Ana Popovic ~ Jaco (Tribiute To Jaco Pastorius)

"Jaco" performed by Blues-Guitarist and Singer, Ana Popovic; from her CD "Comfort For The Soul" (Ruf Records 2003).
_____________________________________________________
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III (December 1, 1951 - September 21, 1987), known as Jaco Pastorius, was an influential American jazz musician, composer, big band leader and electric bass player. He is best known for his work with Weather Report from 1976 to 1981, as well as work with artists including Joni Mitchell and his own solo projects.
His playing was known for its highly technical, Latin-influenced 16th-note funk, lyrical soloing on fretless bass, bass chords and innovative use of harmonics. He was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1988, one of only seven bassists so honored (and the only electric bass guitarist).
In 1975, Pastorius was introduced to Blood, Sweat & Tears drummer Bobby Colomby, who had been asked by Columbia Records to find "new talent" for their jazz division. Pastorius' first album, produced by Colomby, was Jaco Pastorius (1976), a breakthrough album for the electric bass. Many consider this the finest bass album ever recorded; it was widely praised by critics. The album also boasted a lineup of heavyweights in the jazz community at the time - including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, David Sanborn, Lenny White, Hubert Laws, Don Alias, and Michael Brecker. Even the soul singers Sam & Dave reunited to appear on the track "Come On, Come Over.
Some time prior to the sessions for his debut album, he attended a concert in Miami by the jazz band, Weather Report. After the concert, he approached keyboardist Joe Zawinul, who fronted the band. According to Zawinul, Pastorius walked up to him after the concert and talked about the performance, saying that it was all right but that he had expected more. He then went on to introduce himself, adding that he was the greatest bass player in the world. An unamused Zawinul at first told him to "get the fuck outta here." According to Zawinul (quoted in Milkowski's book), Pastorius persisted and as they talked the Austrian found himself reminded of his own younger self, the "brash young man" in Cannonball Adderley's band. Pastorius joined Weather Report during the recording sessions for Black Market (1976), and he became a vital part of the band by virtue of the unique qualities of his bass playing, his skills as a composer (and, in time, arranger) and his exuberant showmanship on stage. He left Weather Report in 1981 to pursue other projects, including his Big Band project, Word Of Mouth.
Jaco Pastorius died on Sep.21, 1987 as a result of a brain hemorrhage at age 35.
Jaco was noted for his virtuosic bass lines which combined Afro-Cuban rhythms, inspired by the likes of Cachao López, with R&B to create 16th-note funk lines syncopated with ghost notes. He played these with a floating thumb technique on the right hand, anchoring on the bridge pickup while playing on the E and A strings and muting the E string with his thumb while playing on higher strings. Examples include "Come On, Come Over" from the album Jaco Pastorius and "The Chicken" from The Birthday Concert.
He was also known for popularizing the fretless electric bass, with which he was able to achieve an almost horn-like tone while playing in the upper register. Examples include the melodies on "Birdland" from the Weather Report album Heavy Weather and "Three Views of a Secret" from the Weather Report album Night Passage, as well as his line on the Joni Mitchell song "Refuge of the Road" from her album Hejira.
One of Jaco's major innovations was in the use of harmonics, which isolate the overtones of a note by muting the string at a harmonic node, resulting in a much higher note than would otherwise be sounded. He used this bass playing technique extensively to construct melodies, such as in his composition "Portrait of Tracy" from his eponymous album, and the melody from the popular Weather Report tune "Birdland," which is often mistaken for guitar.

[@ctottle]

Love this!

[@bobclark8905]

Had been unfamiliar with Jaco. You and a friend woke me up! Thanks 😁

[@brotherwally]

Ana Popovic ~ Jaco Tribute to Jaco Pastorius.