Rick Beato: Jaco Analysis

[Dr. Cheese]

I would have loved to have audited his class when he was a professor!

 

[starjag]

Way, way, way over my head in terms of theory. But, oh so, entertaining. Beato is a treasure. Jaco is a treasure as well (duh!) and you can see, hear, feel Beato's awe and enthusiasm.

 

[consectaneus]

"If I had the chops, I could play that."

I get what he means though because he obviously knows that piece inside and out musically. It makes me want to dig my copy out and listen again.

 

[JimK]

I watched that yesterday...entertaining in a great way.
Keep that Beato link handy; I plan on using it when those "What's The Big Deal About Jaco" threads pop.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I watched that yesterday...entertaining in a great way.
Keep that Beato link handy; I plan on using it when those "What's The Big Deal About Jaco" threads pop.

Good idea!

 

[MatchFive]

Yeah, I watched that last night actually. I knew he was legendary but didn't realize how much of a music theory genius he was. He probably should have skipped the bar that night. It's a shame.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Yeah, I watched that last night actually. I knew he was legendary but didn't realize how much of a music theory genius he was. He probably should have skipped the bar that night. It's a shame.

To be fair, Jaco was suffering terribly from mental illness at the time of his death.Going to the bar was not a rational decision.

 

[MatchFive]

To be fair, Jaco was suffering terribly from mental illness at the time of his death.Going to the bar was not a rational decision.

Agreed.

 

[bikeplate]

GOAT

 

[OnTheOneBaby]

Greatly appreciate Rick Beato. The man knows his chords.

The clip made me think if ever Jaco had taken up upright bass. With that musical mind and those huge hands he might have made career also in the jazz world and been swinging like Christian McBride.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Greatly appreciate Rick Beato. The man knows his chords.

The clip made me think if ever Jaco had taken up upright bass. With that musical mind and those huge hands he might have made career also in the jazz world and been swinging like Christian McBride.

I read that Jaco had an acoustic and somehow broke it, so he stuck to fretless.

 

[Roger W]

I read that Jaco had an acoustic and somehow broke it, so he stuck to fretless.

He claimed ( not disputing it, but he was prone to myth making) that he had an upright and it literally fell apart one night due to the humidity in south Florida.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

He claimed ( not disputing it, but he was prone to myth making) that he had an upright and it literally fell apart one night due to the humidity in south Florida.

It could be a fib. It could have been a really craptastic bass, or somewhere in between.

 

[brianrost]

Reportedly when Joe Zawinul first heard a tape of Jaco's playing, he asked if Jaco could play bass guitar, too

 

[Big Boz]

I watched that yesterday...entertaining in a great way.
Keep that Beato link handy; I plan on using it when those "What's The Big Deal About Jaco" threads pop.

Although I appreciate the talent that he had, I just can't get into his style and sound of a lot of the stuff he played. It's just too hard to listen to. He was a big deal, there's no doubt about that and I think of him like I think about most conceptual artists. Their methods are difinitely waaay out there, but it directly affects how everyone else thinks about and applies those same concepts which in turn raises the musical bar.

 

[JimK]

He does have esoteric material.

Have you tried "Barbary Coast"?
It's a 1/16th note finger funk groove.

Full disclosure: The album that really made me a fan was Joni Mitchell's Shadows And Light...especially the 1st track "In France They Kiss On Main Street".

Metheny's Bright Size Life isn't too crazy (it is on ECM, after all).

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I remember learning that tune in high school as a bass solo. I never understood the changes or the piece from a theory standpoint so this video is a nice overview.

I still don’t “get” Jaco or fusion and bebop jazz. They’re a bit over my head from an enjoyment standpoint. Maybe I should give this album and his work with Weather Report another shot.

 

[bucephylus]

He claimed ( not disputing it, but he was prone to myth making) that he had an upright and it literally fell apart one night due to the humidity in south Florida.

Actually, there are some out-takes on one of the compendium CD’s (perhaps, The Early Years?) of Jaco playing his upright, and doing a pretty good job of it. I believe it was his rendition of the head of Dexterity. FWIW.

 

[bucephylus]

I would have loved to have audited his class when he was a professor!

Thanks for posting that. GREAT breakdown.

I remember the first time I heard that tune...it was just kind of...a well f$%^ moment. Completely beyond anything I’d ever heard or could conceive of. FWIW, in the intervening years, I’ve been able to get “close;” but, a re-listen to Crisis always puts me back in my place.

Another thing is that I strongly object to characterization of that tone as “farting,” which seems to be a popular epithet here on TB. Tunes like Donna Lee live through the Acoustic 360 were just simply breathtaking. No, the cat was pure genius; and there will never be another like him.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Thanks for posting that. GREAT breakdown.

I remember the first time I heard that tune...it was just kind of...a well f$%^ moment. Completely beyond anything I’d ever heard or could conceive of. FWIW, in the intervening years, I’ve been able to get “close;” but, a re-listen to Crisis always puts me back in my place.

Another thing is that I strongly object to characterization of that tone as “farting,” which seems to be a popular epithet here on TB. Tunes like Donna Lee live through the Acoustic 360 were just simply breathtaking. No, the cat was pure genius; and there will never be another like him.

Jaco was truly an original. He had influences, like Jerry Jemmott and Tommy Cogbill, but by the time they went through the Jaco blender, they were remade in his image.