Jaco the world greatest bass player ...

[4001]

As great as any of the greatest athletes ever...
Music might be art and is more subjective but ability is ability.
You can say that so and so from (fill in the name of some popular rock band) is the greatest bass player but basic hold the line and the bottom isn't much on the technical ability side...yeah, you can say a lot with one note at the right time but you have to do that and the rest of it as well... the greatest athletes have statistics to prove out their greatness but some might not like the way they go about their game.....
There were a lot of great bass players around when Jaco was doing his thing..... 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.

If there was a Mt. Rushmore for the greatest bassists, one of those four would have to be Jaco. No debate there.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

To each their own.

 

[Mike Sorr]

I was fortunate enough to see him play live several times in NYC. Jaco was more than just great, and I mean truly great, bass playing. The word genius is used pretty carelessly these days, but I think it applies to Jaco. Was he the greatest of all time? Perhaps not by today's standards, but at the time he was right there with anybody..and even by today's standards he's still in the conversation.

 

[Savage_Dreams]

The line of much lesser players, hoping to exalt themselves by tearing the cat down, forms on the left.

not agreeing that hes the worlds greatest bass player doesnt mean youre tearing him down. i would never try to name any one bassist the one and only greatest bass player. its just a ridiculous concept. its not like sports where you can actually measure skill with points, distances, or times.

 

[roccobass]

View attachment 3690953

I think Jaco had an original spirit. Even though Rocco from TOP is technical my favorite, Jaco covered so much ground and genres. In his prime, he was fearless and he could play any style. A lot of folks also forget he was a drummer first. Dunno. A lot of folks have their idea of who might be the greatest. I know a number of local bass playing college students who use Jaco’s material when they’re trying to get into their respective music programs. I would think Jaco might be better labeled: Most Influential Bassist. And no, it’s not same as Worlds Greatest. Plus for Jaco, he wasn’t into upright.

 

[roccobass]

As great as any of the greatest athletes ever...
Music might be art and is more subjective but ability is ability.
You can say that so and so from (fill in the name of some popular rock band) is the greatest bass player but basic hold the line and the bottom isn't much on the technical ability side...yeah, you can say a lot with one note at the right time but you have to do that and the rest of it as well... the greatest athletes have statistics to prove out their greatness but some might not like the way they go about their game.....
There were a lot of great bass players around when Jaco was doing his thing..... 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.

If there was a Mt. Rushmore for the greatest bassists, one of those four would have to be Jaco. No debate there.

It’s funny. In the Jaco book, I believe he gives recognition to both Chris Squire and my idol Rocco.

 

[Wasnex]

Jaco, true legend and genius.

Everyone in here owes him a dept a gratitude. Even if they can't admit it.

/

Respect and RIP

Seems to be a huge lack of respect towards certain bass innovators that’s been a trend here on TB for some years. $%^& shame

IMHO the lack of respect is partially a response to fanbois who post remarks like Jaco only needed 4-strings. I am not Jaco and I prefer 6-strings. I am not sure why I need to be berated for either of these facts.

Back in the day I was inspired by Jaco's sound and I think he made an incredible contribution to bass. I don't particularly care for many of his solo albums and his life story is incredibly sad and pathetic despite his accomplishments.

While I greatly admire his skill, I would not want to be the type of player or person he became. However I agree we all owe him a debt of gratitude, so RIP.

 

[jerry]

The Jaco topic-grenade gets lobbed in here every few weeks it seems.

 

[Skinsey]

I'll never forget the time i saw alex webster live. It was the mid nineties, I didnt know a bass could be played like that.

 

[Steven Ayres]

Not that it matters, but at the time I recall being a lot more connected with Stanley Clarke's playing than Jaco's.

 

[Mark Ambler]

It was particularly fortunate that Jaco was a member of Weather Report, it was such a great vehicle for him, he was a Giant!

Also, I don’t go along with the ‘greatest player’’ classification for any musician.

 

[bucephylus]

not agreeing that hes the worlds greatest bass player doesnt mean youre tearing him down. i would never try to name any one bassist the one and only greatest bass player. its just a ridiculous concept. its not like sports where you can actually measure skill with points, distances, or times.

Of course. He knew that; it was just part of the schtick. There is no “best” in art.

 

[Mastermold]

Hyperbole and the internet. Oui!

 

[Herrick]

Cool portrait.

That documentary that came out a few years ago was pretty good. Definitely worth watching even if though I wasn't a fan. It's too bad about his mental condition but maybe that's part of what made him the great musician he was.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Not that it matters, but at the time I recall being a lot more connected with Stanley Clarke's playing than Jaco's.

I think a lot of us where bigger Stanley than Jaco fans. Stanley Clarke brought a brashness and flash to the bass guitar that surely made it easier for a lot Jaco music, which often did not feature traditional bass lines, to be accepted.

 

[glocke1]

Great portrait!

People coming along to point out that while he revolutionized electric bass, especially in fusion, he wasn't the world's greatest bassist at the time, never mind GOAT, in 3... 2... 1...

Who the greatest bass player is or was is entirely subjective.

Frankly I think when it came to tone, feel, and empathy for the music (if that makes any sense) Jaco was the best and always will be the best.

Man, just listen to Jaco. Joni and Pat.

 

[bassliner50]

Jaco? Technically very adept. Worlds best? I sincerely doubt it. In fact the worlds best is an unfillable criteria. Speed and tecnical chops mean less to me. The players who bring the music to a higher level of the art are the ones that keep me awake at night.

 

[Splash7]

Jaco, true legend and genius.

Everyone in here owes him a dept a gratitude. Even if they can't admit it.

I never heard of Jaco until I joined TB. I checked him out a while back. Great bass player.
I don't care for his style and I am not a big jazz bass follower.

But, I don't believe I owe him a debt of gratitude. My debt of gratitude goes to Paul McCartney and the Beatles. They are the reason why I am a bass player. 1964, Ed Sullivan Show...I was 10 years old.

 

[IamGroot]

I was aware of Jaco in the late 70s before I played bass.
When i started playing bass in the mid 90s, Jaco's method vhs, cassette and book were my bible.
Nowadays, i dont listen to Jaco a lot but i got a lot of technique from him. I was playing a jam this week and i threw in some jaco and the drummers eyes got really big.

 

[JohnnyChatter]

First thing first. The portrait is great! Very cool! I never really followed Jaco until like 5 years ago and to be honest I don’t get it. That being said he influenced many people and players that I do love and I thank him for that. Why anyone would hate a person who loved the same thing we all love needs to find a better outlet. I do try to give it a listen every time I read about him.