Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius in concert at Naples, Italy in 1987
Background information
Birth name	John Francis Pastorius III
Born	December 1, 1951
Origin	Norristown, Pennsylvania, United States
Died	September 21, 1987 (aged 35) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Genre(s)	Funk Jazz fusion
Occupation(s)	Songwriter, bassist
Instrument(s)	Bass guitar Drums Piano Saxophone
Years active	1964 – 1987
Label(s)	Epic Records Warner Bros. Records Columbia Records
Associated acts	Weather Report Word of Mouth
Website	JacoPastorius.com
Notable instrument(s)
Fender Jazz Bass

John Francis Anthony "Jaco" Pastorius III (December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987) was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged for his virtuosity of the fretless bass,^[1][2] as well as his command of varied musical styles. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Location of the city of Naples (red dot) within Italy. ... is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Norristown is a home rule municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 6 miles (10 km) northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Largest metro area Delaware Valley Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Nickname: Coordinates: , Country State County Broward Established 27 March 1911 Government  - Type Commission-Manager  - Mayor Jim Naugle Area  - City  36. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami metropolitan area Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, including related musical genres, see Funk (disambiguation). ... Jazz fusion (or jazz-rock fusion or fusion) is a musical genre that merges elements of jazz with other styles of music, particularly pop, rock, folk, reggae, funk, metal, country, R&B, hip hop, electronic music and world music. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Deon Rexroat of Anberlin. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... A short grand piano, with the lid up. ... The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Epic Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG. // Epic was launched originally as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 by CBS. Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. ... Warner Bros. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... For the song Weather Report by The American Analog Set, see The Golden Band. ... For other uses, see Word of mouth (disambiguation). ... The Jazz Bass (or J-Bass) was the second model of electric bass guitar created by Leo Fender. ... is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... “Instrumentalist” redirects here. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... A virtuoso (from Italian virtuoso, late Latin virtuosus, Latin virtus meaning: skill, manliness, excellence) is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability at singing or playing a musical instrument. ... The fretless guitar is a guitar without frets. ...

His playing style was noteworthy for containing "dazzling solos in the higher register"^[3] and "fluid machine-gun-like passages that demanded attention,"^[1] often featuring his instrument in lead rather than rhythm section.^[3] His unique innovations also included the use of harmonics^[3] and the "singing" quality of his melodies. In 2006, Pastorius was voted "The Greatest Bass Player Who Has Ever Lived" by reader submissions in Bass Guitar Magazine.^[2] Rhythm section refers to the musicians whose primary jobs in a jazz or popular music band or ensemble is to establish the rhythm of a song or musical piece, often via repeated riffs or ostinati. ... This article is about the components of sound. ...

Apart from his career in the influential jazz fusion band Weather Report, he had two Grammy Award nominations for his self-titled debut album.^[2] He was inducted into Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1988, one of only four bassists to be so honored beside Charles Mingus, Milt Hinton, and Ray Brown and the only electric bassist to garner the distinction. Later in life, Pastorius suffered from mental health problems and substance abuse, both of which contributed to his death.^[1][2][3] For the song Weather Report by The American Analog Set, see The Golden Band. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to jazz. ... Charles Mingus (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz bassist, composer, bandleader, and occasional pianist. ... Milt Hinton born Milton John Hilton (Vicksburg, Mississippi, June 23, 1910; d. ... Raymond Matthews Brown (October 13, 1926–July 2, 2002) was an American jazz double bassist. ... Mental health is a term used to describe either a level of cognitive or emotional wellbeing or an absence of mental illness. ... Also see Alcoholism and Drug addiction. ...

Early history

John Francis Pastorius III was born December 1, 1951 in Norristown, Pennsylvania^[2] to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius,^[4] the first of their three children. Consequently, Pastorius was of Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry.^[4] Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Fort Lauderdale. Pastorius went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement's Catholic School in Wilton Manors, and he was an altar boy at the adjoining church.^[5] In his years at St. Clement's, the art he was most known for was drawing. is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Norristown is a home rule municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 6 miles (10 km) northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Largest metro area Delaware Valley Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... Fort Lauderdale, known as the Venice of America, is a city located in Broward County, Florida. ... Wilton Manors is a city located in Broward County, Florida. ... An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a religious service. ...

The album cover of Jaco Pastorius (1976), Pastorius' acclaimed debut album.^[2][6]

Inspired by the arrival of the Beatles in the United States in 1964, Pastorius formed his first band named The Sonics along with John Caputo and Dean Noel. He went to high school at Northeast High in Oakland Park.^[7] He was a talented athlete with skills in football, basketball, and baseball, and he picked up music at an early age. He took the name "Anthony" at his confirmation.^[8] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This self-titled album was Pastorius solo debut and was originally released in 1976. ... Northeast High School (located in Oakland Park, Florida) is a high school in Broward County, Florida. ... Oakland Park is a city located in Broward County, Florida. ... See Reform Judaism article about its Confirmation ceremony. ...

He loved basketball, and often watched basketball with his father. Pastorius' nickname was influenced by his love of sports and also by the umpire Jocko Conlan.^[8] He changed the spelling from "Jocko" to "Jaco" after the pianist Alex Darqui sent him a note. Darqui, who was French, assumed the name was spelled "Jaco"; "Jaco" liked the new spelling.^[8] Jaco had a second nickname, given to him by his older brother Gregory: "Mowgli," after the wild young boy in Rudyard Kipling's classic The Jungle Book. Gregory gave him the nickname in reference to Jaco's seemingly endless energy as a child. ^[8] Jaco would later establish his music publishing company as Mowgli Music. John Bertrand Jocko Conlan (December 6, 1899 - April 16, 1989) was a player, and more famously an umpire, in Major League Baseball. ... Mowgli by John Lockwood Kipling (father of Rudyard Kipling). ... This article is about the British author. ... Embossed cover from the original MacMillan edition of The Jungle Book, 1894, based on art by John Lockwood Kipling (Rudyards father) For other uses, see The Jungle Book (disambiguation). ...

Pastorius started his musical career as a drummer^[2] (following in the footsteps of his father Jack, a stand-up drummer) but when he was 13, he injured his wrist while playing football.^[3] The break was so severe it caused calcium to build up in his wrist and required corrective surgery. After that he was never able to hit a snare drum properly again.^[7] At that time he was in a nine-piece horn band called Las Olas Brass (which covered popular material of the day by Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, James Brown and the Tijuana Brass). Rendered unable to play the drums, he decided to fill in the spot left open by the recently departed bass player.^[2][3] Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Otis Ray Redding, Jr. ... Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006) was an American R&B/Rock and Roll and soul singer. ... For other persons named James Brown, see James Brown (disambiguation). ... Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935 in Los Angeles, California) is an American musician most associated with the Tijuana Brass, a now-defunct brass band of which he was leader. ...

As Pastorius' interest in jazz grew, he developed a desire to play the double bass. After saving money for a considerable length of time for the purchase of a double bass, he found that the instrument could not stand up to the Florida humidity. One morning, his double bass was "in like a hundred pieces" as he put it. Deciding that to replace it would be too expensive, he instead pried out the frets on his Fender, and filled the fret holes with wood putty. Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ...

Influences

Musical influences included James Jamerson, James Brown, The Beatles, Miles Davis, and Stravinsky.^{[citation needed]} Other musical influences include: Jimi Hendrix, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Paul Hindemith, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, The Band, Santana, Frank Zappa, Bob Marley, Tommy Cogbill, Ray Charles, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Otis Redding, James T. Doggington, Cannonball Adderley and Jerry Jemmott. According to Bill Milkowski's biography "Jaco: The extraordinary and tragic life of Jaco Pastorius" he was also heavily influenced by Johann Sebastian Bach. His bass solo "Chromatic Fantasy" is taken from Bach's work.^[9] James Jamerson (January 29, 1938 - August 2, 1983) was an American musician. ... For other persons named James Brown, see James Brown (disambiguation). ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician, widely considered to be one of the most influential of the 20th century. ... Igor Stravinsky. ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... This article is about the American Jazz composer and performer. ... Charles Bird Parker, Jr. ... Paul Hindemith aged 28. ... Sinatra redirects here. ... For other persons named Tony Bennett, see Tony Bennett (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Band. ... Carlos Augusto Alves Santana (born July 20, 1947), is a Grammy Award-winning Mexican-born American Latin rock musician and guitarist. ... Frank Vincent Zappa[1] (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, musician, and film director. ... This article is about the reggae musician. ... For the composer and conductor of the Ray Charles Singers, see Ray Charles (composer). ... Charles Mingus (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz bassist, composer, bandleader, and occasional pianist. ... Coltrane redirects here. ... Otis Ray Redding, Jr. ... Julian Edwin Cannonball Adderley (September 15, 1928 – August 8, 1975), originally from Tampa, Florida, was a jazz alto saxophonist of the small combo era of the 1950s and 1960s. ... Gerald Fingers Jemmott, aka the Groovemaster (born 1953) is an American Bassist. ... “Bach” redirects here. ...

Music career

Pastorius continued to play music throughout his youth, drawing on aforementioned influences like Jerry Jemmott, James Jamerson, Paul Chambers, Harvey Brooks and Tommy Cogbill and honing his skills and developing his songwriting prowess in bands like Wayne Cochran and The C.C. Riders.^[2] He also played on various local R&B and jazz records during that time such as Little Beaver, Ira Sullivan's Quintet and Woodchuck. In 1974, he began playing with his friend and later 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 Jaco recorded a trio album with Bob Moses on the ECM label entitled Bright Size Life. Cover of compilation album Willie Hale (b. ... Patrick Bruce Metheny (born August 12, 1954 in Lees Summit, Missouri) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. ...

The album cover of Heavy Weather (1977) by Weather Report. Considered a landmark album in the jazz-fusion movement,^[10] it was the band's second album to feature Pastorius as bassist.

In 1975, Pastorius met up with Blood, Sweat and Tears drummer Bobby Colomby, who had been given the green light by CBS records to find "new talent" for their jazz division.^{[citation needed]} Pastorius' first album, produced by Colomby and entitled Jaco Pastorius (1976), was a breakthrough album for the electric bass.^[2] Many consider this to be the finest bass album ever recorded;^[2] when it exploded onto the jazz scene it was instantly recognized as a classic. The album also boasted a lineup of heavyweights in the jazz community at the time, who were essentially his stellar back up band, including Herbie Hancock, David Sanborn, Lenny White, Don Alias, and Michael Brecker among others.^[11] Even legendary R&B singers Sam & Dave reunited to appear on the track "Come On, Come Over".^[11] CD cover of Heavy Weather by Weather Report This is an album cover. ... CD cover of Heavy Weather by Weather Report This is an album cover. ... Heavy Weather is Weather Reports seventh album, released in 1977 through Columbia Records. ... For the song Weather Report by The American Analog Set, see The Golden Band. ... This self-titled album was Pastorius solo debut and was originally released in 1976. ... Samuel David Moore (b. ...

During this time, he had also run into keyboardist Josef Zawinul in Miami, Florida, where his band, Weather Report was playing. According to Zawinul, Pastorius walked up to him after a concert the previous night and talked about the performance and how it was "all right" but he had "expected more".^{[citation needed]} He then went on to tell the great Zawinul that he was "The Greatest Bass Player in the World". An unamused Zawinul told him to "get the fuck outta my sight."^[12] According to Milkowsky's book on that same evening, Jaco persisted and, according to Zawinul, reminded Zawinul of himself when he was a "brash young man" in Cannonball's band, which made Zawinul admire the young bassist. Zawinul asked for a demo from Pastorius, and thus began a series of correspondence between the two. Categories: Musician stubs | 1932 births | Austrian musicians | Jazz musicians | Jazz pianists ...

Also during this time period, Pastorius guested on many albums by other artists; (Joni Mitchell's Hejira album, and Al Di Meola's solo album are standouts, all released in 1976). Soon after that, Weather Report bass player Alphonso Johnson gave notice that he would be leaving to start his own band. Pastorius was happily invited by Zawinul to join the band where he played alongside Joe and Wayne Shorter until 1981. It is with Weather Report that Pastorius made his indelible mark on jazz music, being featured on one of the most popular jazz albums of all time, the Grammy-nominated Heavy Weather. Not only did this album showcase Jaco's stunning bass playing, but he also received a co-producing credit with Joe Zawinul and even plays drums on his self composed Teen Town. Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943) is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter. ... Al Di Meola (born Al Laurence Dimeola July 22, 1954 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is an American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist. ... For the song Weather Report by The American Analog Set, see The Golden Band. ... Alphonso Johnson (born 1951 in Philadelphia, PA) is a jazz bassist who has been influential since the early 1970s. ... Wayne Shorter (born August 25, 1933) is an American jazz composer and saxophonist. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music... Heavy Weather is Weather Reports seventh album, released in 1977 through Columbia Records. ... Josef Erich Zawinul (July 7, 1932 – September 11, 2007) was a jazz keyboardist and composer. ... Heavy Weather is Weather Reports seventh album, released in 1977 through Columbia Records. ...

As aforementioned, during the course of his musical career, Pastorius played on dozens of recording sessions for other musicians, both in and out of jazz circles. Some of his most notable are four highly regarded albums with acclaimed singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell: Hejira (1976), Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (1977), Mingus (1979) and the live album Shadows and Light (1980). His influence was most dominant on Hejira, and many of the songs on that album seem to be composed using the bass as a melodic source of inspiration.^{[citation needed]} Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943) is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter. ... Hejira is a 1976 folk/rock/jazz album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. ... Don Juans Reckless Daughter is a 1977 double album by Joni Mitchell. ... Mingus is the 1979 album by Joni Mitchell, a collaboration with jazz musician Charles Mingus recorded in the months before his passing. ... Shadows and Light is Joni Mitchells 1980 double live album, recorded at the Santa Barbara County Bowl in September 1979 on the Mingus tour. ... Hejira is the title track from Joni Mitchells 1976 album. ...

Zawinul and Pastorius struck up a close friendship almost immediately, as both men were outgoing and energetic, full of life. But Zawinul was tempered with age; he was in his 40s, with a sense of life's limits, while Jaco was still in his early 20s. One night before a gig, Zawinul offered Jaco a drink to loosen up. Jaco had never drunk before due to his father's own struggles with alcohol, but after two drinks, Zawinul said he got "strange. He started throwing things. I knew right away I had made a mistake."^[8] Pastorius's drinking grew more out of control in the ensuing years, with Zawinul so furious during a Japanese tour in 1980 he was ready to fire Jaco. He called bassist Tony Levin, but he wasn't available. Before finding a replacement, Jaco showed up at Zawinul's door apologizing profusely, and Joe once again forgave him. Tony Levin (born June 6, 1946, Boston, Massachusetts) is an influential American bass player. ...

By the time he and Weather Report parted ways in early 1981 (to Zawinul's relief), Jaco began pursuing his interest in creating a Big Band solo project, one that found its debut aurally on his second solo release, which was distributed by Warner Brothers, Word of Mouth (which was also the name of the Big Band). Like his 1976 debut, Word of Mouth also boasted guest appearances by several distinguished jazz musicians; Herbie Hancock appears again here, as do Weather Report alumni Wayne Shorter and Peter Erskine, and other legends such as harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans and Hubert Laws. For the song Weather Report by The American Analog Set, see The Golden Band. ... Warner Bros. ... Word of Mouth was the second album by Jaco Pastorius, released in 1981 while the bassist was a member of Weather Report, and also the name of a big band group that Pastorius assembled and with whom he toured from 1980 to 1984. ... Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an Academy Award and multiple Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and composer from Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Hancock is one of jazz musics most important and influential pianists and composers. ... Wayne Shorter (born August 25, 1933) is an American jazz composer and saxophonist. ... Peter Erskine (born June 5, 1954) is an American jazz drummer. ... Jean Toots Thielemans (born Brussels, April 29, 1922) is a Belgian jazz artist well known for his guitar, harmonica play and also for his highly accomplished professional whistling. ... Hubert Laws is an American jazz flutist, who also studied classical music. ...

The songwriting on Word of Mouth overshadowed his bass playing to a degree and really opened the eyes of a lot of people who thought that his prowess was confined to the electric bass. His production and ability to bring together a project that was recorded on both coasts of the United States was stunning indeed.

He toured in 1982; a swing through Japan was the highlight, and it was at this time that bizarre tales of Jaco's deteriorating behavior first surfaced. He shaved his head, painted his face black and threw his bass into Hiroshima Bay at one point.^[8] That tour was released in Japan as Twins I and Twins II and was condensed for an American release which was known as Invitation. Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ...

His increasingly erratic behavior began to affect his musical career (see below), and he was eventually dropped by Warner Brothers. He had to be pulled off stage during the 1982 Playboy Jazz Festival due to drunkenness, prompting an apology to the crowd by MC Bill Cosby. By 1984, the Word of Mouth Big Band had also splintered. He managed to record a third solo album, which made it as far as some unpolished demo tapes, a steelpans-tinged release entitled Holiday for Pans, which once again showcased him as more of a tunesmith and producer than a bass player. In fact, Jaco did not play any of the bass parts on the album. Some years after his death, bass player Kenny Burrell Jr. confessed to playing the bass parts, though most all knew this due to Burrell's inferior capabilities as a bass player. Jaco could not find a distributor for the album and the album was never released, however it was widely bootlegged since. In 2003, a cut from Holiday for Pans, entitled "Good Morning Anya", was included on Rhino Records' anthology Punk Jazz. Warner Bros. ... William Henry Bill Cosby, Jr. ... This article is about the year. ... Steelpan (also known as steeldrums or pans, and sometimes collectively with the musicians as a steelband) is a musical instrument and a form of music originating in Trinidad and Tobago. ... Holiday for Pans was Jaco Pastoriuss final attempt at a solo album. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Holiday for Pans was Jaco Pastoriuss final attempt at a solo album. ... Rhino Entertainment is a specialty record label originally known for releasing retrospectives of famous comedy performers, including Stan Freberg, Tom Lehrer, and Spike Jones. ...

Near the end of his career, he guested on low-key releases by jazz artists such as guitarist Mike Stern, gypsy guitarist Biréli Lagrène, and drummer Brian Melvin. In 1985, he recorded an instructional video, Modern Electric Bass, hosted by bass legend Jerry Jemmott. Jaco by this point had been in the throes of mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse and had been homeless for a stretch. He's shaky and his playing is uneven and he admits he can't play some of his old licks. The video is not structured and tends to jump around from one subject to the next. It finishes with an impromptu jam sessions with Jaco, guitarist John Scofield and drummer Kenwood Dennard. Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. ... Biréli Lagrène is a French guitarist and electric bassist. ... This article is about the year. ... Gerald Fingers Jemmott, aka the Groovemaster (born 1953) is an American Bassist. ... John Scofield (born December 26, 1951 in Dayton, Ohio)[1] is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who played and eventually collaborated with Miles Davis, Billy Cobham, Medeski Martin & Wood, and other important artists. ...

Instruments and technique

Pastorius was most identified by his use of two well-worn Fender Jazz Basses from the early 1960s: A 1960 Fretted, and a 1962 Fretless. The fretless was originally a fretted bass (as fretless versions were not yet being manufactured by Fender at the time) from which he removed the frets and used wood filler to fill in the grooves where the frets had been, along with the holes created where chunks of the fretboard had been taken out. Jaco then sanded down the fingerboard, and applied several coats of marine epoxy (Petit's Poly-poxy) to prevent the rough Rotosound RS-66 roundwound bass strings he used from eating into the bare wood. Even though he played both the fretted and the fretless basses frequently, he preferred the fretless, because he felt frets were a hindrance, once calling them "speed bumps." The Jazz Bass (or J-Bass) was the second model of electric bass guitar created by Leo Fender. ... RotoSound is a guitar and bass string manufacturing company based in England. ...

The "Jaco growl" is obtained by using the bridge pickup exclusively and plucking the strings close to it. Additionally, Jaco used the "Variamp" EQ (equalization) controls on his two Acoustic 361 amplifiers (made by the Acoustic Control Corporation of Van Nuys, California) to boost the midrange frequencies, thus accentuating the natural growling tone of his fretless passive Fender Jazz Bass and roundwound string combination. His tone was also colored by the use of a rackmount MXR digital delay unit that fed a second Acoustic amp rig. He often used Hartke cabinets because of their characteristic aluminium speaker cones (as opposed to paper speaker cones). These gave his tone a bright, clean clarity. Jaco typically used the delay in a chorus-like mode, providing a stereo doubling effect. He would often use the fuzz control built in on the Acoustic 361. Another effect he used live was an octave pedal (which provides a 2nd tone an octave lower). For the bass solo "Slang" on the 8:30 album, Jaco used the MXR digital delay to layer and loop a chordal figure and soloed over it. Acoustic Control Corporation was a manufacturer of instrument amplifiers, based at Van Nuys, California. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hartke Systems is a brand of electronics best known for their bass guitar amplifiers and cabinets. ...

Pastorius used natural and false harmonics to extend the range of the bass (exemplified in the bass solo masterpiece Portrait of Tracy from his eponymous album) and could achieve a horn-like tone through his playing technique. Both of his Fender basses were stolen shortly before he entered Bellevue hospital in 1986. In 1993, one of the basses resurfaced in a New York City music shop, with the distinctive letter P written between the two pickups. The store told Bass Player magazine it was brought in by a "student" of Jaco's, and the asking price was $35,000. Portrait of Tracy is a composition by legendary bassist Jaco Pastorius. ...

Jaco also had two Jaydee Basses made for him shortly before he died; a fretted and a fretless.

Almost 20 years after Jaco's untimely death, Fender released the Jaco Pastorius Jazz Bass Fretless from its Artist Series.

Health problems and death

In the early to mid-1980s, Pastorius began to experience increasingly prevalent mental health problems, including symptoms of bipolar disorder. These were worsened by heavy drug and alcohol use and he was eventually diagnosed as being manic depressive. Although his on-stage and off-stage antics were already well-documented, his mental health and addiction problems exacerbated his unusual and often bizarre behavior and his musical performances suffered. For other uses, see Bipolar. ...

During this time he played in various solo acts in Fort Lauderdale and New York City, and became an outcast of the musical community due to his health problems. He was homeless, penniless, and secluded from nearly all who once held him dear. He was left to gig at various nightclubs around town, but when his behavior became too much, he was banned and would segue to the next club. His final address was at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After sneaking onstage at a Carlos Santana concert September 11, 1987, he was ejected from the premises, and he made his way to the Midnight Bottle Club in Wilton Manors, Florida (which is now The Corner Pocket, near the intersection of NE 6th Ave and Wilton Drive, in The Shoppes of Wilton Manors). What then happened was clouded with discrepancy. After reportedly kicking in a glass door after being refused entrance to the club, he was engaged in a violent confrontation with the club bouncer, Luc Havan. Pastorius was hospitalized for multiple facial fractures and gruesome disfigurement to his face, including the probable loss of his right eye and right arm, and had sustained irreversible brain damage. He fell into a coma and was put on life support. There were initially encouraging signs that he would come out of his coma and recover, but a massive brain hemorrhage a few days later pointed to brain death. His family decided on a majority vote to remove him from life support, even though his second wife Ingrid was against the decision. Pastorius died on September 21, 1987, aged 35, at Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, his heart continuing to beat an agonizing three hours after the plug was pulled. Fort Lauderdale, known as the Venice of America, is a city located in Broward County, Florida. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Nickname: Coordinates: , Country State County Broward Established 27 March 1911 Government  - Type Commission-Manager  - Mayor Jim Naugle Area  - City  36. ... Carlos Augusto Alves Santana (born July 20, 1947), is a Grammy Award-winning Mexican-born American Latin rock musician and guitarist. ... is the 254th day of the year (255th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Wilton Manors is a city located in Broward County, Florida. ... Brain damage or brain injury is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. ... For other uses, see Coma (disambiguation). ... Life support, in the medical field, refers to a set of therapies for preserving a patients life when essential body systems are not functioning sufficiently to sustain life unaided. ... is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

In the wake of Pastorius' death, Havan was convicted of second degree murder, for which he served four months. Murder is both a legal and a moral term, that are not always coincident. ...

Jaco is buried at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery in North Lauderdale.

Controversy

In 1995, jazz author Bill Milkowski published "Jaco: The Extraordinary And Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius. 'The World's Greatest Bass Player'." The book was filled with interviews with leading jazz musicians, music executives and Jaco's brother, but Milkowski's first-hand experiences with Jaco were toward the end of his life, when he had deteriorated badly. Jaco's second wife Ingrid has taken issue with many of the claims made in the book, stating that they either did not happen or happened very differently.[1] Guitarist Pat Metheny, with whom Pastorius work on several albums, leveled his own criticism in the liner notes of the reissue of Jaco's first album, calling it "a horribly inaccurate, botched biography."[2] When the softcover edition of "Jaco" was published, one correction was made concerning an incident supposedly involving Jaco's daughter Mary, but the rest remains unchanged. Patrick Bruce Metheny (born August 12, 1954 in Lees Summit, Missouri) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. ...

Trivia

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• Miles Davis honored the late bassist on his album Amandla with the Marcus Miller composition "Mr. Pastorius," as Jaco was an inspiration to Marcus Miller.
• Victor Wooten also honored Jaco on his album Soul Circus on the track "Bass Tribute", thanking Pastorius several times. He also does a solo titled 'Glorius Pastorius,' and does a tribute to Jaco's interpretation of Charlie Parker's 'Donna Lee' in his 'Bass Extremes' with Steve Bailey.
• Pat Metheny Group also honored Jaco on their album Pat Metheny Group on the track "Jaco", with whom Metheny had previously played.
• John McLaughlin also honored Jaco on his album Industrial Zen with the song "For Jaco".
• English keyboard player Rod Argent includes a track titled "Pastorius Mentioned" on his 1979 Album "Moving Home"
• Canadian bassist Alain Caron pays tribute to Pastorius by playing an upright bass version of "Donna Lee" on Uzeb's "World Tour '90" album, and has mentioned that Pastorius was his biggest inspiration when it comes to playing fretless bass.
• At the beginning of R&B group SWV's song "Rain", you can hear a sample of the intro of Pastorius's song "Portrait of Tracy".
• The song "Big Country", by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, contains a lick from Jaco's "Continuum"

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician, widely considered to be one of the most influential of the 20th century. ... An album by Miles Davis Catembe Cobra Big Time Hannibal Jo-Jo Amandla Jilli Mr. ... Marcus Miller (born June 14, 1959 in New York) is a jazz musician, composer and producer, perhaps best known as a bass guitarist with Miles Davis, Luther Vandross and David Sanborn. ... Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964 in Hampton, Virginia) is an American electric bass guitar player. ... Soul Circus is the fifth album by Victor Wooten, released in 2005. ... Charles Bird Parker, Jr. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Pat Metheny Group is the first album by the Pat Metheny Group, released in 1978. ... John McLaughlin John McLaughlin (aka pinyon)(born January 4, 1942), also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is a jazz fusion guitar player from Doncaster, Yorkshire in England. ... Image:Rod Argent. ... Alain Caron may refer to: Alain Caron (bass player) (born 1955) Alain Caron (hockey player) (born 1938) Category: ... Donna Lee is a bebop jazz standard based on chords from the dixieland standard (Home Again in) Indiana. While officially credited to saxophonist Charlie Parker, Miles Davis always maintained that he composed the tune, and indeed the scholarly consensus is that he did. ... Uzeb was a Canadian jazz fusion band from Montreal, Quebec, who were active from 1976 to 1992. ... SWV, also known as Sisters With Voices, is an American female R&B trio from New York that formed as three school friends in 1990: Cheryl Coko Gamble-Clemons (born June 13, 1974), Tamara Taj Johnson-George (born April 1974), and Leanne Lelee Lyons (born July 17, 1973). ...

Discography

Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Heavy Weather is Weather Reports seventh album, released in 1977 through Columbia Records. ... Don Juans Reckless Daughter is a 1977 double album by Joni Mitchell. ... Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943) is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter. ... Albert Mangelsdorff, * 5 September 1928 in Frankfurt am Main, is one of the most accredited and innovative trombonists of modern jazz who became famous for his his distinctive technique of playing multiphonics. ... Alphonse Mouzon Alphonse Mouzon is the Chairman/CEO of Tenacious Records. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Mr. ... Flora Purim is a Jewish Brazilian jazz singer known mainly for her work in jazz fusion. ... Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an Academy Award and multiple Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and composer from Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Hancock is one of jazz musics most important and influential pianists and composers. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... 8:30 is a live (with occasional studio overdub) album by the jazz fusion group Weather Report. ... Shadows and Light is Joni Mitchells 1980 double live album, recorded at the Santa Barbara County Bowl in September 1979 on the Mingus tour. ... Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943) is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter. ... Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943) is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter. ... Michel Colombier (May 23, 1939 — November 14, 2004), was a French composer, songwriter, arranger, and conductor. ... Several people are named John McLaughlin: John McLaughlin (musician), an English jazz fusion guitar player. ... Tony Williams (December 12, 1945 – February 23, 1997) was an African American jazz drummer. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Night Passage is Weather Reports ninth album, released in 1980. ... Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an Academy Award and multiple Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and composer from Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Hancock is one of jazz musics most important and influential pianists and composers. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Word of Mouth was the second album by Jaco Pastorius, released in 1981 while the bassist was a member of Weather Report, and also the name of a big band group that Pastorius assembled and with whom he toured from 1980 to 1984. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Holiday for Pans was Jaco Pastoriuss final attempt at a solo album. ... Weather Report is the tenth album from Weather Report. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Biréli Lagrène is a French guitarist and electric bassist. ... Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. ...

References

is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Further reading

Milkowski, Bill (1995). Jaco: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius, "The World's Greatest Bass Player". Backbeat Books. 

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Jaco Pastorius

• Official web site
• Jaco Pastorius at MusicBrainz
• Jaco Family site
• Jaco Pastorius Unissued Live Recordings Discography
• Fender Jaco Pastorius Jazz Bass Fretless
• Jaco Pastorius: 20 years later. A great short biography review and best tracks by NPR.

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