Punk Jazz

[JimK]

But the point I was making along with some other people, was that this was not part of the actual tune as such - but rather a short jam in the studio.

I understand.

So I was saying that the actual tune itself, is laid-back and funky - not punky!!

Jaco explains (somewhere) why his called this "Punk Jazz"..."punk"(lower case "p") is not the music genre. Since this is the tune's title, it gets the "P".(?).
In any event, I recall some teens being called punks back when I lived in Philly in the '60s. It is this usage that Jaco borrows; remember, Jaco did not really see himself as a 'traditional' Jazz player...he was a punk, a mutt, a chameleon, etc.
So, "Punk Jazz" is "Jazz" composed/played by a punk.

Steve Khan has a tune called "Some Punk Funk"...and it is nothing about being Punk, either!

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Yes - I was just strying to stress that the fact that it is Punk Jazz, has nothing to do with the "hyper" & "bad ass"... sound of the introduction, as you put it - but is just a consequence of the interaction between Jaco and Tony Williams.

I have the feeling that some of the thread's contributors are associating the two - whereas, as you say - Jaco's meaning of "Punk" is not about an aggressive style of music, but rather his self-image ....?

 

[narud]

i never appreciated that song until the birthday concert came out. i always thought the wr version was kind of bad (not in the good sense). but, imo mr gone is the weakest album wr ever put out. and with live and unrealesed i was a little bummed by the fact that jaco was over-represented. ive always thought alphonso was kind of under-appreciated and the live release confirmed it for me.

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

"Live and Unreleased" had the exact opposite effect on me - so I have loads of Jaco recordings and was interested in hearing some of the stuff with Alphonso Johnson - but to me, his tone sounds indistinct there and nothing he plays really stands out for me - whereas, when a Jaco track comes on, you can hear how he is realy driving the band and inspiring them to greater things - plus his tone is fantastic on every track - just wonderful bass sound on every track he plays on!!

I think the album clearly shows how WR became a much better live proposition with Jaco....

 

[Wrong Robot]

Yeah, I agree with bruce, however, 'cucumber slumber' has some great bass work from johnson.

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Yeah, I agree with bruce, however, 'cucumber slumber' has some great bass work from johnson.

I like the original track on "Mysterious Traveller" - which is one of my favourite albums - but the live cut mentioned for me is a bit rambling and doesn't really add anything to the studio cut.

Most of the time, the bass is buried behind the thunderously-loud bass drum and there is a lot of high register bass "noodling" on what is really a groove-oriented track, with the drums/percussion carrying the track forward.

I just don't like it and feel that Jaco always keeps the groove going and doesn't fade in and out, as happens on this track...

Ther'e nothing on the live Cucumber track (bass-wise) that makes me sit up and think WOW!! Whereas a high proportion of Jaco's cuts do.

So listening again to L & U - I'm dropping off at the end of Cucumber Slumber, nothing's hapenning and then - wham!! Jaco's bass comes in on "Teen Town and you just have to sit up and take notice - fantastic energy and tone!!

 

[narud]

well, i dont even agree with zawinul since he thinks the 8:30 lineup was the best band they had, so no real suprise that most people prefer the jaco lineup.

personally, i think the best tracks on live and unreleased are freezing fire and man in the green shirt. the thing i like about alphonso is that even though he would play 16th's in bass lines and get busy, he still had a sense of space and real funk that i dont feel jaco ever had. when jaco is on a track, its him full out all the time. he'll hit you with a barrage of busyness and noteiness(are those even words? )

i still really like jaco in the heavy weather lineup, but after that weather report's creativity started to suffer. hell even on heavy weather it started to slip a bit. with tracks like a remark you made which is sappy just for the sake of being sappy and some other unmemorable tracks, it just doesnt compare to the string of albums from sweetnighter through black market which are strong all the way through. then jaco leaves and they come out with albums like procession and sportin' life which i think are better than most of what came out during the jaco period(mr.gone,8:30,and s/t being the low points).

i dont know, maybe its just because im a total weather report geek. ive got every album on vinyl and eventually replaced them all on cd. i was also listening to them years before i ever dreamed of playing bass.

 

[Bassline_Delux]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this, so I might be wrong, but isn't the song in 'Taxi Driver'? (The sax anyway)

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

well, i dont even agree with zawinul since he thinks the 8:30 lineup was the best band they had, so no real suprise that most people prefer the jaco lineup.

personally, i think the best tracks on live and unreleased are freezing fire and man in the green shirt. the thing i like about alphonso is that even though he would play 16th's in bass lines and get busy, he still had a sense of space and real funk that i dont feel jaco ever had. when jaco is on a track, its him full out all the time. he'll hit you with a barrage of busyness and noteiness(are those even words? )

i still really like jaco in the heavy weather lineup, but after that weather report's creativity started to suffer. hell even on heavy weather it started to slip a bit. with tracks like a remark you made which is sappy just for the sake of being sappy and some other unmemorable tracks, it just doesnt compare to the string of albums from sweetnighter through black market which are strong all the way through. then jaco leaves and they come out with albums like procession and sportin' life which i think are better than most of what came out during the jaco period(mr.gone,8:30,and s/t being the low points).

i dont know, maybe its just because im a total weather report geek. ive got every album on vinyl and eventually replaced them all on cd. i was also listening to them years before i ever dreamed of playing bass.

Well we must be hearing completely different things - I think "A Remark You made" is one of the best tracks they ever did and lots of people I have met agree with this - also, many see Night Passage as one of their best ever albums and this has some great tracks - whereas the "post-Jaco" period is just unlistenable for me - an all-time low!! I 've neve met anybody who likes those albums!!

 

[narud]

Well we must be hearing completely different things - I think "A Remark You made" is one of the best tracks they ever did and lots of people I have met agree with this - also, many see Night Passage as one of their best ever albums and this has some great tracks - whereas the "post-Jaco" period is just unlistenable for me - an all-time low!! I 've neve met anybody who likes those albums!!

they joys of music everyone gets to hear different things. i must agree though that i think night passage does rank up there as one of their best. heck, i know people who only like weather report's first era(s/t,live in tokyo,i sing the body electric), and think everything else is too commercial.

 

[mnadelin]

How do thorse versions compare with the one he did with Bireli Lagrene, does anyone know.?

I've heard both. Both are good, but I would have to say the one with Stern is better. I just think that Stern and Bullock are better players, and I like the overall vibe better. Bireli is still great, of course, so it's just a matter of personal taste.