Jazz Articles about Jaco Pastorius

Jaco: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius

by Craig Jolley
March 8, 2004

Jaco Bill Milkowski Backbeat Books ISBN: 087930426X

Thoroughly researched and fairly balanced Jaco: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius: 'the World's Greatest Bass Player' stands as a worthy examination of bassist/composer Jaco Pastorius' heartrending life. Author Bill Milkowski personally knew and sympathized with (but did not worship) Jaco, and he benefited from the cooperation of many of Jaco's associates. Milkowski traces Jaco's life and career from talented, likeable young lion ...

Jaco Pastorius/Peter Graves/Various: Jaco Pastorius Big Band: Word of Mouth Revisited

by Franz A. Matzner
October 3, 2003

In the realm of tribute records, Jaco Pastorius Big Band: Word of Mouth Revisited is a rare achievement. Containing 21 tracks, each a rearrangement of a Pastorius original composition featuring a guest bassist, the album will not only remind those listeners already familiar with Jaco of his incontrovertible greatness, but is also bound to convert those not yet exposed to the instrumental innovation, compositional ingenuity, and breadth of vision which comprised Jaco’s musical contributions to jazz, funk, rock, and R&B. ...

Jaco Pastorius: Punk Jazz: The Jaco Pastorius Anthology

by Chris M. Slawecki
July 25, 2003

This comprehensive 28-track, 2-CD anthology recounts in detail the genuine bass-playing revolution detonated by the in your face approach and sound advanced by Jaco Pastorius.

Like a good Anthology, this really covers just about everything. That means his five years as a third lead voice in Weather Report, alongside Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul, with the ubiquitous “Birdland.” Also: selections from his own sessions as a solo artist and a bandleader, including live recordings of “Punk Jazz,” his “Word of ...

Jaco Pastorius: Punk Jazz: The Jaco Pastorius Anthology

by Mark Corroto
May 7, 2003

Flames that burn brightly also burn for the shortest time. The genius of so many jazz innovators from Charlie Parker to Thomas Chapin were silenced at too young an age. The same is true for legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius. In his short 36 years, he revolutionized the role of the electric bass in jazz. And then he was gone.

Best known for his work in perhaps the best jazz fusion band of all time, Weather Report, Pastorius stood ...

Jaco Pastorius: Jaco Pastorius

by John W. Patterson
October 1, 2001

Here we have a remastered, re-release by one of the masters of jazz bass. Many will rightly argue that as far as electric bass guitar players goes, Jaco was the rightful heir to being the first master and innovator of a style and sound totally unique. For some who listen to this release they might tend to think, perhaps, nothing really unique nor all that fantastic is happening here. What?! What I mean is this: Jaco was and is such ...