't scratch the surface.
At that point I'd listen and practice anything someone with more experience then me recommended.
There is an expression on the DB side that goes something like this... Demonstrate your expertise and I will value your opinion. If not shut up and listen.
Never been much of a Jaco fan, but the way the guy could play what popped into his head was awesome.
"There is an expression on the DB side that goes something like this... Demonstrate your expertise and I will value your opinion. If not shut up and listen."
The above quote is exactly the reason I have stayed out of this discussion. However, my liking or not liking any particular performer simply because you think that I should does not make me stupid. Your implication that it does speaks volumes about you.
The above quote is exactly the reason I have stayed out of this discussion. However, my liking or not liking any particular performer simply because you think that I should does not make me stupid. Your implication that it does speaks volumes about you.
I would just say he played brilliantly, and could groove like nobody's business.
His "aggressive" style was exactly what Zawinul wanted, and it helped lift Weather Report to huge success.
And that style is what Joni wanted when she hired him, too.
The brilliant musicians who played with Jaco, including Pat Metheny, didn't take issue with Jaco's playing. But I'm sure the naysayers here know better.
His "aggressive" style was exactly what Zawinul wanted, and it helped lift Weather Report to huge success.
And that style is what Joni wanted when she hired him, too.
The brilliant musicians who played with Jaco, including Pat Metheny, didn't take issue with Jaco's playing. But I'm sure the naysayers here know better.
Nothing at all "wrong" with Jaco's playing...but this song's attitude really calls for an upright acoustic bass...
Let me be more clear, Jaco played bass at an incredibly high level. I don't care if you like him or not, if you want to be a better bass player you make an effort to understand what he was doing. Or not I guess
That's your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it. I know and am certain that Jaco was a very accomplished player, and since this thread started, I have listened to several of his recordings that are posted on YouTube. After listening for a couple of days, I heard very few of his recordings that I liked. For me to improve as a bass player playing the type of music that I enjoy playing, my time would be much better spent listening to Duck Dunn, who, I am sure you would agree, was not as gifted or accomplished technically as Jaco was. Certainly, in your eyes that comment must make me sound like "hillbilly trailer trash". So be it. I had much rather be "hillbilly trailer trash" playing and listening to music that makes me happy than to spend my time listening to some bass genesis screeching out honking notes on a Jazz bass or sitting on my high perch making condescending and disparaging remarks to someone that I feel is beneath me. There have been many posters in this thread, such as me, who have admitted that Jaco was a highly skilled technical player, but one who simply does not play to our tastes. This in no way downplays any of Jaco's many accomplishments; it merely states our differences in taste. Why can't you and others like you accept that your way is not the only way? Why can't you listen to and enjoy your type of music and accept others opinions without casting stones?
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Stealth for some reason you think I am attempting to offend you that is not my intent.
It's not about Jaco being able play really fast or over complicated changes. When you slow it all down his command of every note with intent is there. What Duck is doing is at the heart of Jacos style.
If you have the interest listen to the BBC documentary you'll here them talk about what Jaco was out playing every night tearing apart and putting back together.
It's not about Jaco being able play really fast or over complicated changes. When you slow it all down his command of every note with intent is there. What Duck is doing is at the heart of Jacos style.
If you have the interest listen to the BBC documentary you'll here them talk about what Jaco was out playing every night tearing apart and putting back together.
No offense taken, but you are totally missing my point. Let me be more direct: I listened and did not like what I heard, I don't care to educate myself to the point of understanding, and if that somehow offends you or makes you think less of me, I DON'T CARE. So let's just agree to disagree. OK?
