Jaco Pastorius Big Band: Word of Mouth Revisited

It may be surprising to learn that legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius had deep roots in the big band tradition. His father Jack was a big band singer and drummer in the late '40s and early '50s, and in Jaco's early twenties he played for five years with the Peter Graves Orchestra, a progressive big band located in Ft. Lauderdale. Graves' orchestra gave Pastorius valuable experience writing and arranging – and provided a supportive environment for his blossoming genius.

Then in 1975 Pastorius left the band and released his self-titled debut album, which propelled him into the spotlight. His subsequent work with Weather Report, Pat Metheny, and Joni Mitchell continued his phenomenal rise. He still gigged with Graves whenever he was in Florida, and when he left Weather Report in 1982 he formed his big band Word of Mouth, hiring Graves and other members of his orchestra.

Twenty years later, Graves has returned the favor by forming the Jaco Pastorius Big Band and releasing Word of Mouth Revisited. Although this is clearly a personal project for Graves, his aims are broad: he wants to continue Pastorius' legacy (the bassist died in 1987) by presenting his songs and arrangements in a fresh setting, as well as showcase some of jazz's best electric bassists. Actually it's a heartfelt project for everyone involved; many of the musicians played with Pastorius, all of the bassists are indebted to him, and there's even fine bass work by Pastorius' nephew David. And to help involve the listener, the CD has soundbites of Pastorius conducting, giving a taste of the personality behind the talent.

All this plus fine musicianship yields an excellent collection that celebrates and explores Pastorius' prodigious gifts. There are early songs such as "Punk Jazz," "Cha Cha," "Opus Pocus," and "Domingo," as well as Weather Report favorites "Havona," "Teen Town," and "Barbary Coast." Pastorius even plays on the CD; Herbie Hancock's "Wiggle Waggle" features a Pastorius bass line lifted from a late '70s gig, supplemented by enthusiastic studio work. The bassists appearing on the recording are the cream of the crop: Victor Bailey, Richard Bona, Jimmy Haslip, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, Gerald Veasley and Victor Wooten. Also notable are the enthusiastic and disciplined brass and woodwind sections.

Throughout the disc, the musicians give life to Pastorius' melodic grooves and uplifting rhythms, as compelling today as when they first appeared. The new technology and new voices bring Pastorius' work into the 21st century, where the seeds planted decades ago will surely continue to sprout.

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