Jaco the world greatest bass player ...

[PJ Muzikmansky]

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.

Brilliant post Tom

 

[Tom Bomb]

Brilliant post Tom

Thank you kind sir.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I'm very sorry to bring this up but it seems to people are avoiding the subject... I remember long ago my bass teacher telling me he had died of a heroin over dose or was an addict. I watched the documentary and was surprised they didn't mention it. Blamed more on bipolar issues.
I chalked it up to the producers trying to preserve his legacy.
Was this a rumour that was going around at that time? To explain for his errattic behavior? or did I just get some bad info?

Unfortunately, you either remember wrong or you were given the wrong information my friend. He never used heroin. He was bipolar. He self-medicated, consisting of alcohol and later combined with cocaine. He died from a beating from a club manager.
The Life of Jaco | Jaco Pastorius

 

[roccobass]

I'm very sorry to bring this up but it seems to people are avoiding the subject... I remember long ago my bass teacher telling me he had died of a heroin over dose or was an addict. I watched the documentary and was surprised they didn't mention it. Blamed more on bipolar issues.
I chalked it up to the producers trying to preserve his legacy.
Was this a rumour that was going around at that time? To explain for his errattic behavior? or did I just get some bad info?

I know DJ offered a great site for Jaco info. If a good book is your speed, check this on out. It's excellent.

Jaco: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius, "The World's Greatest Bass Player" by Bill Milkowski

 

[jsbarber]

... there was no way to compare someone like Chris Squire to Jaco......two totally different but GREAT players that couldn't swap gigs but both created some of the greatest bass parts ever.

I'm pretty sure Chris Squire couldn't have done a Weather Report gig, but I'm not willing to concede that Jaco couldn't have done a Yes gig... (No offense intended)
It sure would be interesting to see what he'd have done if he tried.

 

[Manuel Bass]

I'm pretty sure Chris Squire couldn't have done a Weather Report gig, but I'm not willing to concede that Jaco couldn't have done a Yes gig... (No offense intended)
It sure would be interesting to see what he'd have done if he tried.

In his good times jaco could have a gig with yes with no rehearsal just listening the music he was killer

 

[jsbarber]

I have to chime in one more time about Jaco's character. As I mentioned, I hung out with him, mostly over a few days in 1977.
...
I don't think it was arrogance that got him killed. When he was very ill toward the end, his weird, self-destructive drive to push people got to the point where he would supposedly go into bars and pick the biggest, meanest person to insult. He finally picked the wrong person.

Thank you for posting this story. I'd just like to say that I've not heard it said that Jaco picked a fight with this bouncer. The story I heard is that he showed up at the bar and snuck into the bar through a side door. The bouncer threw him out, and Jaco snuck in again and may have tried to get up on the stage to join (he knew the players). The bouncer took him outside an beat him to death. Apparently Jaco was heavily under the influence at the time. I'm just saying it seems like you are attributing some blame on Jaco for picking a fight. I've not heard that that's what happened, although I wasn't there and I could be misinformed. In any event, what the bouncer did was inexcusable.

 

[Tazziedevil]

I've tried on many occasions to get into Jaco/Weather Report... but I just can't. The music doesn't speak to me and I find Jaco'a Bass tone to grate on me.

It is impressive that 40 years after he was releasing music we are still discussing his contributions though.

 

[jerry]

There is the album Jeff Berlin did with Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe showing a jazz cat sitting in with the Yes cats. There has been some damning of that album over the years, but I thought Berlin did a great job considering he was just subbing the gig.

 

[roccobass]

I'm pretty sure Chris Squire couldn't have done a Weather Report gig, but I'm not willing to concede that Jaco couldn't have done a Yes gig... (No offense intended)
It sure would be interesting to see what he'd have done if he tried.

You gotta admit. Wouldn't have been something to hear Jaco groove with Bill Bruford? If not with Yes, his fusion projects.

 

[roccobass]

There is the album Jeff Berlin did with Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe showing a jazz cat sitting in with the Yes cats. There has been some damning of that album over the years, but I thought Berlin did a great job considering he was just subbing the gig.

I was going to say, this is about as close to "Jaco" as you're going to get to him playing with Yes. Jeff Berlin was always getting compared to him. There's one article where Jeff says one of the reasons he doesn't play fretless is the comparison would be more so.

 

[Roger W]

I've tried on many occasions to get into Jaco/Weather Report... but I just can't. The music doesn't speak to me and I find Jaco'a Bass tone to grate on me.

It is impressive that 40 years after he was releasing music we are still discussing his contributions though.

Have you checked out his work with Joni Mitchell? In that group he wasn't competing for sonic space with keyboard bass.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

This is your 2nd post ever on TB.

Euh...welcome to the.....ah never mind.....

He's no Sid Vicious ...

Note:

As clearly demonstrated under two recent threads, Mr. Vicious was indeed able to play bass ...

 

[Tazziedevil]

Have you checked out his work with Joni Mitchell? In that group he wasn't competing for sonic space with keyboard bass.

i sure haven't. Any recommendations?

 

[J_Bass]

i sure haven't. Any recommendations?

Sorry for stepping in.

I have this one and I love it:

Joni Mitchell: Mingus | Jaco Pastorius

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

i sure haven't. Any recommendations?

IIRC, the complete discography is:

1. Hejira, 1976
2. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, 1977
3. Mingus, 1979
4. Shadows and Light, 1980

There's a video of Shadows and Light, very much worth watching for all the personnel involved, a literal fusion all-star cast of the day.

 

[jerry]

IIRC, the complete discography is:

1. Hejira, 1976
2. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, 1977
3. Mingus, 1979
4. Shadows and Light, 1980

There's a video of Shadows and Light, very much worth watching for all the personnel involved, a literal fusion all-star cast of the day.

 

[Tazziedevil]

IIRC, the complete discography is:

1. Hejira, 1976
2. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, 1977
3. Mingus, 1979
4. Shadows and Light, 1980

There's a video of Shadows and Light, very much worth watching for all the personnel involved, a literal fusion all-star cast of the day.

Ok, thanks for that. Will give it a listen!

 

[dougjwray]

Thank you for posting this story. I'd just like to say that I've not heard it said that Jaco picked a fight with this bouncer. The story I heard is that he showed up at the bar and snuck into the bar through a side door. The bouncer threw him out, and Jaco snuck in again and may have tried to get up on the stage to join (he knew the players). The bouncer took him outside an beat him to death. Apparently Jaco was heavily under the influence at the time. I'm just saying it seems like you are attributing some blame on Jaco for picking a fight. I've not heard that that's what happened, although I wasn't there and I could be misinformed. In any event, what the bouncer did was inexcusable.

You might be right-- I could be remembering it incorrectly.

 

[dougjwray]

i sure haven't. Any recommendations?

Listen to "Refuge of the Roads" from Joni Mitchell's "Hejira." It changed the entire course of my bass playing.