Jaco Pastorius

About

The dam broke for electric bass innovator Jaco Pastorius in 1976. That was the year he appeared on Pat Metheny’s <i>Bright Size Life</i>, Joni Mitchell’s <i>Hejira</i>, Weather Report’s <i>Black Market</i>, as well as his own eponymous debut—a record that features some of the finest playing and composing of the era. <i>Jaco Pastorius</i> not only rewrote the rules for his instrument, it allowed his sound to resonate across genre, and earned Pastorius a reputation for being a charismatic rock-star-like figure onstage. Not bad for a guy who was still in his mid-twentie. Don’t mind the whiplash of <i>Jaco Pastorius</i> going from a ripping bass/conga duet on Charlie Parker’s bebop classic “Donna Lee” to what might at first seem like a throwaway R&B number with Sam & Dave on vocals (“Come On, Come Over”). The latter track, on closer inspection, is a fine précis of Pastorius’ unique funk vernacular on the fretless ba, as well as a glimpse of his close partnership with Herbie Hancock, who lights up this album like a Christmas tree (the two would soon play together on Joni Mitchell’s <i>Mingus</i>). Among those assisting on <i>Jaco Pastorius</i> are the great Wayne Shorter; percussionist Don Alias; drummer Lenny White; flutist Hubert Laws; and steel drummer Othello Molineaux, whose chops on that rare jazz instrument set Pastorius’ music apart from other fusion fare of the time. .

via Apple Music

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