Jaco

Overated? No. The greatest? What does that mean, really? A great jazz oriented player? Yes. Do I find his playing highly respectable? Absolutely. Do I find his million note staccatto and chromatic based solos interesting all the time? No. I owned his solo album and could never get beyond about the 3rd tune without falling into the murkiest depths of boredom. I don't find his compositions to be motivating or even able to maintain my interest for a long period of time. I prefer something a little more risque than his over produced, watered down style of writing. I would much rather listen to John Wetton's playing on Crimson's "Starless and Bible Black" for jazz inspired chops (not really jazz, per se) than than Donna Lee. But, whatever floats your boat.

Not all bassists are staunch Jaco fans nor do we need to be. But, there's nothing wrong with being one either.

 

He's not everyone's cup of tea, but I was truly inspired by his playing. Greatest? Too subjective to rate.

 

that's the first time i've ever seen the words "simple" and "jaco" in the same sentence

 

ugh, Jaco, yawn. Great, harmonics, and he used it as a lead instrument. Well done mate, i mean he did a lot for bassplaying but i mean, come on. Did he really really make a huge difference to any other bass players? Who is totally influenced by one player alone. I know im not, but then thats all my own opinion

 

YAWN!

 

Funny thing is I first heard jaco on Joni Mitchells Hejira album and I still to this day think his lines on refuge of the roads are the best/most melodic he's ever played (in fact it was this song which made me take up bass in the first place).

I must admit the only tracks on his solo cd I liked were portrait of Tracy and come on come over..the "noodly" jazz thing just never did it for me.

 

how can one define greatest?how can you say that sombody is the best? jaco was amazing and he deserves due respect but there is sooo many talented yet undiscovered playersin the world. to say that jaco is the best is to speak with narrowminded and one sided approach to this topic

 

I guess he had about the same influence on the bass as Hendrix had on the guitar... or Parker had on the sax... or Miles...

I know professional jazz bassists who switched to double bass when "Jaco Pastorius" came out. They knew the game had changed and they could no longer compete. They eventually came back to electric, but not until after some serious 'sheddin'

Jeff

 

I was inspired to start playing bass by McCartney, after playing beatles songs on guitar for a year or so it just struck me that there was so much more happening with the bass, and I dug the fact that its affects were more subtle and rhythm-oriented . . . I was actually inspired to learn fretless from hearing Dave Pegg on a Jethro Tull album, THEN I heard Jaco and was struck by his command over improvisation, which can't be denied, and the propulsive rhythm he and a drummer could generate (awesome!), which then led me into the world of jazz . . . but the people who listen to Jaco are mainly bass players (or jazz buffs) his music was never popular, only to those who want to play like him . . . I would say he did for bass-musicianship what the Beatles did for rock bands, just raised the standard at that point in time . . . IMO the concepts of better/worse don't apply to music . . . anyway, you gotta admire the guy's humility!

 

Few people have contributed as much to the advancement of the art of bass playing as jaco has.Most of the people who diss his playing are people who cant ,and never will play on the level he did.Instead of acknowledging his greatness,they knock his playing as a coping structure for the fact that they will never play anything near as great as he did.So for those of you who dont "get" jaco's music-i am truely sorry for you-you are missing out on something wonderful. Jaco is ,was and will always be the KING of the electric bass


"mediocrity is the hallmark of popularity"


p e a c e

 

at the end of each of these posts there should be a big "I'M right and YOU'RE wrong!" message.

 

You're right! But I'm 'righter'!

 

Xavier-
I enjoyed jaco jam.well done man.
peace

 

what're some good Jaco songs?

 

All of 'em.

Seriously, I really like his stuff with Weather Report. His solo stuff is cool, but I'm usually drawn more to ensemble music rather than solo. I like the way he played with other musicians (most of the time).

His technique, sound, and musicality were just astonishing. There are certainly bassists who can play his stuff now, but that's not the same as doing it in the first place. Jaco was a pioneer and an innovator. There aren't really very many who have had the kind of impact he had.

 

Jaco's ability was also revered among his non-bassist peers. Weather Report wouldn't have had the success they did if their fan-base was mainly bass players.

Was Jaco the greatest? Sure... to some people.

 

He was the world's greatest bass playing manic depressive. He made it cool to be a bass player. Then he went nuts.

My recommendations:
"The Chicken" Birthday Concert version
"Dry Cleaner" Joni Mitchell shadows and light live version
"Havona" Weather Report Heavy Weather album
any version of "Continuum"