@@paveantelic7876 let’s not play that game. I was respectful of the player, it’s not not my taste. Jaco is super human, I’m not, but I find listening to him like listening to a bass player noodle. To each their own.
When I was at the Berklee School of music back in '76, I would be listening to a reel tape of Stanley Clarke's 'School Days' and thought that was the shit, but when I heard Jaco's album, my brain just melted. That guy was playing sax lines like butter and then soloing over it all. You have no idea how monumental that was to us root & fifth bass players who were never allowed to venture off the E string an go above the fifth fret by our fellow guitar players!
My dad was a pro studio bass player for 30 years, 1976 and my dad brings home Jaco Pastorius the album...I will never forget the first time I heard it as a kid. I was blown away, my dad was blown away, we played it so many times the record started to get scratched. my dads work bass was a fretted fender sunburst jazz bass, that was played so much the frets almost disappeared, so he was trying to figure out what Jaco was doing and he was in awww...this album is the bass guitar album of all times.
Found out about Jaco at an after school fine arts academy I went to in my senior year of high school back in 2016. The concert band’s bassist just started playing the main riff of “The Chicken” and I instantly got hooked. During this time I played tuba. But when I heard The Chicken, I started digging more and more into Jaco’s music and everything about him. 6 years later and he’s still my favorite musician, and my inspiration to pick up the bass. I even did the same as him and took the frets out of my first bass. Now I have an actual Fender fretless jazz bass, but my dream bass is the Signature Jaco replica, which I hope to have soon. Everywhere I go, I always try to get people into his music, because it deserves to be known and listened to by more people. Also, a bass teacher I studied with one semester told me he worked at Berkeley in 1984-1985 and he told me a story about how Jaco walked in to one of the classrooms and just started playing the piano. At first they didn’t mind because he was chill, but then they had to escort him out because he started getting a bit rowdy. That same day, as my teacher was leaving he noticed a music store across the street (which is closed nowadays according to what he told me) was jam packed. He went to check out what was going on and lo and behold, Jaco was there, giving an impromptu bass clinic because he just walked in, plugged his bass and started going to work 🤣
I was a 15 year old kid playing as much electric bass as I could, mostly in church and with friends after school. We went over to my buddy's house one day after school and his dad, a well known bass player in the local scene, cues up this vinyl record and says, "you like bass? Listen to this." Next thing I know, Jaco's "Donna Lee" is blasting out of a hi-fi system and melting my brain, violently rewiring the circuits of what I thought was musically possible on the bass guitar, and literally blowing my mind. From that day forward, I was devoted to the electric bass, and I still am to this day, nearly 30 years later. 😄
I perfectly remember when I first heard Jaco, back in 84. I was in hardccore punk and thrash metal at that time, and this immediately converted me to Jazz, Jazz-Rock, Funk and Fusion. That said, I thought it was someone playing cello 🙂.
This is the first time I listened to most of these songs because I couldn't understand it all. You did an awesome job of showing where the good feeling parts are.
First heard the album as a 12 year old in 1976. Only took up the bass 6 months earlier,blew my mind and raised the bar to almost impossible heights for me at the time.
In 1980, my wife and I were living in San Diego after Navy boot camp. We had a cheap 8 track tape machine (!) and 3 tapes: Weather Report’s 8:30 and Heavy Weather and Little Feat’s Waiting for Columbus. We played them over and over. People forget how popular Weather Report really was back in the day.
Come On Come Over hooked me instantly in 1994 when I first heard it from a bass teacher trying to show me that I didn't have to play just punk and metal. Jaco opened my musical world up!
I didn’t really appreciate Jaco until I tried learning Teen Town. Big eye opener on just how much room for improvement I had and how much potential there was in the bass as an instrument. Amazing player in completely his own league!
Hearing you play the chord changes over Jaco's lead harmony really gave me a brilliant new perspective over the piece that I've for years enjoyed but not greatly understood. What an engaging discussion and episode! Thank you! (in Donna Lee that is!)
Oh Aaron that makes my DAY! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. That was huge for me when I started to really dig into it - hearing that melody against the chords.
100% agree, yet I still do not get it why he played it without "clues". Knowing Donna Lee tune (for e.g. form Ch.Parker) I had to always play chords in my head to enjoy that "solo" bass + percussions.
I got turned on to Jaco in my freshman yr of High School ( 1982 ) by another bass player a few yrs older than me. I was blown away !!! I understood him right away because my grammar school music teacher was a jazz guy and are lessons were for the most part jazz with a little classical thrown in and when I heard it I was speechless and I still feel that way every time I listen to it.
@@devinebass yes he did !!! Can tell you how many times I’ve watched his Modern Electric Bass DVD with Jerry Jemmott , just sitting there watching his fingers of both his picking and fretting hands. They were like 2 metronome’s working together.
I first heard Jaco's rendition of Donna Lee when I was 13 years old on a first gen Ipod (the fat brick looking one) that the bass player from the church I went to sold my dad. I remember listening to that track for a week straight being absolutely entranced by all the complex genius happening with two instruments on one song. About 14 months later, during my freshman year in high-school, I stumbled upon the legendary Portrait of Tracy. I wasn't good with my emotions back then, but that song made me shed a few tears because I had never heard something so beautiful. I finally got around to listening to the entire record when I was 20 and getting ready to try the college thing one more time. This was the album that made me change my major from theater to music technology (music theory & audio engineering). This was the album that made me drop every other instrument and focus on the bass as my number 1 weapon of choice. This album inspires me to make a bass centric body of work that's at least a 10th of what this album is, was, and always will be. A true masterpiece.
I first heard Jaco when my bass teacher in high school recommended I check out Jaco's debut solo album and Pat Metheny's "Bright Size Life." I was instantly hooked. I had never heard anyone play the bass anything like that and at the time I was clueless that it was even possible to do on bass what Jaco did. What spoke to me most about Jaco's playing was the way his bass lines were kind of a cross between rhythm and lead playing. He didn't just play a bass line for a while and then take a solo. His parts filled the role a bass line needs to fill and also had riffs, arpeggios, octaves, harmonics etc. that made his parts recognizable and integral to the song. The first thing I learned from listening to Jaco was the great power and responsibility that bass can have in a band
Man, you are absolutely correct. Great insight. The seamless transition between rhythm and lead playing without the lead playing ever feeling unsupported.
My dad brought home Heavy Weather on CD when I was around 10 (ironically, around the time Jaco died). I knew immediately that I had to be a bassist when I grew up. And while I can’t touch Jaco & never will, his influence & fun with the bass informs me every time I pick mine up.
I remember listening to Jaco for the first time in the mid 1980s. I was blown away by him, but couldn't get into the jazz he was playing and he was just too adept for me to play him. Around the same time i was introduced to Michael Manring's first three Windham Hill records and instantly fell in love. He pushed the boundaries of bass in ways i had never heard before, but i could hear his lineage to Jaco, so i always kept Jaco in my collection. Now, after so many years have passed, I've developed an appreciation of the music Jaco played and thoroughly enjoy hearing him. If i could travel back in time, i would love to hear Jaco and Pat Metheny play one of the shows the put on before either recorded their first albums. Man, that would be such a great show.
Ian - I just started watching this and I'm about 1:38 into it. You could NOT have made that explanation any more clearly or accurately than I could put into words to match my own experience when I first heard Donna Lee. Many years later, I came to the realization, very much like yourself, that Donna Lee was nothing less than a religious experience! BRAVO, man! BRAVO!
Ian, this was amazing to watch. Really happy you are in town. Really happy to see you sharing your knowledge. The opening salvo of Donna Lee showing the harmony on the bass was a revelation to me. Thank you for that. As far as Jaco goes, to me, a bass player for life, he's always unbelievably intimidating. So many little moves. It's not just the amazing techincal ability, but the unbelievable musicality, the thing that anyone doing it should be striving after the most, at which he excels most supremely. People's fixation on his facility (even his own fixation on it) belies the exemplary musicality and transcendent musicianship. Superlatives: he inspires a few... Best of luck to you, Ian and to Jaco, RIP. Oh, parenthetically I always liked Jaco, from the the first time I heard him, but I grew to love him when I heard him playing with Joni Mitchell, or on her records... they are his best work, imho.
Terrific video. Love Ian’s enthusiasm for the music. I was a hopeless Jaco addict for years and tried like hell to emulate his style, but eventually had to succumb to the realization that I just didn’t have the chops. Was lucky enough to see Jaco live in a small club in Las Vegas back in the day. Still have that old record in my collection, too. By the way, there’s a very handy book I found called “Harmonics for Electric Bass” by Adam Novick. Came in very handy for composing my own Jacoesque pieces.
@devinebass I saw him with Weather Report, on the Heavy Weather tour/ I was 18, and AL Dimeola opened up for them. Man I had just smoked a J, and the Hair on my head was standing up the whole show! What a night/ 1977!"
That man's music changed my life 21 years ago when I started playing bass at age 20. I wasn't into jazz at all, but when I heard this tune and Jaco's debut album, it blew me away. It was over my head, but I still appreciated its sheer epicness and the amount of balls it must have taken for a bassist to attempt what Jaco did.
I saw him live in support of this record in a tiny club in NYC, second set he did a solo performance with an early loop pedal, soloing over his own backing. Our table pressed against the stage and during one passage Jaco deep in the solo, eyes closed leans forward and the tip of his headstock touched me on the forehead. I had been knighted by Jaco! True story.
Since I am into music, Jaco was THE BASSPLAYER. When I first heard his work with Weather Report (Black market and Heavy Weather) I didn´t get it. But I will never forget the moment I first heard the first side of Joni Mitchell´s album "Don Juan reckless daughter". It blew me away! Until today, nobody comes near this sound, phrasing, approach, attitude and playing. Unbelievable. Still to this very day. A true legend.
My dad first showed me Jaco's epic line on Birdland only last year, ever since I have been learning many of his other lines. They are always so fun and effortlessly cool. Jaco is one of my favorite bass players.
When Jaco’s eponymously named debut album came out my cousin Lynne was dating a musician who worked at a downtown record store. He brought Jaco’s album to my house one afternoon and played it for me to gauge my reaction. I was absolutely floored! I was already a budding electric bass fanatic at that point due to Stanley Clarke, Louis Johnson, Anthony Jackson, and others. A few years later I actually met Jaco and Wayne Shorter and spoke with them briefly before a Weather Report concert at Yale University’s Woolsey Hall. Continuum may be my all-time favorite bass composition. In my opinion it is divinely inspired!
I was in Grade 10, and a transcription of Teen Town was in a guitar magazine after he died. I had only been playing bass for a few years and I couldn't believe the tabs. I hadn't even heard his playing yet and I practiced it all the time. My friend had Heavy Weather and finally got to hear it, and it was even faster that I thought it was, but it had such a groove to it. 35 years later, and I still can't play it all that well. Thanks dude for your wonderful enthusiastic videos, they invariably make me pick up up the old bass again.
When I went to university, I had no idea what I wanted to do. Naturally, I enrolled in a bunch of unrelated classes, like nutrition, computer science, and jazz performance. Mark Boling taught my jazz performance class and I felt like a Total Imposter in that class. One day, we all had to share music that inspired us, and I shared Alain Caron's rendition of Donna Lee - I've never been on the receiving end of so many hateful looks! Coincidentally, our end-of-semester test was playing the head to Donna Lee (even the drummers, who had to play it on vibraphone). I turned to Jaco's rendition for inspiration, but still struggled to play it, even with a fretted bass. When it came time for the test, it was just me, Mark, and the legendary Donald Brown, with whom Mark shared an office. I made it about halfway through the head before everything fell apart. There are only two musical moments painful for me to recall and that's one of them. That's my Jaco story.
Thanks for sharing Adrian. Not an easy tune to play at all!! If you ever feel like giving it another go you should check out Scott's lesson! ua-cam.com/video/3-h1Rlp74pQ/v-deo.html Providing it doesn't bring back any painful memories! 👊🏻
Thanks Ian Your videos on SBL are by far my favorite thing here.. I’ve never tried to tackle Jaco’s playing because my hands are small , my feel is quite different and I’m not a jazz musician but I now from your amazing way of teaching and breaking things down in a way that’s not intimidating has me feeling like finally I can really get some of jacos playing and composing under my fingers and in my ears.. I met him in the village in the early 80’s one day when he was playing with his word of mouth band ., he was standing in front of his hotel alone about 11:30 a.m.., I went right over and introduced myself and gave him shit about having to wait in line to see him play later that day and he loved it.. he had just gotten that crew cut that he was sporting when he was on the cover of bass player magazine and he was feeling his oats . we went back and forth with casual banter and he actually said something about being the best bass player in the world !! I responded with “what $&%#! Music isn’t a completion , what if I like someone else more .? Plus you havnt heard me play., again he loved it and emediatley backtracked and said ., “ya ., I’m just a copie of Jerry Jamott ., it was surreal ., I couldn’t believe I was challenging him and we were having fun so I asked him ., “ hey., how’s your reading right now ? “ .. he said , it’s a bit rusty now that you mention it ., I’m supposed to be meeting Toots ( Toots Theilman ) and going to lunch ., if he doesn’t come in a few more minutes let’s go up town and look at some charts ..!! Ught oh , I thought . Of course I was gonna love going up town with him and looking at sheet music but he was going to find out I’m a beginner at reading music because I was going to have to tell him… any way that’s where the story ends because Toots came out and we said our goodbyes .. true story , still feels surreal Thanks Ian
Jow you were in a superb place in time two giants and you aaah you must he one also btw TootsTielemans and Thielman is also a great rocknroll guitar family from the molukken (Indonesia)
Another fantastic video, Ian! I also had a journey with Jaco that went from "WTF is this?" to "that's weird, but he sure can groove - those ghost notes are cool!" to "wait, what was that he just did?" to "holy cr*p his technique is amazing" to "good lord, he's a brilliant composer and arranger, too!" It was that last realization that really did it for me - Jaco was much more than a great bass player, he was a fantastic musician first, who just happened to also be an innovative genius at playing bass. In a lotta ways, my admiration for him is a lot like my admiration for Allan Holdsworth, because I went on a similar journey with Holdsworth, eventually coming to realize his genius after a couple of years of listening.
Both so darn Talented, I had the privilege of filling in for Billy Sheehan on a project that Winger drummer Rod Morgenstein was involved with. Rod was telling me about Kips accomplishments. It was astounding. You are also a Talent from another planet. You have such smooth groove. I’m a Big Fan. God Bless.
Portrait of Tracy is one of the most beautiful things ever recorded. I play guitar, keys and sax but that song makes me wanna buy a fretless and spend some time learning that song
You Know , for ages, I have had a problem with hearing fast playing and Ghost notes , because I just couldn't hear, what was going on. Thank you for breaking it down. Now it seems digestible . In fact I enjoyed it!
I saw Jaco play with Weather Report three times in the 1970's (I live in the UK) and what a privilege that was. He was just amazing to watch, this was before his illness had manifested itself of course. I was a budding bass player then and his eponymous first album just totally blew me away! I love this video, a great tribute to a real musical genius. Thank you so much!
I bought this album as a teen, having played bass for a few years. Like many, I found it totally inscrutable. 35+ years later, I’m a “meat & potatoes” bassist. THIS video makes me want to expand my horizons as a player. I love this video for that reason. Thank you.
I guess I am I little odd in that I always have loved to play harmonics, ghost notes, etc. and when I first heard Jaco I was in LOVE with his style. To this day I listen to him on the reg and crank it up. He was so far ahead of his time. It sucks that he died a month after I moved to Florida where he died. I never got to see him play live. RIP Legend!
I went nuts when I heard Portrait of Tracy as a teen but I only understood the brilliance of Donna Lee when I watched that legendary lesson video from Jaco where he mentions how the challenge in it was to make the bass not make noise.
I was on a car trip with my dad when I was probably 11 or 12. We had just driven to the West Coast to Florida to see Yo-Yo Ma play live (I studied cello). I heard something come on the radio which sounded to me like congas and some kind of confusing indistinct rumble underneath. I asked my dad, "what is that?". He said it was a bass solo. Many many years later I realized that that was the first time I heard Jaco's Donna Lee. Nowadays playing the head on electric bass is something I do with regularity. I don't claim to have mastered it but I continue to get value out of this practice to this day.
I remember when I first heard Jaco. I stopped in my tracks - just mouth open. It was the 1990s, I couldn’t believe a bass could make those kind of noises. Just mouth open and in awe. It came alive even more when I was able to see footage of him playing. But like many, I remain too intimidated to try much of it. This has inspired me to have another go…
Nearly 40 years ago I brought this album and one of these famous copies of the real book home from a trip to the USA. I had played bass for several years right then but this record blew my mind and since then I tried to play like this. Process still continuing…….Thank you so much for revealing some of Jaco‘s secrets, alas,back to practise😊
My dad was a jazz musician. He introduced me to jaco, and I didn’t get it. I respected the talent, but the music has always been beyond me. I really enjoyed this video and it’s really deepened my appreciation for his amazing music. I want to go back and listen to all those tracks, and go to jazz camp. Learn harmonics and these incredible lines. Your breakdown was fun and really helps me digest these masterpieces. I’d love to nerd out to bass with you sometime… Evan
Ian really outdid himself on this one!I first was told to listen to Jaco as a kid from a very good local jazz bassist and after that not knowing much about what to expect my first musical experience was John and Mary which was beautiful and music and sort of the type of music I was already listening to meaning orchestral type arrangements but, where was the bass?? Mind you this was the only song that was available to me at the moment but a few days later there was a late night jazz show from midnight to 5 am.So,one late night I turned on my stereo around 1:00 and low and behold Havona!! Oh my goodness but it wasn't on a Jaco album.So the next day I called the station and asked to speak to that jockey and he mentioned weather report and the player was jaco🤯
I remember meeting Jaco's music in 2017 when I was studying and looking for something to listen on UA-cam and found his album Jaco Pastorius. I didn't really comprehended and absorbed it until this year that I started getting more immersed with bass and music and his legacy has encouraged me to become a better musician. My favorite track by him must be Portrait of Tracy, took me like a month to nail it, it's so fun to play on fretless. Jaco lives on! What a great musician and person he was.
Very well done, Ian. 👍🏻 I feel you superbly combined some of the legend with genuine appreciation through listening, and very accessible breakdown analysis.
I had started out on electric bass and was just beginning to listen to jazz and bought Heavy Weather because I saw Wayne Shorter's name. I was in for a surprise when I heard Teen Town. I had to find more about this guy and found he had his own album released the year before. Jaco's playing made me want to play jazz. I've been playing doghouse bass for 40 years and am finally coming back to 'the pork chop' and to this album, now that I can truly hear, appreciate, and begin to try to emulate Jaco's playing. Saw him live here in Toronto a couple times. Thanks Ian! I will keep digging; nice to have a little help the second time around. Being a P bass player all this time, I just bought a jazz bass, which was also, an eye opener. Everything is soooo close together!
I love you Ian! The passion! BIG fan! I remember buying his first album when I was in highschool, because I already knew some Weather Report music from my parents, and got to know about this pivotal musician in bass guitar. It's still the most fascinating album I know, I think. At least to me, it's music out of time and place. I then bought and listened to all his other solo albums and while they're all incredible (needless to say), his first one is still my favourite because it's really something so unique. It has the funk, the groove, the catchiness if you will, and yet the outerwordly atmosphere, the blend of different sounds from instruments around the world... it's a complete trip. Okonkole y Trompa it's one of the best ideas I've ever witnessed in music (those french horns as you say are literally sailing in the distance). Can't have enough of it!
Ian, this is an interesting take on THE MOST HISTORIC electric bass player in jazz, but I can relate to you. Upon first hearing Primus and the legendary Les Claypool I.... didn't get it. I WAS NOT a fan, at first. What Les played sounded HARD, EXTREMELY HARD, but it felt like noise, AT FIRST!😳🤯 I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T GET PRIMUS UPON FIRST HEARING THEM. I'm glad I'm not alone in missing the awesomeness of a BASS GENIUS upon a first listening.
1987 I attended a one year program at a music school. The rockers were outnumbered by the jazz players. Came home and the other players had painted Jaco on the dining room wall. 7 foot tall Jaco’s face staring at me. It took a couple decades for me to come around and I bought the Jaco album. I have worn it thin, can’t stop listening! Thanks for this video, the best Jaco lesson EVER!!! Well done!
I didn't totally understand Jaco's music from a theory standpoint and still don't, but I recognized that the guy was a genius immediately in 1976. I was 21 years old then and was playing bass for about 4 years. I heard Stanley Clarke and he turned my head around then I heard Jaco 😳 and it just blew me away! I was fortunate enough to meet the guy on a few occasions and unfortunate enough to see him on the streets of New York at his worst where you were afraid to approach him. My sister called me and informed me of his passing. Here was the one guy who was a pivotal figure I truly admired passing at such a young age. It was like when John Lennon was shot! This guy was like a derelict in the street his last years yet today people all over the world revere this man! Rick Beato constantly ask other players what it was like to play with this guy, a movie was made about him. It's so strange to juxtapose that lost guy on the street with all the praise he gets today worldwide.
OMG! I hade the same experience with Jaco. It took me some time to get the hype. But as I dug into it I finally got the beauty of he’s playing. And he’s genius. Thanks for this video Ean!
A friend kept commenting on Jaco's skills back in the 70s. It wasn't until I saw him play with Joni Mitchell and Pat Metheny on a DVD of a 70s concert and listening to Joni's Hejira CD that I really started to appreciate him. Great review of Jaco's CD/album!!!
Thanks Ian, so great. My fave Jaco track, apart from all of them 😊 is Overture/Cotton Avenue from Don Juan’s reckless Daughter by Joni. So much drama! Thanks again
First heard Jaco live with Weather Report at a concert in Denver. His solo piece brought down a pretty sophisticated and already rocked house. I went for years hearing the main riff from that solo in my head but I could never figure out what it was from. I was in love with Jaco from that moment. And I carried his tune in my head every day. When the Jaco documentary finally came out, I learned that Third Stone by Hendrix is the riff Jaco builds this whole solo on. After having it cycling through my head literally for years, it was like finally meeting a long lost brother when I was able to place the origin of the tune.
Fabulously helpful. A Jaco masterclass but also a masterclass in the art of teaching. Thank you Ian - inspirational. I first heard Jaco in the early 80s - the bass player in my friend’s band was a Jaco fan and an extraordinary musician. I was in awe of his ability and artistry. Really kind and gentle man - he was a bit of a Sufi! Taught me that to try and play like this you have to go slowly, work on your technique but also develop knowledge of harmony. Now I’m in my early 60s and have time for making music again and I’m an SBL member. Loving it. Thanks again Ian: such a great video.
I had no idea who he was until I went to music college in Liverpool in the 90s. Friend passed me a book which was a biography but had a CD with it. Can't remember the name of it. Sat at home reading the book and listening to the CD at the same time. Blew my mind how great this guy was. He was like Bruce Lee or Ali. Just head and shoulders above everyone. A true genius. I'm almost jealous of people who are just coming across him now, as I want that first feeling again. They are too few and far between in life. Do what I did and read his bio and listen to that CD too.
1993, I was 16, I arrived for my guitar lesson, The teacher started playing Invitation Live on his casseete deck. Took me less than a second to get completely convinced that it was the mos amazing thing I've ever heard on a bass!
My dad showed me Weather Report's "Heavy Weather" when I was about 13 and it totally opened my world musically. As a guitarist, I was obviously drawn to the guy playing the strings. It blew my mnd what he was doing. His tone, phrasing, and overall creativity on his instrument continues to inspire me. A tragic and undeserved end for a true genuis. RIP Jaco.
I fell in love the first time I heard Jaco's playing. His proficiency, his sound, everything is just absolutely remarkable. I get chills everytime I hear him play. Everything from his solo stuff to Weather Report to Trio of Doom are must-listens in my opinion.
This video opened by perception towards music... Fabulous... I have to say you Ian that you way of explaining is making me to hear more and more songs.. And try to play them in bass. Thank you from bottom of my heart.
I could listen to ian talk about jaco for hours
Me too! 😀
I could listen to talk and play, but to me Jaco still sounds like noise. No offense to great bass player.
💛
@@PhullyNo1 define noise
@@paveantelic7876 let’s not play that game. I was respectful of the player, it’s not not my taste. Jaco is super human, I’m not, but I find listening to him like listening to a bass player noodle. To each their own.
When I was at the Berklee School of music back in '76, I would be listening to a reel tape of Stanley Clarke's 'School Days' and thought that was the shit, but when I heard Jaco's album, my brain just melted. That guy was playing sax lines like butter and then soloing over it all. You have no idea how monumental that was to us root & fifth bass players who were never allowed to venture off the E string an go above the fifth fret by our fellow guitar players!
My dad was a pro studio bass player for 30 years, 1976 and my dad brings home Jaco Pastorius the album...I will never forget the first time I heard it as a kid. I was blown away, my dad was blown away, we played it so many times the record started to get scratched. my dads work bass was a fretted fender sunburst jazz bass, that was played so much the frets almost disappeared, so he was trying to figure out what Jaco was doing and he was in awww...this album is the bass guitar album of all times.
Portrait of Tracy changed the way I understood harmonics, all time favorite tune of Jaco’s and one of the most rewarding things I ever tried to learn.
There is nothing quite like it! 🔥
Jaco has always been way beyond my understanding. With this presentation of the record there are takeaways that help me understand. Thank You!
Thank you Anders! So glad it was helpful.
Great music 🎶
Jaco and Joni MItchell - 'Coyote" just pure joy 🙂
💯💯💯
Found out about Jaco at an after school fine arts academy I went to in my senior year of high school back in 2016. The concert band’s bassist just started playing the main riff of “The Chicken” and I instantly got hooked. During this time I played tuba. But when I heard The Chicken, I started digging more and more into Jaco’s music and everything about him. 6 years later and he’s still my favorite musician, and my inspiration to pick up the bass. I even did the same as him and took the frets out of my first bass. Now I have an actual Fender fretless jazz bass, but my dream bass is the Signature Jaco replica, which I hope to have soon. Everywhere I go, I always try to get people into his music, because it deserves to be known and listened to by more people.
Also, a bass teacher I studied with one semester told me he worked at Berkeley in 1984-1985 and he told me a story about how Jaco walked in to one of the classrooms and just started playing the piano. At first they didn’t mind because he was chill, but then they had to escort him out because he started getting a bit rowdy. That same day, as my teacher was leaving he noticed a music store across the street (which is closed nowadays according to what he told me) was jam packed. He went to check out what was going on and lo and behold, Jaco was there, giving an impromptu bass clinic because he just walked in, plugged his bass and started going to work 🤣
Wow Elias what a crazy story!! Can you imagine walking into a music store and the main man Jaco is holding a bass clinic... The stuff of dreams! 🤣
I was a 15 year old kid playing as much electric bass as I could, mostly in church and with friends after school. We went over to my buddy's house one day after school and his dad, a well known bass player in the local scene, cues up this vinyl record and says, "you like bass? Listen to this." Next thing I know, Jaco's "Donna Lee" is blasting out of a hi-fi system and melting my brain, violently rewiring the circuits of what I thought was musically possible on the bass guitar, and literally blowing my mind. From that day forward, I was devoted to the electric bass, and I still am to this day, nearly 30 years later. 😄
I perfectly remember when I first heard Jaco, back in 84. I was in hardccore punk and thrash metal at that time, and this immediately converted me to Jazz, Jazz-Rock, Funk and Fusion. That said, I thought it was someone playing cello 🙂.
This is the first time I listened to most of these songs because I couldn't understand it all. You did an awesome job of showing where the good feeling parts are.
Ah man then I’ve done my job! Cheers
one of the best albums of the 20th century. Portait of Tracy and Okonkole y trompa are two of the best pieces I’ve ever heard
First heard the album as a 12 year old in 1976.
Only took up the bass 6 months earlier,blew my mind and raised the bar to almost impossible heights for me at the time.
Outstanding video on Jaco.
So many great tidbits, thank you!
Just starting to discover Jaco… liked him instantly.
Check out his work with Joni Mitchell - I’d recommend the Shadows and Light album, and Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (the opening track is stunning)
In 1980, my wife and I were living in San Diego after Navy boot camp. We had a cheap 8 track tape machine (!) and 3 tapes: Weather Report’s 8:30 and Heavy Weather and Little Feat’s Waiting for Columbus. We played them over and over. People forget how popular Weather Report really was back in the day.
Ian, You look like you are in a state of bliss at around the 12:00 minute mark interpreting the sweet Jaco lines 😎
Come On Come Over hooked me instantly in 1994 when I first heard it from a bass teacher trying to show me that I didn't have to play just punk and metal. Jaco opened my musical world up!
Never got Jaco before. This was great. Ian is worth a million!
I like this guys playing. I watched more and realized how good and clean he is
I didn’t really appreciate Jaco until I tried learning Teen Town. Big eye opener on just how much room for improvement I had and how much potential there was in the bass as an instrument. Amazing player in completely his own league!
Teen Town is a lifelong work in progress for me 😂
Teen Town was the light bulb for me as well. Its one of those "I don't know what he is doing. But I want to learn it" moments.
very difficult bassline
Allways got goosebumps on portrait of Tracy.
💯💯💯
Hearing you play the chord changes over Jaco's lead harmony really gave me a brilliant new perspective over the piece that I've for years enjoyed but not greatly understood. What an engaging discussion and episode! Thank you! (in Donna Lee that is!)
Oh Aaron that makes my DAY! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. That was huge for me when I started to really dig into it - hearing that melody against the chords.
100% agree, yet I still do not get it why he played it without "clues". Knowing Donna Lee tune (for e.g. form Ch.Parker) I had to always play chords in my head to enjoy that "solo" bass + percussions.
It took me 52 years to seriously take a look at Jaco. I'm glad I did.
What a treat when I wake up to see this video in my feed. I recently found out the full album was finally put out on Spotify too
I got turned on to Jaco in my freshman yr of High School ( 1982 ) by another bass player a few yrs older than me. I was blown away !!! I understood him right away because my grammar school music teacher was a jazz guy and are lessons were for the most part jazz with a little classical thrown in and when I heard it I was speechless and I still feel that way every time I listen to it.
Thanks for sharing - Jaco really had it all... speed, precision, phrasing. Incredible 🧡
@@devinebass yes he did !!! Can tell you how many times I’ve watched his Modern Electric Bass DVD with Jerry Jemmott , just sitting there watching his fingers of both his picking and fretting hands. They were like 2 metronome’s working together.
If all my teachers were like Ian, I guarantee I'd be the most enthusiastic student ever-his passion is infectious.
You suck at bass,go work at Walmart.
Dude you wasted 150 bucks to watch commercials😂
I saw Jaco live at the Montreal jazz festival in 1987 and It Blow m'y mind !
He was my friend and I loved him. ❤
I first heard Jaco's rendition of Donna Lee when I was 13 years old on a first gen Ipod (the fat brick looking one) that the bass player from the church I went to sold my dad. I remember listening to that track for a week straight being absolutely entranced by all the complex genius happening with two instruments on one song. About 14 months later, during my freshman year in high-school, I stumbled upon the legendary Portrait of Tracy. I wasn't good with my emotions back then, but that song made me shed a few tears because I had never heard something so beautiful. I finally got around to listening to the entire record when I was 20 and getting ready to try the college thing one more time. This was the album that made me change my major from theater to music technology (music theory & audio engineering). This was the album that made me drop every other instrument and focus on the bass as my number 1 weapon of choice. This album inspires me to make a bass centric body of work that's at least a 10th of what this album is, was, and always will be. A true masterpiece.
Incredible. Thanks for taking the time to tell us your story.
I first heard Jaco when my bass teacher in high school recommended I check out Jaco's debut solo album and Pat Metheny's "Bright Size Life." I was instantly hooked. I had never heard anyone play the bass anything like that and at the time I was clueless that it was even possible to do on bass what Jaco did. What spoke to me most about Jaco's playing was the way his bass lines were kind of a cross between rhythm and lead playing. He didn't just play a bass line for a while and then take a solo. His parts filled the role a bass line needs to fill and also had riffs, arpeggios, octaves, harmonics etc. that made his parts recognizable and integral to the song. The first thing I learned from listening to Jaco was the great power and responsibility that bass can have in a band
Man, you are absolutely correct. Great insight. The seamless transition between rhythm and lead playing without the lead playing ever feeling unsupported.
Here we are all these years later, and Jaco's influence seems as strong as ever. That says everything.
💯💯💯
Was a trumpet player at College (Leeds) and was blown away by Jaco. Fave track is still Dry Cleaner from Des Moines.
Now I play bass. 😁
ua-cam.com/video/iWUgPIQNgGo/v-deo.html
Apparently Jaco did the horn arrangements for that song. Respect.
@@MGTS24 yeah he did, he used of the same horn lines in some of his big band work I think. I think Fannie Mae has pretty much the same parts
My dad brought home Heavy Weather on CD when I was around 10 (ironically, around the time Jaco died). I knew immediately that I had to be a bassist when I grew up. And while I can’t touch Jaco & never will, his influence & fun with the bass informs me every time I pick mine up.
Ah dude, thanks for sharing! 👊🏻
My dad introduced me to Jaco's music and I fell in love immediately
I remember listening to Jaco for the first time in the mid 1980s. I was blown away by him, but couldn't get into the jazz he was playing and he was just too adept for me to play him. Around the same time i was introduced to Michael Manring's first three Windham Hill records and instantly fell in love. He pushed the boundaries of bass in ways i had never heard before, but i could hear his lineage to Jaco, so i always kept Jaco in my collection. Now, after so many years have passed, I've developed an appreciation of the music Jaco played and thoroughly enjoy hearing him. If i could travel back in time, i would love to hear Jaco and Pat Metheny play one of the shows the put on before either recorded their first albums. Man, that would be such a great show.
Ian - I just started watching this and I'm about 1:38 into it. You could NOT have made that explanation any more clearly or accurately than I could put into words to match my own experience when I first heard Donna Lee. Many years later, I came to the realization, very much like yourself, that Donna Lee was nothing less than a religious experience! BRAVO, man! BRAVO!
How does this video not have more views? Excellent work Ian!
Ian, this was amazing to watch. Really happy you are in town. Really happy to see you sharing your knowledge. The opening salvo of Donna Lee showing the harmony on the bass was a revelation to me. Thank you for that. As far as Jaco goes, to me, a bass player for life, he's always unbelievably intimidating. So many little moves. It's not just the amazing techincal ability, but the unbelievable musicality, the thing that anyone doing it should be striving after the most, at which he excels most supremely. People's fixation on his facility (even his own fixation on it) belies the exemplary musicality and transcendent musicianship. Superlatives: he inspires a few... Best of luck to you, Ian and to Jaco, RIP. Oh, parenthetically I always liked Jaco, from the the first time I heard him, but I grew to love him when I heard him playing with Joni Mitchell, or on her records... they are his best work, imho.
Terrific video. Love Ian’s enthusiasm for the music. I was a hopeless Jaco addict for years and tried like hell to emulate his style, but eventually had to succumb to the realization that I just didn’t have the chops. Was lucky enough to see Jaco live in a small club in Las Vegas back in the day. Still have that old record in my collection, too. By the way, there’s a very handy book I found called “Harmonics for Electric Bass” by Adam Novick. Came in very handy for composing my own Jacoesque pieces.
Ah man super jealous of anyone who was lucky enough to catch him live! Thankyou for sharing!
@devinebass I saw him with Weather Report, on the Heavy Weather tour/ I was 18, and AL Dimeola opened up for them. Man I had just smoked a J, and the Hair on my head was standing up the whole show! What a night/ 1977!"
That man's music changed my life 21 years ago when I started playing bass at age 20. I wasn't into jazz at all, but when I heard this tune and Jaco's debut album, it blew me away. It was over my head, but I still appreciated its sheer epicness and the amount of balls it must have taken for a bassist to attempt what Jaco did.
🧡🧡🧡
I saw him live in support of this record in a tiny club in NYC, second set he did a solo performance with an early loop pedal, soloing over his own backing.
Our table pressed against the stage and during one passage Jaco deep in the solo, eyes closed leans forward and the tip of his headstock touched me on the forehead.
I had been knighted by Jaco!
True story.
WOW
Since I am into music, Jaco was THE BASSPLAYER. When I first heard his work with Weather Report (Black market and Heavy Weather) I didn´t get it. But I will never forget the moment I first heard the first side of Joni Mitchell´s album "Don Juan reckless daughter". It blew me away!
Until today, nobody comes near this sound, phrasing, approach, attitude and playing. Unbelievable. Still to this very day.
A true legend.
THE GOAT 🐐
literally the most informative music review ive ever seen.........
👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
My dad first showed me Jaco's epic line on Birdland only last year, ever since I have been learning many of his other lines. They are always so fun and effortlessly cool. Jaco is one of my favorite bass players.
When Jaco’s eponymously named debut album came out my cousin Lynne was dating a musician who worked at a downtown record store. He brought Jaco’s album to my house one afternoon and played it for me to gauge my reaction. I was absolutely floored! I was already a budding electric bass fanatic at that point due to Stanley Clarke, Louis Johnson, Anthony Jackson, and others. A few years later I actually met Jaco and Wayne Shorter and spoke with them briefly before a Weather Report concert at Yale University’s Woolsey Hall. Continuum may be my all-time favorite bass composition. In my opinion it is divinely inspired!
I was in Grade 10, and a transcription of Teen Town was in a guitar magazine after he died. I had only been playing bass for a few years and I couldn't believe the tabs. I hadn't even heard his playing yet and I practiced it all the time. My friend had Heavy Weather and finally got to hear it, and it was even faster that I thought it was, but it had such a groove to it. 35 years later, and I still can't play it all that well. Thanks dude for your wonderful enthusiastic videos, they invariably make me pick up up the old bass again.
Ah man. What a bass part. Glad you enjoyed the vid & definitely take some time pick up that ol' bass 😉
so cool - I felt the same - and I am going crazy that you loved WINGER !!!
Correction: LOVE Winger
When I went to university, I had no idea what I wanted to do. Naturally, I enrolled in a bunch of unrelated classes, like nutrition, computer science, and jazz performance. Mark Boling taught my jazz performance class and I felt like a Total Imposter in that class. One day, we all had to share music that inspired us, and I shared Alain Caron's rendition of Donna Lee - I've never been on the receiving end of so many hateful looks!
Coincidentally, our end-of-semester test was playing the head to Donna Lee (even the drummers, who had to play it on vibraphone). I turned to Jaco's rendition for inspiration, but still struggled to play it, even with a fretted bass. When it came time for the test, it was just me, Mark, and the legendary Donald Brown, with whom Mark shared an office. I made it about halfway through the head before everything fell apart. There are only two musical moments painful for me to recall and that's one of them.
That's my Jaco story.
Thanks for sharing Adrian. Not an easy tune to play at all!! If you ever feel like giving it another go you should check out Scott's lesson!
ua-cam.com/video/3-h1Rlp74pQ/v-deo.html
Providing it doesn't bring back any painful memories! 👊🏻
Thanks Ian
Your videos on SBL are by far my favorite thing here..
I’ve never tried to tackle Jaco’s playing because my hands are small , my feel is quite different and I’m not a jazz musician but I now from your amazing way of teaching and breaking things down in a way that’s not intimidating has me feeling like finally I can really get some of jacos playing and composing under my fingers and in my ears..
I met him in the village in the early 80’s one day when he was playing with his word of mouth band ., he was standing in front of his hotel alone about 11:30 a.m.., I went right over and introduced myself and gave him shit about having to wait in line to see him play later that day and he loved it.. he had just gotten that crew cut that he was sporting when he was on the cover of bass player magazine and he was feeling his oats . we went back and forth with casual banter and he actually said something about being the best bass player in the world !! I responded with “what $&%#! Music isn’t a completion , what if I like someone else more .? Plus you havnt heard me play., again he loved it and emediatley backtracked and said ., “ya ., I’m just a copie of Jerry Jamott ., it was surreal ., I couldn’t believe I was challenging him and we were having fun so I asked him ., “ hey., how’s your reading right now ? “ .. he said , it’s a bit rusty now that you mention it ., I’m supposed to be meeting Toots ( Toots Theilman ) and going to lunch ., if he doesn’t come in a few more minutes let’s go up town and look at some charts ..!!
Ught oh , I thought . Of course I was gonna love going up town with him and looking at sheet music but he was going to find out I’m a beginner at reading music because I was going to have to tell him… any way that’s where the story ends because Toots came out and we said our goodbyes .. true story , still feels surreal
Thanks Ian
UNREAL. Thanks for spending the time to write that down. What a story. What a gift!
Jow you were in a superb place in time two giants and you aaah you must he one also btw TootsTielemans and Thielman is also a great rocknroll guitar family from the molukken (Indonesia)
Another fantastic video, Ian! I also had a journey with Jaco that went from "WTF is this?" to "that's weird, but he sure can groove - those ghost notes are cool!" to "wait, what was that he just did?" to "holy cr*p his technique is amazing" to "good lord, he's a brilliant composer and arranger, too!" It was that last realization that really did it for me - Jaco was much more than a great bass player, he was a fantastic musician first, who just happened to also be an innovative genius at playing bass. In a lotta ways, my admiration for him is a lot like my admiration for Allan Holdsworth, because I went on a similar journey with Holdsworth, eventually coming to realize his genius after a couple of years of listening.
IMHO, Jaco was the GOAT. Thank you Jaco, for opening doors for us we never knew existed. RIP.
Both so darn Talented, I had the privilege of filling in for Billy Sheehan on a project that Winger drummer Rod Morgenstein was involved with. Rod was telling me about Kips accomplishments. It was astounding. You are also a Talent from another planet. You have such smooth groove. I’m a Big Fan. God Bless.
Brings the tears.
Portrait of Tracy is one of the most beautiful things ever recorded. I play guitar, keys and sax but that song makes me wanna buy a fretless and spend some time learning that song
Oddly enough the album version was recorded on a fretted jazz bass!
Thanks Ian.
I'd always had a little trouble figuring out what was going on when I listened to Jaco. This video helped a lot! Awesome as usual.
Glad it helped! 👊🏻🔥
You Know , for ages, I have had a problem with hearing fast playing and Ghost notes , because I just couldn't hear, what was going on. Thank you for breaking it down. Now it seems digestible . In fact I enjoyed it!
I saw Jaco play with Weather Report three times in the 1970's (I live in the UK) and what a privilege that was. He was just amazing to watch, this was before his illness had manifested itself of course. I was a budding bass player then and his eponymous first album just totally blew me away! I love this video, a great tribute to a real musical genius. Thank you so much!
I bought this album as a teen, having played bass for a few years. Like many, I found it totally inscrutable. 35+ years later, I’m a “meat & potatoes” bassist. THIS video makes me want to expand my horizons as a player. I love this video for that reason. Thank you.
Thank you! I hope you dive in.
I guess I am I little odd in that I always have loved to play harmonics, ghost notes, etc. and when I first heard Jaco I was in LOVE with his style. To this day I listen to him on the reg and crank it up. He was so far ahead of his time. It sucks that he died a month after I moved to Florida where he died. I never got to see him play live. RIP Legend!
Ian is such a pro. Thanks for giving us all these great lessons. I really get better quicker than I thought I would ❤
Ian ! You're the most inspirational bass instructor I know of. Such a joy looking at your video's
Phenomenal Ian!
I went nuts when I heard Portrait of Tracy as a teen but I only understood the brilliance of Donna Lee when I watched that legendary lesson video from Jaco where he mentions how the challenge in it was to make the bass not make noise.
I was on a car trip with my dad when I was probably 11 or 12. We had just driven to the West Coast to Florida to see Yo-Yo Ma play live (I studied cello). I heard something come on the radio which sounded to me like congas and some kind of confusing indistinct rumble underneath. I asked my dad, "what is that?". He said it was a bass solo. Many many years later I realized that that was the first time I heard Jaco's Donna Lee. Nowadays playing the head on electric bass is something I do with regularity. I don't claim to have mastered it but I continue to get value out of this practice to this day.
I remember when I first heard Jaco. I stopped in my tracks - just mouth open. It was the 1990s, I couldn’t believe a bass could make those kind of noises. Just mouth open and in awe. It came alive even more when I was able to see footage of him playing. But like many, I remain too intimidated to try much of it. This has inspired me to have another go…
When I first listened to Jaco, my jaw dropped off my face. I loved Jaco immediately, still do obvisously.
Nearly 40 years ago I brought this album and one of these famous copies of the real book home from a trip to the USA. I had played bass for several years right then but this record blew my mind and since then I tried to play like this. Process still continuing…….Thank you so much for revealing some of Jaco‘s secrets, alas,back to practise😊
My dad was a jazz musician. He introduced me to jaco, and I didn’t get it. I respected the talent, but the music has always been beyond me. I really enjoyed this video and it’s really deepened my appreciation for his amazing music. I want to go back and listen to all those tracks, and go to jazz camp. Learn harmonics and these incredible lines. Your breakdown was fun and really helps me digest these masterpieces. I’d love to nerd out to bass with you sometime… Evan
We'd definitely recommend taking a dive back into the world of Jaco! Once you take the time to digest what is going on, its so worth it! 🧡👊🏻
Excellent...and a gorgeous Antigua JB ;-)
Jaco was 25 years old ( !! ) when he recorded this masterpiece. Thanks for your video !!!
Insanity
When I heard jaco it was a couple years ago and he completely blew my mind and I loved it he's really been a big influence on me
Ian really outdid himself on this one!I first was told to listen to Jaco as a kid from a very good local jazz bassist and after that not knowing much about what to expect my first musical experience was John and Mary which was beautiful and music and sort of the type of music I was already listening to meaning orchestral type arrangements but, where was the bass?? Mind you this was the only song that was available to me at the moment but a few days later there was a late night jazz show from midnight to 5 am.So,one late night I turned on my stereo around 1:00 and low and behold Havona!! Oh my goodness but it wasn't on a Jaco album.So the next day I called the station and asked to speak to that jockey and he mentioned weather report and the player was jaco🤯
I remember meeting Jaco's music in 2017 when I was studying and looking for something to listen on UA-cam and found his album Jaco Pastorius. I didn't really comprehended and absorbed it until this year that I started getting more immersed with bass and music and his legacy has encouraged me to become a better musician. My favorite track by him must be Portrait of Tracy, took me like a month to nail it, it's so fun to play on fretless. Jaco lives on! What a great musician and person he was.
Very well done, Ian. 👍🏻 I feel you superbly combined some of the legend with genuine appreciation through listening, and very accessible breakdown analysis.
Glad you enjoyed the vid!! 🔥👊🏻
Bro God bless you .. Jaco changed everything... but u are a monster player too bro... the tone in your hands are awesome ...
👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
I had started out on electric bass and was just beginning to listen to jazz and bought Heavy Weather because I saw Wayne Shorter's name. I was in for a surprise when I heard Teen Town. I had to find more about this guy and found he had his own album released the year before. Jaco's playing made me want to play jazz. I've been playing doghouse bass for 40 years and am finally coming back to 'the pork chop' and to this album, now that I can truly hear, appreciate, and begin to try to emulate Jaco's playing. Saw him live here in Toronto a couple times. Thanks Ian! I will keep digging; nice to have a little help the second time around. Being a P bass player all this time, I just bought a jazz bass, which was also, an eye opener. Everything is soooo close together!
Been playing bass for 40 yrs - Jaco... Behind the fret and in front of the fret. I never knew that one. Amazing, thanks for that info.
Big unlock for me!
@@IanMartinAllison I went right to the bass. Ohhhhh, that's how you do it. Freaking Jaco 🤪 still blowing our minds
Those harmonics in Portrait of Tracy get me every time!
🧡🧡🧡
I love you Ian! The passion! BIG fan!
I remember buying his first album when I was in highschool, because I already knew some Weather Report music from my parents, and got to know about this pivotal musician in bass guitar. It's still the most fascinating album I know, I think. At least to me, it's music out of time and place. I then bought and listened to all his other solo albums and while they're all incredible (needless to say), his first one is still my favourite because it's really something so unique.
It has the funk, the groove, the catchiness if you will, and yet the outerwordly atmosphere, the blend of different sounds from instruments around the world... it's a complete trip. Okonkole y Trompa it's one of the best ideas I've ever witnessed in music (those french horns as you say are literally sailing in the distance). Can't have enough of it!
Ian, this is an interesting take on THE MOST HISTORIC electric bass player in jazz, but I can relate to you. Upon first hearing Primus and the legendary Les Claypool I.... didn't get it. I WAS NOT a fan, at first. What Les played sounded HARD, EXTREMELY HARD, but it felt like noise, AT FIRST!😳🤯 I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T GET PRIMUS UPON FIRST HEARING THEM. I'm glad I'm not alone in missing the awesomeness of a BASS GENIUS upon a first listening.
1987 I attended a one year program at a music school. The rockers were outnumbered by the jazz players. Came home and the other players had painted Jaco on the dining room wall. 7 foot tall Jaco’s face staring at me. It took a couple decades for me to come around and I bought the Jaco album. I have worn it thin, can’t stop listening!
Thanks for this video, the best Jaco lesson EVER!!! Well done!
🤣 great story man, thanks for sharing!!
and I'lm so glad having seen him live in Paris, in 85 (maybe).
I didn't totally understand Jaco's music from a theory standpoint and still don't, but I recognized that the guy was a genius immediately in 1976. I was 21 years old then and was playing bass for about 4 years. I heard Stanley Clarke and he turned my head around then I heard Jaco 😳 and it just blew me away! I was fortunate enough to meet the guy on a few occasions and unfortunate enough to see him on the streets of New York at his worst where you were afraid to approach him. My sister called me and informed me of his passing. Here was the one guy who was a pivotal figure I truly admired passing at such a young age. It was like when John Lennon was shot! This guy was like a derelict in the street his last years yet today people all over the world revere this man! Rick Beato constantly ask other players what it was like to play with this guy, a movie was made about him. It's so strange to juxtapose that lost guy on the street with all the praise he gets today worldwide.
OMG! I hade the same experience with Jaco. It took me some time to get the hype. But as I dug into it I finally got the beauty of he’s playing. And he’s genius. Thanks for this video Ean!
A few people seem to have had a similar experience! Once you've time to digest what's going on it really is mindblowing... 🧡
A friend kept commenting on Jaco's skills back in the 70s. It wasn't until I saw him play with Joni Mitchell and Pat Metheny on a DVD of a 70s concert and listening to Joni's Hejira CD that I really started to appreciate him. Great review of Jaco's CD/album!!!
bought the album in 76, and immediately blown away, saw WR in 77. Stil trying everyday to play teen town…
Thanks Ian, so great. My fave Jaco track, apart from all of them 😊 is Overture/Cotton Avenue from Don Juan’s reckless Daughter by Joni. So much drama! Thanks again
you da man,,,and the pink shirt,,,YOU ARE THE MAN & what a great guy and bass player 🎸🤠
I. Can feel your love for the music and for Jaco... Iim not a musician but I thank you so much for letting your emotions take me on the ride...
🧡🧡🧡
Your reactions to the music are as beautiful as your analyses of it...😁🤗
Ocus Pocus is my favorite track on this because Herbie went off. I've never heard him play so aggressively. Obviously Jaco was amazing on it too.
My bass teacher showed me Jaco Pastorius :)
He was my favorite teacher
First heard Jaco live with Weather Report at a concert in Denver. His solo piece brought down a pretty sophisticated and already rocked house. I went for years hearing the main riff from that solo in my head but I could never figure out what it was from. I was in love with Jaco from that moment. And I carried his tune in my head every day. When the Jaco documentary finally came out, I learned that Third Stone by Hendrix is the riff Jaco builds this whole solo on. After having it cycling through my head literally for years, it was like finally meeting a long lost brother when I was able to place the origin of the tune.
Fabulously helpful. A Jaco masterclass but also a masterclass in the art of teaching. Thank you Ian - inspirational. I first heard Jaco in the early 80s - the bass player in my friend’s band was a Jaco fan and an extraordinary musician. I was in awe of his ability and artistry. Really kind and gentle man - he was a bit of a Sufi! Taught me that to try and play like this you have to go slowly, work on your technique but also develop knowledge of harmony. Now I’m in my early 60s and have time for making music again and I’m an SBL member. Loving it. Thanks again Ian: such a great video.
That's so awesome dude! Thankyou for tuning in!
Another GREAT video Ian, so glad you chose to highlight this phenomenal recording.
👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
I had no idea who he was until I went to music college in Liverpool in the 90s. Friend passed me a book which was a biography but had a CD with it. Can't remember the name of it. Sat at home reading the book and listening to the CD at the same time. Blew my mind how great this guy was. He was like Bruce Lee or Ali. Just head and shoulders above everyone. A true genius.
I'm almost jealous of people who are just coming across him now, as I want that first feeling again. They are too few and far between in life. Do what I did and read his bio and listen to that CD too.
Well I just fell in love with Jaco, it’s about time. Thank you.
1993, I was 16, I arrived for my guitar lesson, The teacher started playing Invitation Live on his casseete deck. Took me less than a second to get completely convinced that it was the mos amazing thing I've ever heard on a bass!
🧡🧡🧡
My dad showed me Weather Report's "Heavy Weather" when I was about 13 and it totally opened my world musically. As a guitarist, I was obviously drawn to the guy playing the strings. It blew my mnd what he was doing. His tone, phrasing, and overall creativity on his instrument continues to inspire me. A tragic and undeserved end for a true genuis. RIP Jaco.
I fell in love the first time I heard Jaco's playing. His proficiency, his sound, everything is just absolutely remarkable. I get chills everytime I hear him play. Everything from his solo stuff to Weather Report to Trio of Doom are must-listens in my opinion.
🔥🔥🔥
This video opened by perception towards music... Fabulous... I have to say you Ian that you way of explaining is making me to hear more and more songs.. And try to play them in bass. Thank you from bottom of my heart.