• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What do you like about Jaco Pastorius' playing?

#201
Like others such as Vic Wooten, I think Jaco was best when playing with or behind someone, grooving or filling, much more than when freaking out on his own.

This right here is my favorite Jaco segment. It shows everything I'm talking about:

 
#203
bassinplace said:
I'm asking because this is one player I could never "get". I love some of the playing he did with Weather Report and Joni Mitchell, but when he takes the solo spotlight in concert, all I can seem to hear is very weedle-y. I just can't dig it. I'm interested to hear other peoples take on what makes this particular player an inspiration to them.
Click to expand...

Jaco was in interesting guy. As he gained popularity I think he had two sides: the musician and the entertainer. I agree with you about his solo spots. I witnessed one culminating in him climbing up a PA stack and jumping of and striking his bass. Pure showbiz. However, when he was playing in an ensemble, watch out! Amazing facility, great tone and sound, total command of the instrument, an amazing accompanist and an amazing melodic soloist.
Examples?
For accompanying work check out his work with Joni, especially 'Talk to Me' on 'Don Juan's Reckless Daughter'
For solo there's the obvious 'Teen Town', but for my money the solo on 'Havona' is stellar.
 
#204
One thing I love about certain great musicians is their ability to sound both futuristic AND primal (raw, funky, primitive).
Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring", Thelonious Monk, Jimi Hendrix, Charlie Parker...
I think Jaco also had that.
 
#207
Jaco to me was the greatest bass accompanist ever. his job with Joni Mitchell is a clear example.
He had a very original and fresh way to play every song and genre, strong simple now and bam !
a gem suddenly, something that is hard to expect, something unique.
about his solos he had the great ability to pick out of the hat his pre cooked material and use it
beautifully. Unfortunately in his dark years about solos he used to repeat himself a lot, but in terms
of pure improvisation there were guys who where more skilled than him, but to me it's just a different kind of expression. Havona has a written solo, and so Continuum and some others, but the result is just amazing.
sorry for my broken english .. : ))
 
#208
z65 said:
Jaco to me was the greatest bass accompanist ever. his job with Joni Mitchell is a clear example.
He had a very original and fresh way to play every song and genre, strong simple now and bam !
a gem suddenly, something that is hard to expect, something unique.
about his solos he had the great ability to pick out of the hat his pre cooked material and use it
beautifully. Unfortunately in his dark years about solos he used to repeat himself a lot, but in terms
of pure improvisation there were guys who where more skilled than him, but to me it's just a different kind of expression. Havona has a written solo, and so Continuum and some others, but the result is just amazing.
sorry for my broken english .. : ))
Click to expand...

What do you mean that 'Havona' and 'Continuum' have written solos? I can assure you that those are improvised, not written. Jaco wrote the pieces, but the solos (and pretty much all of his solos) were improvised....
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back