Jaco on Donna Lee. Is it improvised or not?

[odin70]

A famous bassist that should not be mentioned here on TB claimed once that Donna Lee was written out. Does anyone have info on this?
PS! Please no "how dare you" comments

 

[GrieverFIN]

A famous bassist that should not be mentioned here on TB claimed once that Donna Lee was written out. Does anyone have info on this?
PS! Please no "how dare you" comments

Does it really matter? Or maybe, what's it going to prove? It's not really important if it is or is not improvised, it's the result (which is the recording) that matters.

 

[bassbrad]

It is a transcription of a Charlie Parker tune, at the time it was one of those impossible challenges for any instrumentalist to master, considered way out of bounds for a bass player.

 

[odin70]

Does it really matter? Or maybe, what's it going to prove? It's not really important if it is or is not improvised, it's the result (which is the recording) that matters.

Oh really?? So you would not find it interesting to know that all e.g Coltrane solos where written out in advance, if that was the case?

 

[RedLeg]

charlie parker omni book for bass clef and a whole lot of sheddin!

 

[odin70]

It is a transcription of a Charlie Parker tune, at the time it was one of those impossible challenges for any instrumentalist to master, considered way out of bounds for a bass player.

I know the melody is Parker (or Miles?) but the solo is for what i know Jacos. I cant recall having heard Jaco "improvise" this good before or after this recording.

 

[SamanthaCay]

If my memory serves me correct the original Charlie Parker version and Jaco’s version are almost identical except for being on different instruments.

 

[odin70]

If my memory serves me correct the original Charlie Parker version and Jaco’s version are almost identical except for being on different instruments.

Im not talking about the head.

 

[ethnotime]

Definitely improvised. He worked out the head in and the head out (which gets transposed to E!) but everything in between is all improvised. Plus Jaco doesn't seem like the kind of player who would work a solo out beforehand. Maybe he had a general road map (like using harmonics in certain places) since it was for a big label recording but it sounds like all improv to me.

BTW playing with just percussion is pretty challenging and from what I remember Don Alias is not playing any kind of riff for Jaco to rest on, he's practically soloing along with Jaco! Great recording.

 

[rockstarbassist]

Jeff said it, so I believe it. Most of us live with blinders on to reality; especially when it comes to "heroes".

 

[odin70]

Definitely improvised. He worked out the head in and the head out (which gets transposed to E!) but everything in between is all improvised. Plus Jaco doesn't seem like the kind of player who would work a solo out beforehand. Maybe he had a general road map (like using harmonics in certain places) since it was for a big label recording but it sounds like all improv to me.

BTW playing with just percussion is pretty challenging and from what I remember Don Alias is not playing any kind of riff for Jaco to rest on, he's practically soloing along with Jaco! Great recording.

Yes, the recording is fantastic!
..but, have you ever heard Jaco play an improvised solo this good over the D.L changes (other than this recording) I have not..and that is imo a bit strange since its one of his most famous recordings ever.

 

[odin70]

Plus Jaco doesn't seem like the kind of player who would work a solo out beforehand

What about Havonna?

 

[RedLeg]

i'm listening to a live version of it and following along in my omni book. He borrows a few licks every now and then, but it looks like he is improvising.

 

[jnuts1]

i have heard interviews where he states that it was the first take & he was reading it

 

[Marty Forrer]

i have heard interviews where he states that it was the first take & he was reading it

If so, that's some pretty serious reading skills. What does it matter anyway? It's Jaco at his finest......

 

[Mike Dimin]

I love Jaco's version. That being said, I was in bass ensemble class 1979 at Berklee and our teacher, Whit Brown, got pretty indignant about Jaco's version - stating that "Jaco couldn't swing". He then proceeded to just nail it, on upright no less

 

[bottomzone]

Whether the solos were improvised or not does not negate the incredible playing that was immortalized for generations to come!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

 

[odin70]

stating that "Jaco couldn't swing"

I cant say i agree

 

[odin70]

Whether the solos were improvised or not does not negate the incredible playing that was immortalized for generations to come!

I totally agree. Nevertheless it is my right to be curious.

No "how dare you" comments please.

 

[jnuts1]

i don't think it matters, i was just saying what i had heard since he asked that exact question