Rhino Jazz Celebrates Jaco With 2-CD "Punk Jazz" Anthology

LOS ANGELES -- Jaco Pastorius is widely acknowledged as the man who forever changed the way the bass guitar is played and viewed. “Jaco thought like an orchestrator as he played, dealing in advanced concept of harmony, counterpoint and texture," wrote Jaco biographer Bill Milkowski in his comprehensive notes to Punk Jazz: The Jaco Pastorius Anthology. Not only a pioneer in style and technique, Jaco crudely pulled out his frets with a pair of pliers, smoothed over the holes with wood putty, and literally invented the fretless bass guitar. Then he showed the world how to play it. As a member of famed jazz combo Weather Report, as a session man and as a solo artist, Jaco was a force of nature, causing hundreds (if not thousands) of would-be four-stringers to drop to their knees and hail him as the greatest bassist the world had ever seen.

Punk Jazz: The Jaco Pastorius Anthology (Rhino Records) offers up a complete picture: tracks from Jaco's landmark 1976 debut and 1981's Word Of Mouth sidle up next to well-known Weather Report material and lesser-known gems that reveal Jaco the brilliant sideman. Collaborations with pianist Paul Bley and guitarist Pat Metheny add to the showcase, in addition to his brilliant work with Joni Mitchell. Jaco enthusiasts will also welcome the long-awaited debut of “Good Morning Annya" from his never-completed steel drums project, Holiday For Pans. Other previously unreleased tracks include an early version of “The Chicken" recorded in Jaco's home, and “Amelia," a live cut from 1972, when Jaco got his start in Wayne Cochran's C.C. Riders. “Foreign Fun" and “Okonkole Y Trompa" also make their U.S. CD debut. Punk Jazz is available at all retail outlets as well as at www.rhino.com for a suggested list price of $31.98

The Pennsylvania-born, Florida-raised John Francis Pastorius was accompanying R&B and pop musicians while still a teenager. By the mid-'70s Jaco had earned international fame in jazz/fusion circles on the electric bass guitar, executing lines and phrases of breathtaking dexterity and skill. After establishing himself through his work with Metheny, he joined Weather Report in 1976 for a stint that lasted into the early '80s. His solo work, as well as stints with his Word Of Mouth and Trio Of Doom combos, also contributed heavily to his renown. The Jaco Pastorius story turned tragic when his addiction to drugs and alcohol exacerbated great personal, mental, and professional problems. Pastorius died at the young age of 36, a victim of a brawl with a bouncer at a Fort Lauderdale nightclub, leaving behind a truly estimable legacy.

With comprehensive notes and essays from jazz producer Ricky Schultz, and the aforementioned Milkowski, Punk Jazz provides newcomers to Jaco's work with the perfect entry point, and presents longtime Jaco fans with an excellent assortment of the master's all-time greats.