Jaco Pastorius' eponymus 1st album
Farow
A few days ago I bought myself the CD "Jaco Pastorius" his first solo
effort.
Not a big thing, but for me it was a shocking experience.
How did this come about.
On friday 13th of july I attended at the North Sea Jazz festival a
concert of Richard Bona, bass-player
extra-ordinaire. He played his ass off but somehow it didn't get
through.
I had the feeling/impression that he was playing with a band _around_
him and
it wasn't a whole. Secondly, his apparent influence loomed larger and
larger over the proceedings. Midway I quit and went to other concerts
at the festival.
The more the evening went on the more I thought about that other
bass-player in
a different context, Jaco with Weather Report that is. Well known to
most of us.
I wondered if there was a solo outing by Pastorius. So there was.
The shop-owner showed me the CD and I bought it right away. After
listening to the first track (Donna Lee) I remembered it all again.
This was the record I dismissed way back in 1977 because after first
listening, as played by a friend to me, I did not like it from the
start. My musical tastes then were more rock and fusion oriented. And
especially a guy with only bass and congas sounded boring to me....
although I already had heard him in the Weather Report setting.
Anyway, at this present time this CD is spinning daily on my player
since three days and it seems that especially the rather short piece
called "Portrait of Tracy" won't get out of my mind. He plays it all
by himself....
As you may have noticed by now, my tastes and appreciation have
changed. To me this is a whole other meaning of playing the
bass-guitar, solo.
So this is what I want to know:
- Is there anyone out there who knows if there is a link to a real
person (Tracy)? He plays it so full of emotion, his virtuosity grabs
you by the throat and makes you call for more. It must have been
someone he really cared about.
- Can anyone recommend me a few titles of Pastorius recordings outside
his Weather Report activities
- Finally, in 24 years time I don't want to make the same "mistake"
with Richard Bona. So if you have a few titles of his (or recordings
with others) I can check out, I'd be much obliged.
Regards, Farow
Mister Zed
The Delinquent Pastorius is one of the most over-rated elements on the
fringes of jazz. Forget about him, and get yourself some real jazz, played
on a real jazz instrument.
_________________________________________________________________
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Ralph Wayvone
tracks are pretty good.
In article <4c345149.01072...@posting.google.com>,
farow_...@hotmail.com (Farow) wrote:
<snip>
> So this is what I want to know:
> - Is there anyone out there who knows if there is a link to a real
> person (Tracy)? He plays it so full of emotion, his virtuosity grabs
> you by the throat and makes you call for more. It must have been
> someone he really cared about.
Tracy was his first wife, to whom I think he was still married in '77. She
had two kids with him and they remained friends even aftertheir divorce.
> - Can anyone recommend me a few titles of Pastorius recordings outside
> his Weather Report activities
Sure!
His solo recordings include "Word of Mouth", which is very stylistically
varied and therefore easy to like in part but difficult to like as a
whole.
His big band recordings "Invitation" and "The Birthday Concert" are his
masterpieces, IMO. I defy anybody not to dig them. They are quite similar
in programs though, so you only really need one for now.
Here are the best three of his non-MR recordings as a sideman, IMO.
1. Brite Size Life by Pat Metheny -- It's Metheny's major label debut and
still one of the best things he or Jaco ever did.
2. Shadows and Light by Joni Mitchell -- Jaco's presence is very upfront
on this live recording. He was the musical director of Joni's band, wihch
included Metheny, Mays, Alias, and Michael Brecker. It's hardly "poppy" at
all and I think it's the best of the recordings on which they
collaborated.
3. Trilogue -- This is another (live) trio recording with Jaco and
trombonist Albert Mangelsdorf and drummer Alphonse Mouzon. Like Jaco,
Mangelsdorf is capable of making his instrument do very amazing and
uncharacteristic sounds. It's by turns avant garde, swinging and funky.
This one might be hard to get though. I'm not even sure if it's on CD but
it's a jaw-dropper.
One last thing: Jaco's mental illness began to affect his playing about
1983 or so, so any of his recordings that were recorded (but not
necessarily released) after that date are a shadow of his former self and
really only of interest to completists. The sole exception to this is the
DCI instructional videotape, but I think this is out of print.
> - Finally, in 24 years time I don't want to make the same "mistake"
> with Richard Bona. So if you have a few titles of his (or recordings
> with others) I can check out, I'd be much obliged.
I'm not familiar with the guy's work, but may I suggest this strategy:
select his recordings according to the drummer on the session. If the
drummer is a stripped-down, non-fancy, groove-it-to-death type, maybe
Mr.Bona makes an attractive contrast.
Every single bassist after Jaco has had to deal with his influence in some
way. It's a blessing and a curse. Bassists today are in the same boat as
alto saxophonists were after Bird died.
R
--
To reply by email, remove "-nospam" from the address.
Eric
> - Can anyone recommend me a few titles of Pastorius recordings outside
> his Weather Report activities
I like his work with Pat Metheny and Bob Moses on Metheny's 1975 release
"Bright Size Life." Nice trio work.
BTW, forget the ramblings of Mr. Zed. Every newsgroup has its
"village idiot" and Zed is ours.
--
Better than hearing "Lady Day", or checking in at Monterey...
[Remove bodies from address for email.]
Skip Elliott Bowman
so many different genres, played with such brilliance and virtuosity. That
album represents one of Jaco's finest hours.
He does have a solo bass album out, titled "Honesty". The recording
quality is atrocious, and it's for Jaco aficionados only. I have a copy
and listen to it once a year or so.
If you see the "Birthday Concert", check it out. And if you like solo
bass, find you some early Michael Manring. His first three albums were
stunning in their originality, and the music stands on its own. He did
great before the rockers at Bass Player Magazine got hold of him and
convinced him to go commercial. So look for the oldest MM albums you can
find, like 1988-92. Anything after "Thonk" I leave alone.
"Farow" <farow_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4c345149.01072...@posting.google.com...
Simon Weil
>1. Brite Size Life by Pat Metheny -- It's Metheny's major label debut and
>still one of the best things he or Jaco ever did.
?Bright Size Life. A really nice record and the one which I used to test if my
newly made kit speakers worked years ago (for the deeply resonant bass).
<snip>
>3. Trilogue -- This is another (live) trio recording with Jaco and
>trombonist Albert Mangelsdorf and drummer Alphonse Mouzon. Like Jaco,
>Mangelsdorf is capable of making his instrument do very amazing and
>uncharacteristic sounds. It's by turns avant garde, swinging and funky.
>This one might be hard to get though. I'm not even sure if it's on CD but
>it's a jaw-dropper.
>
It came out as part of a 3LPs on 2CDs set "Three Originals" on MPS (519
213-2). Do not confuse it with *another* 3LPs on 2CDs Manglesdorff set also
called "Three Originals" on MPS (529090-2). I did, but haven't regretted it.
Both contain fantastic music, but only the first has Pastorius.
I think Manglesdorff is one of those guys who would be better known if he were
American.
Simon Weil
Björn
> The Delinquent Pastorius is one of the most over-rated elements on the
> fringes of jazz. Forget about him, and get yourself some real jazz, played
> on a real jazz instrument.
yawn.
Farow, Tom Stroud's discography has some informative stuff on it
(links, recommendations, etc.):
Ulf Åbjörnsson
> I think Manglesdorff is one of those guys who would be better known if he
were
> American.
>
And maybe he would get his name properly spelled if he was, eh, Simon? ;-))
Ulf
Simon Weil
>> I think Manglesdorff is one of those guys who would be better known if he
>were
>> American.
>>
>
>And maybe he would get his name properly spelled if he was, eh, Simon? ;-))
>
Plus it actually got me to go and listen to the album again.
To be mischievous, you could argue that actually the best way of getting
somebody talked about on rmb is to be sure you make some small mistake.
Eureka, now I know what Burns' plan was.
Simon Weil
JAZZCORNER
Willie (from Germany)
"Ralph Wayvone" <plato@sk.-nospamsympatico.ca> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:plato-21070...@10.10.164.93...
Fernando Hernandez-Moros
fh
Gremal
>
> A few days ago I bought myself the CD "Jaco Pastorius" his first solo
> effort.
> Not a big thing, but for me it was a shocking experience.
> How did this come about.
I have been exploring Jaco as well as his work on the two mid-70s Weather
Reports, Black Market and Heavy Weather. I had kind of written off this
whole genre of fusion as the missing link between what the jazz I really
like and the smooth jazz that I really dislike. . .but then these 3 albums
were released on SACD. Current paucity of SACD releases led me to pick them
up. Well, this is serious fusion for the most part and the sound on SACD is
so incredible. The discovery has been a good one for me. Especially given
that Wayne Shorter is one of my favorites and he appears in large doses on
all this material. I especially like Black Market, though I believe some of
that bass work is not Jaco, correct? (the notes on the SACD are in Japanese
so. . .)
Ralph Wayvone
just getting into Jaco would have an easier time getting ahold os
"Invitation". ("Invitation" is, of course, an edited version of the
material on "Twins")
In article <9jf8fv$q8n$1...@news.rhein-zeitung.DE>, "JAZZCORNER"
Ralph Wayvone
R
In article <9jee70$2sg$1...@zingo.tninet.se>, "Ulf Åbjörnsson"
<aabj...@algonet.se> wrote:
--
Skip Elliott Bowman
"Gremal" <gre...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:jTJ67.8320$Xn.9...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
<snip>
I especially like Black Market, though I believe some of
> that bass work is not Jaco, correct? (the notes on the SACD are in
Japanese
> so. . .)
Jaco plays on only 2 songs on "Black Market": his own "Barbary Coast" and
Wayne Shorter's "Harlequin". The rest of the bass work is performed by
Alphonso Johnson. I absolutely love the ways he plays. One of the very
few fretless players that not only doesn't sound like Jaco but also has his
own voice on the instrument. As funky as I've ever heard fretless.
Michael Fitzgerald
<skip...@teleport.com> wrote:
>Jaco plays on only 2 songs on "Black Market": his own "Barbary Coast" and
>Wayne Shorter's "Harlequin". The rest of the bass work is performed by
>Alphonso Johnson.
But.....
Harlequin isn't even ON Black Market - it's on Heavy Weather (Jaco
plays on that entire album).
The other track that Jaco is on is "Cannon Ball," the tribute to
Adderley by Joe Zawinul.
Mike
Mike C.
Don't sweat the small stuff. It's just Ulf trolling again. He's not even
very good a that...
"Ralph Wayvone" <plato@sk.-nospamsympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:plato-22070...@10.10.164.93...
Eric
> I especially like Black Market, though I believe some of
> that bass work is not Jaco, correct? (the notes on the SACD are in Japanese
> so. . .)
Correct. He shares the pleasure with Alphonso Johnson (who is appearing
on his last Weather Report release.)
Dan Buxbaum
Gremal wrote:
Is this new version (and other new versions) of Black Market remixed as well as
remastered? On the original album and cd issue, the mixing was so poorly done
(largely by Zawinul) that the drums cannot be heard at all--'swamped' out by Mr.
Z's keyboards. Are the grooves of Chester Thompson and Narada Michael Walden
more prominent on the new versions of Black Market?
--
"But as far as I know, they may be trying to wrap me in cellophane and
sell me; brothers help me, and don't worry about looking at the score."
-- Jimi Hendrix ("Somewhere")
Skip Elliott Bowman
"Michael Fitzgerald" <fitz...@eclipse.net> wrote in message
news:hc7nltcptluja4qb0...@4ax.com...
Farow
> Reports, Black Market and Heavy Weather. I had kind of written off this
> whole genre of fusion as the missing link between what the jazz I really
> like and the smooth jazz that I really dislike. . .but then these 3 albums
> were released on SACD. Current paucity of SACD releases led me to pick them
> up. Well, this is serious fusion for the most part and the sound on SACD is
> so incredible. The discovery has been a good one for me. Especially given
> that Wayne Shorter is one of my favorites and he appears in large doses on
> all this material. I especially like Black Market, though I believe some of
> that bass work is not Jaco, correct? (the notes on the SACD are in Japanese
> so. . .)
Sir,
You are very correct. Half of Black Markets bass-work is done by
Alphonso Johnson. It was the transitional period of the bass-chair in
WR-band.
Did you know they started out with Miroslav Vitous.
Other RMB posters. A thousand thanks for showing me the way.
Haven't travelled yet to my record-store (1,5 hour-drive) but coming
saturday I sure well.
Kind regards, Farow
Gremal
news:3B5C2BEF...@erols.com...
>
> Is this new version (and other new versions) of Black Market remixed as
well as
> remastered? On the original album and cd issue, the mixing was so poorly
done
> (largely by Zawinul) that the drums cannot be heard at all--'swamped' out
by Mr.
> Z's keyboards. Are the grooves of Chester Thompson and Narada Michael
Walden
> more prominent on the new versions of Black Market?
Actually SACD is a new format that requires an SACD player. It puts CD to
shame, even the latest remasterings. There is plenty of separation or "air"
around the instruments so you can pick out everything very clearly and the
tonal nuances of the instruments come correct on Black Market. The SACD
versions of Jaco and Heavy Weather are not quite as good but still better
than the CDs.
Jordan
its only available as an import--it was when I bought it). Black Market
is incredible (the Erskine/Shorter duet--amazing), and Birdland is
played with a shuffle beat. As for Alphonso Johnson, I've seen him play
recently with "Jazz is Dead" and agree that he's (still) a great player.
Jordan
Dennis J. Kosterman
wrote:
>you also may want to check out 8:30 a Japanese live album (not sure if
>its only available as an import--it was when I bought it). Black Market
>is incredible (the Erskine/Shorter duet--amazing), and Birdland is
>played with a shuffle beat. As for Alphonso Johnson, I've seen him play
>recently with "Jazz is Dead" and agree that he's (still) a great player.
8:30 has been available domestically for years, but the version I have
has a track chopped off so that they could fit it on a single disc (I
absolutely *hate* it when they do this -- I would *much* rather pay
for an extra disc and get all the music). Since I bought that, I've
seen another 2-disc version. This may be the import that you're
thinking of, or maybe Columbia just wised up and re-released it the
right way.
There's also another live album ("Live in Tokyo", if I remember
correctly), which is a more complete version of the concert excerpted
on "I Sing the Body Electric". This one I've only seen as an import,
which is why I've never bought it -- it's hideously expensive.
Dennis J. Kosterman
den...@tds.net
Greg
"Dennis J. Kosterman" <den...@tds.net> wrote in message
news:3b5f8787...@news.tds.net...
> There's also another live album ("Live in Tokyo", if I remember
> correctly), which is a more complete version of the concert excerpted
> on "I Sing the Body Electric". This one I've only seen as an import,
> which is why I've never bought it -- it's hideously expensive.
>
To be clear about this, given the fact that this is a Jaco thread, the Live
in Tokyo album is the second album by Weather Report, with Miroslav Vitous
on the bass. Wonderful concert.
Some of this album was on I Sing the Body Electric, Weather Report's second
American release.
Greg
Eric
> 8:30 has been available domestically for years, but the version I have
> has a track chopped off so that they could fit it on a single disc (I
> absolutely *hate* it when they do this -- I would *much* rather pay
> for an extra disc and get all the music).
Warner Bros hacked the end of some songs, and deleted much of the first
portion of "Take Five" on Al Jarreau's live "Look To The Rainbow" release
just so they could fit it all on one CD. It was a double LP.
I was STEAMED the first time I listened to it.
ron
"Dennis J. Kosterman" wrote:
> On Wed, 25 Jul 2001 13:16:19 -0700, Jordan <ace_s...@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> >you also may want to check out 8:30 a Japanese live album (not sure if
> >its only available as an import--it was when I bought it). Black Market
> >is incredible (the Erskine/Shorter duet--amazing), and Birdland is
> >played with a shuffle beat.
The latest release of 8:30 (as well as 'Black Market' and the self-titled
debut album) from Sony Japan has DSD Mastering and sounds awesome. Even the
previous 1997 Japanese 20-bit remasters are awesome, far superior to the
American releases in sound quality.
>
>
> 8:30 has been available domestically for years, but the version I have
> has a track chopped off so that they could fit it on a single disc (I
> absolutely *hate* it when they do this -- I would *much* rather pay
> for an extra disc and get all the music). Since I bought that, I've
> seen another 2-disc version. This may be the import that you're
> thinking of, or maybe Columbia just wised up and re-released it the
> right way.
Go for the Sony Japan import.
>
>
> There's also another live album ("Live in Tokyo", if I remember
> correctly), which is a more complete version of the concert excerpted
> on "I Sing the Body Electric".
WR "Live in Tokyo"is a masterpiece.
Ron
Flores/Abretske Project
http://www.geocities.com/jazzmaniacs_2000/floresabretskemus.html