Jaco Pastorius

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Jaco Pastorius : biography

01 December 1951 – 21 September 1987

John Francis Anthony Pastorius III (December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987), better known as Jaco Pastorius, was an influential American jazz musician, composer and electric bass player. He is best known for his work with Weather Report between 1976 to 1981, as well as work with artists including Joni Mitchell and his own solo projects.

His playing was known for his highly technical, latin-influenced 16th-note funk, lyrical soloing on fretless bass and innovative use of harmonics. He is said to have redefined the role of the electric bass and is almost universally recognized as one of the greatest bass players to have ever lived. 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).

Jaco suffered from bipolar disorder, a mood disorder that is typified by episodes of mania alternating with periods of depression. He died in 1987 at age 35 following a violent altercation at a Wilton Manors bar.

Career

Jaco Pastorius started out following in the footsteps of his father Jack, playing the drumsJaco Pastorius official website biography until he injured his wrist playing football at age 13. The damage to his wrist was severe enough to warrant corrective surgery and ultimately inhibited his ability to play drums. At the time, he had been playing with a local band, Las Olas Brass. When the band’s bass player, David Neubauer decided to quit the band, Pastorius bought an electric bass guitar from a local pawn shop for $15.00 USD, and began to learn to playBBC radio 3 profile; Jaco Pastorius official website biography with drummer Rich Franks, becoming the bassist for the band.Rich Franks; Jaco Pastorius official website biography

By 1968–1969, Pastorius had begun to appreciate jazz and had scraped up enough money to buy an upright bass. Its deep, mellow tone appealed to him, though it strained his finances. Pastorius had difficulties maintaining the instrument, which he attributed to the humidity of his Florida home, coupled with his additional interest in R&B music. After waking one day, he found his costly upright bass had cracked. Following this development, he at last traded it in for a 1960 Fender Jazz Bass.Bob Bobbing (2007), Jaco and the upright bass; Jaco Pastorius Official Website biography

Pastorius’ first real break came when he secured the bass chair with Wayne Cochran and The C.C. Riders He also played on various local R&B and jazz records during that time such as Little Beaver, and Ira Sullivan. In 1974, he began playing with his friend and future famous jazz guitarist, Pat Metheny. They recorded together, first with Paul Bley as leader and Bruce Ditmas on drums, then with drummer Bob Moses. Metheny and Pastorius recorded a trio album with Bob Moses on the ECM label, entitled Bright Size Life (1976).

Debut album

In 1975, Pastorius was introduced to Blood, Sweat & Tears drummer Bobby Colomby, who had been given the green light by Columbia Records to find "new talent" for their jazz division.Bobby Colomby Pastorius’ first album, produced by Colomby was the eponymous Jaco Pastorius (1976), a breakthrough album for the electric bass. Many consider this the finest bass album ever recorded; when it exploded onto the jazz scene it was widely praised by critics. The album also boasted a lineup of heavyweights in the jazz community at the time — essentially a stellar backup band — including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, David Sanborn, Lenny White, Don Alias, and Michael Brecker among others. Even the legendary soul singers Sam & Dave reunited to appear on the track Come On, Come Over.AllMusic; Jaco Pastorius credits

Weather Report

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 Josef Zawinul who fronted the band. According to Zawinul, Pastorius walked up to him after a concert one night (in Miami) and talked about the performance, saying that it was all right but that he had expected more.Zawinul, Josef on the Portrait of Jaco cd He then went on to introduce himself to Zawinul, adding that he was the greatest bass player in the world. An unamused Zawinul at first told him to "get the fuck outta here."GQ 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’ attitude that night made Zawinul admire the unknown young bassist after all, he asked for a demo tape, which he received at his hotel room the next day. Zawinul listened to some of the tape and realized at once that the young man had considerable technical skills and real potential. He gave him an address to get in touch by mail, and thus began a correspondence between the two. In time, Pastorius sent Zawinul an early rough mix of his solo album.