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Jaco the world greatest bass player ...
- Thread starter michael nieves
- Start date
We had a bouncer just up the road — also a notorious hit man, if you knew the ropes — who took great pleasure, on the big nights, every week, without fail, in obsessively singling out some poor unfortunate soul who'd had a few too many and got himself into some strife, and nailing him to the wall. Many of the regulars loved this game and egged this dropkick on. It was showtime, just the same as it was at school when a fight broke out. But this clown was a violent crim. And people got seriously hurt. I witnessed a good number of these performances before I bailed out, always laying low so that he never got the chance to come at me. Those who got hit were not up to speed with these depraved, cowardly performances and, being unaware, they paid a pretty penny.
These people who ran the show were protected. We who foolishly gave them their livelihoods were not. They employed that joker knowing all too well who he was. It made no difference, and, if it did, it served only the lawless. The whole thing was rigged. If you were in the know, you were relatively safe. Heaven help you though if you if you were expecting a fair fight. These tinpot establishments were a dime a dozen, where I was growing up. If you played the game, you were tolerated, part of the machine. That, to me, was intolerable. Still is. Just because someone happens to be drunk, or down on their luck, or troubled, that does not give you the right to exploit them for your own sordid pleasure. That doesn't make you a hero. That's cowardice, plain and simple. And it happens all the time.
I'd like to think I'd have taken the blows for Jaco. I'd like to think I would not have just looked on, indifferently, perversely, as one of that crowd. But when this type of clown has been let off the leash, you'd need to be on your game if you wanted to survive. Not my game. But then, I could've taken Jaco by the arm and spirited him away, well before the show, I could've warned him; I could have found for him a safer place, a friendly place, far from the madding crowd; I could argue the case for more kindness and understanding, where it matters most.
That's the road we're on, if you're paying attention, whether the bully likes it or not. He may go kicking and screaming. But he will go.
These people who ran the show were protected. We who foolishly gave them their livelihoods were not. They employed that joker knowing all too well who he was. It made no difference, and, if it did, it served only the lawless. The whole thing was rigged. If you were in the know, you were relatively safe. Heaven help you though if you if you were expecting a fair fight. These tinpot establishments were a dime a dozen, where I was growing up. If you played the game, you were tolerated, part of the machine. That, to me, was intolerable. Still is. Just because someone happens to be drunk, or down on their luck, or troubled, that does not give you the right to exploit them for your own sordid pleasure. That doesn't make you a hero. That's cowardice, plain and simple. And it happens all the time.
I'd like to think I'd have taken the blows for Jaco. I'd like to think I would not have just looked on, indifferently, perversely, as one of that crowd. But when this type of clown has been let off the leash, you'd need to be on your game if you wanted to survive. Not my game. But then, I could've taken Jaco by the arm and spirited him away, well before the show, I could've warned him; I could have found for him a safer place, a friendly place, far from the madding crowd; I could argue the case for more kindness and understanding, where it matters most.
That's the road we're on, if you're paying attention, whether the bully likes it or not. He may go kicking and screaming. But he will go.
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Now that you mention it, so do I !!
Finally I know the freedom of playing for the love of the craft without distraction, my only "regret" is that I didn't do it SOONER LOL
One of the greatest and most influential bassists? Absolutely! The world's greatest bassist? That's debatable in my humble opinion.
The mark he left was indelible. There's no debate there. Nor is there debate that he is one of the greats. But greatest ever? Debatable. How do you quantify "greatest"? You can't, really. Use of that "est" is everything.
Certainly one of my favorite bassists to listen to and a huge influence on me as a bass player and musician overall. An amazingly talented individual with ridiculous composing abilities. And a tremendously sad story.
No bass player sends me down YouTube rabbit holes on a regular basis like he does. I wouldn't have my love for fusion if I hadn't discovered "Heavy Weather" at 14.
The man was a tragic genius and we were blessed to have him on this planet.
Certainly one of my favorite bassists to listen to and a huge influence on me as a bass player and musician overall. An amazingly talented individual with ridiculous composing abilities. And a tremendously sad story.
No bass player sends me down YouTube rabbit holes on a regular basis like he does. I wouldn't have my love for fusion if I hadn't discovered "Heavy Weather" at 14.
The man was a tragic genius and we were blessed to have him on this planet.
You're only as good as your last gig. In the last decade, I've played to a lot more people that Jaco, heck I've even played fretless for a lot more people that Jaco.
Not bragging, more reflecting on that fact that it's kinda sad he's not around to make those statements lies.
Not bragging, more reflecting on that fact that it's kinda sad he's not around to make those statements lies.
Well Said,
He is arguably one of the most influential players ever!! Certainly to me anyway BUT I think phrases like "One of the GREATS" or "One of my favorites" are more realistic & appropriate, especially in this day & age where everything has been done & we have amazing resources at our fingertips so that we can search to our hearts content for ANY player in existence (past, present or Future)
it's REALLY difficult to be "original" these days & the next "Greatest" is always approaching on the horizon!!
As much as his talents/music has influenced me, I think his "Greatest" contribution to the craft/music is his "Legacy" more specifically "his son" a good "TB Brother" shared a video called "Tracy's Portrait"
I knew he had a son that played bass but for some SILLY reason, I never checked him out & when I did, I was absolutely floored, it was downright "spooky" and gave me the "chills"
For the first time since his untimely demise I actually feel better about it knowing he has a Lasting Leagcy that will continue on!!
Another thing is the important lesson he taught us that perhaps is the most important of a all being he paid the ultimate price for and that is the dangers of "feeding the flesh" instead of "feeding the spirit" which he paid the ultimate price for!!
It's about the MUSIC, not the Booze, Drugs & Women also it's about being "Humble" there seems to be a direct correlation between the "Self proclaimed Greats"
And Substance Abuse, most dying by their own doing like him & Entwistle just to name a few, again the humble are the ones who seem to enjoy longevity & have the most love & respect!!
Cause he didn't play a P bass with flats 'n tort, confining his playing within the first 5 frets!
Actually it's because he didn't play a "TBird" with big knarly FlatsCause he didn't play a P bass with flats 'n tort, confining his playing within the first 5 frets!
I wish people wouldn't characterize him as a self-indulgent drug addict.
He was mentally ill, and fell into a downward spiral when trying to self-medicate.
He actually spent the early part of his adult life vigorously avoiding alcohol and drugs, mainly because he was aware that was genetically at risk for alcoholism. (As discussed in a GQ magazine article about him years ago.)
He was mentally ill, and fell into a downward spiral when trying to self-medicate.
He actually spent the early part of his adult life vigorously avoiding alcohol and drugs, mainly because he was aware that was genetically at risk for alcoholism. (As discussed in a GQ magazine article about him years ago.)
Back in the day, my wife and I owned "Heavy Weather" and "8:30" on cassette. Wore those out. Weather Report was the whole package.
Recently, I got CDs of "Live in Offenbach 1978", "Weather Report: the Legendary Tapes 1978-1981", and "Truth, Liberty & Soul" by Jaco and the Word of Mouth big band. It's an education.
A lot of people, including some here, slag Jaco for soloing pointlessly using the bridge pu, getting a staccato burping machine gun effect. There were no pointless solos, and while he sometimes did use that tone, he was finding audio space not already occupied by Joe Zawinal's synth bass. In "Birdland", he plays with both the "Jaco tone" and uses the neck pu for a classic 1/8 note walking bass line.
He gets compared to Hendrix a lot; here's a slightly different comparison. Many people focus on Hendix's literal and figurative pyrotechnics and forget what a rock solid rhythm guitar player he was. That, to me, is where he had it all over Cream-era Clapton. Similarly, Jaco was a great groove player if that was demanded. He could do that all day and all night. Sure, he could play Charlie Parker-solos as well, but that was a small piece of the whole of his musicianship.
Recently, I got CDs of "Live in Offenbach 1978", "Weather Report: the Legendary Tapes 1978-1981", and "Truth, Liberty & Soul" by Jaco and the Word of Mouth big band. It's an education.
A lot of people, including some here, slag Jaco for soloing pointlessly using the bridge pu, getting a staccato burping machine gun effect. There were no pointless solos, and while he sometimes did use that tone, he was finding audio space not already occupied by Joe Zawinal's synth bass. In "Birdland", he plays with both the "Jaco tone" and uses the neck pu for a classic 1/8 note walking bass line.
He gets compared to Hendrix a lot; here's a slightly different comparison. Many people focus on Hendix's literal and figurative pyrotechnics and forget what a rock solid rhythm guitar player he was. That, to me, is where he had it all over Cream-era Clapton. Similarly, Jaco was a great groove player if that was demanded. He could do that all day and all night. Sure, he could play Charlie Parker-solos as well, but that was a small piece of the whole of his musicianship.
The Jaco slaggers just sound like sour grapes to me, give the man his due, he had monster chops, perhaps the best of anybody in the 20th century, for that at least, he'll be remembered. I always dug that staccato burp, but it's not everyone's cup of tea. I never heard anyone use false harmonics the way he did before Jaco, I'll credit him with expanding that whole sonic territory. I've had friends descend into madness and addiction due to the same Bipolar disease he suffered from, it's a sickness, not a moral failing. I was really sorry to see him go so young.
- Apr 1, 2000
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