Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius was one of the (if not THE) best electric bass players of all time. His ability to play the bass was so innovative, so creative, so powerful, and so filled with emotion that it defies description. How someone could be that gifted and have that kind of musical ability is mind-boggling. That kind of genius was unfortunately followed by a spiral downward and an untimely (September 21, 1987) death. Jaco was a genius as well as a madman - but this has been typical for many great personalities in the world history.
There was nobody that could play bass like that before Jaco, and may never be anyone that will play bass again like that after Jaco.
It is my understanding that fellow bass player Stanley Clarke said something to the effect of:
"I though I knew everything there was to know about the bass guitar until I met a guy named Jaco Pastorius."
That really says something considering what Stanley Clarke can do with a bass guitar.
Jack Pastorius
Jack Pastorius was Jaco's father. He was a drummer, singer, humorist and just about the nicest guy you would ever want to meet. I was fortunate enough to become friends with him in the 1980's. We had mutual friends and would just hang out together. Frequently I would go see him play. It would just be Jack and a blind keyboard player. The music that came out of these two guys was unbelievable and it was very, very evident where Jaco got his talent from. The apple does not fall far from the tree! Being a drummer myself, I would watch Jack play and analyze his technique hoping to pick up some chops. I will never forget something Jack said to me one night. I asked him how he was able to play a certain way and Jack answered me in a way that only Jack could, and with great intensity, "Man you just feel it!" I am a bit older now, and realize there is feeling it and there IS FEELING IT! Jack and Jaco "felt" it at a level that us normal folks don't even understand or comprehend.
This site is my tribute to the late, great Jaco Pastorius, as well as his father, the late, great Jack Pastorius.
Jack and Jaco
Very powerful and important - by Mary Pastorius
You Tube:
Weather Report - Solo - September 28 1978
Jaco Pastorius and Bireli Lagrene - Teen Town