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Joni Mitchell on Jaco Pastorius

#41
maxgrant said:
And of course, his tone is astounding. His timbre. His attack on the strings.


I strongly advise you to stay away from people with depression. You are guaranteed to make their every problem worse.If you don't have anything useful to add, why not just keep your mouth shut? Then you won't have to apologize for sounding like you haven't got an ounce of empathy in your cold heart.
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I don't think it being cold I just call it as I see it. (I obviously see it differently then You).
Lets me just point something out from statements.

I'm not judging when I say folks should get help. I just think it makes common sense, don't You??? Also I'm not slinging names or insulting anyone either.

It appears that your lashing out at me becuase I do not have bleeding heart for this situation.

On that note I will refrain from contributing any more to this thread. So say what you will.
 
#42
Mike Dimin said:
When Jaco suffered from his bipolar disorder there was little remedy, there were fewer who recognized it as a disease. We are not talking about 2011 here. Getting help for a mental disorder in the 80's was near impossible. Sufferers were left to medicate themselves, usually with horrendous results. I am sure it didn't help that Jaco's larger than life personality drove away those who might have helped.

He continues to be my main inspiration. He opened the doors for so many of us. Every player today, who has taken the instrument in a new direction has recognized the impact that Jaco has had on their development
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I can vouch for your observation. I lost my older brother in 2003. He was a brilliant musician and extremely intelligent man who suffered from bipolar disorder and self-medicated for nearly 20 years with disastrous results.
I used to get angry at my parents bailing him out again and again, seeing it all through my moralistic glasses. Then, one day I realized if he were suffering from a disease like cancer or diabetes I wouldn't judge him, but instead would be compassionate toward him. Realizing that bipolar disorder was no less of a disease and not a moral choice changed my paradigm. I never saw him the same way again.....
 
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#43
I am unabashedly and unashamedly a Jaco fan and hero worshipper. He was a human being like any other, but had an undeniable extraordinary talent and vision. Its a shame his life was cut so short and he had so many problems in the end, but that doesn't diminish his accomplishments and the legacy he left. I love fusion jazz, and Jaco opened a whole world of possibilities for every bass musician to follow.

There seems to be a group of folks on TB who think the bass should just be used as part of the rhythm section only holding down the bottom, and anything else is "wankery". That's fine, each to their own opinion.

But to me, the bass is just as legitimate an instrument as any other to function in every role of an ensemble, and even be a pure solo instrument (i.e. Manring). To me, its as versatile an instrument as a piano (particularly extended range basses)... able to function rhythmically, harmonically, and melodically.
Jaco's genius was his ability to do all of those things at a very high level, both at a technical level (no one can listen to "Chromatic Fantasy" and legitimately deny that) and creatively, plus just his sheer innovation in creating new techniques and sounds no one else had done before.
 
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#44
younggun said:
I am unabashedly and unashamedly a Jaco fan and hero worshipper. He was a human being like any other, but had an undeniable extraordinary talent and vision. Its a shame his life was cut so short and he had so many problems in the end, but that doesn't diminish his accomplishments and the legacy he left. I love fusion jazz, and Jaco opened a whole world of possibilities for every bass musician to follow.

There seems to be a group of folks on TB who think the bass should just be used as part of the rhythm section only holding down the bottom, and anything else is "wankery". That's fine, each to their own opinion.

But to me, the bass is just as legitimate an instrument as any other to function in every role of an ensemble, and even be a pure solo instrument (i.e. Manring). To me, its as versatile an instrument as a piano (particularly extended range basses)... able to function rhythmically, harmonically, and melodically.
Jaco's genius was his ability to do all of those things at a very high level, both at a technical level (no one can listen to "Chromatic Fantasy" and legitimately deny that) and creatively, plus just his sheer innovation in creating new techniques and sounds no one else had done before.
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+1
 
#45
Madness and art have been intertwined since the beginning of time, anybody catch the Van Gogh piece on 60 Minutes this week?;) I'm a believer that Jaco's Bi-polar is one of the reasons he became the innovator he was, by all accounts he was dealing with it until it was exacerbated by blow and alcohol.
I was around before he hit the scene and after, and saw him my times before the drug use, there is no denying his contribution to our chosen instrument. IMHO
 
#46
maxgrant said:
If you don't have anything useful to add, why not just keep your mouth shut? Then you won't have to apologize for sounding like you haven't got an ounce of empathy in your cold heart.
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Another observation... any opinion on this subject should be welcomed IMO. Trying to silence an opposing opinion is why threads about Jaco usually end up going downhill. We should be able to disagree without the other person having to cease talking.

Love him or not should be cool.
:cool:
 
#47
gre107 said:
I actually bought the Mingus album last week. It was the first time I ever heard it. I can't believe that I never listened to it before! What a great recording!
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Ha; I almost envy you for being able to hear it new and fresh. For me, this is one I always come back to; might be my favorite Jaco recording of all.

/rick
 
#50
Thanks for posting this, really a great read... too bad in this thread you can find posts that are just... well, plain wrong. And I'm not talking about whether one likes Jaco or not as a bassist... :rollno:

Also, what younggun said. I got into Jaco somewhat recently myswlf and have a lot to hear yet, but what I heard is already enough to make me think that he was absolutely brilliant as a musician.

Oh well, time to listen to some Joni Mitchell...
 
#51
Shakin-Slim said:
P.S This doco has some pretty interesting info: Jaco Pastorius Documentary Part 1 of 4 - YouTube
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Now that was a very good documentary. Even outside the music world the likes of Nicoli Tesla has some interestng info about the life of that man. Goes to prove again that however long we are here there is something to be learned and gained from someone else regardless of the path that was traveled.
 
#53
I can't see how any musician, especially any bassist could listen to Jaco and not be inspired. Very sad story, I hope it encourages people to avoid drugs. Personally I figure I'm goofy enuff stone cold sober. Jaco was as innovative as any bassist I can think of, just wish he could've gotten the right help for his problems
 
#54
what I've found remarkable is a few drummers I know well who truly love what he did as a bassist and how that made them look at their roles differently including how on earth they're going to interact w/bass like that. He's appreciated by more than bassists for his musical contributions, as Joni articulated so well.
 
#55
"The light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long. And you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy."

This quote from Blade Runner always reminds me of Jaco's life. OF all the artists and performers who stand out for me over decades of going to concerts are Bruce Springsteen and Jaco P.

Reading all of these comments which touch on the bi-polar aspect, I think unless you have experienced it first hand you don't know what you are dealing with. I was married to someone who was bi-polar and at first I thought you could reason with the person but you cannot reason with something that is innate and lives within their personality. Hence the 'arrogance.' So many delusions of grandeur and then going to the opposite extreme in the gutter with the homeless. And obviously any drink or drugs to keep you performing is going to be fatal.
I was lucky enough to see Jaco as his peak: 1978 in Oxford with Weather Report - he was just a sensation then. And then in the summer of 1981 at the Hammersmith Odeon with the Word of Mouth big band. The Twins Live dvd in Japan is an astonishing testament to the man's musicality and personality.

For me, he will always be the greatest bass player that ever lived - and the bi-polar 'arrogance' is a part of that. There are lots of great bass players, but they tend to put their heads down and just get intense and play lots of notes. But you can't watch it! Weather Report were at times a dance band. You could move to it when you weren't Jaco's stage entertainment. And he is the man with The Tone...
There are lots of pretenders as there should be. But I keep coming back to Jaco for bass and general 'musical' inspiration.
Just put on 'Soul intro and the Chicken from that dvd, crank up the stereo and listen to one of the baddest bass riffs ever!
 

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