Comments on: Jaco Pastorius: The Great Innovator

By: Marcel Lemieux/starflight

Marcel Lemieux/starflight — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:08:52 +0000

My son introduce me to his music playing…a unique bass style..innovative…quite good …may he rest in peace now…good article here…

By: beachroses

beachroses — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:33:12 +0000

Oh yeah, when Joni teamed up with Jaco for Hejira, followed by Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter and Mingus, some people were saying it was too jazzy and far out for them but those were some of my favorite albums of hers. She was pretty mainstream by that time and had fans of all kinds, from top ten pop lovers to people like us who embraced the new direction. We can watch the “Shadows and Light” DVD over and over, one of the best bands ever. Pat Metheny is my husband’s favorite guitar player and Jaco is his favorite bass player.

Sorry for so many posts, lots of memories there. The end.

By: beachroses

beachroses — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:21:12 +0000

I meant nutritional “imbalance.”

And I forgot to say that it took us a few moments to recognize him because he had just cut off all his hair and you young people might find it hard to imagine what the music world was like back in the days when there was no internet, radio or tv station around who would play Weather Report or even cell phones to call someone backstage! We were really “underground” which is where that term comes from.

By: beachroses

beachroses — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:09:40 +0000

We did have an unusual meeting with Jaco once in Denver, my husband and I were waiting to see him and he came running up to us and asked if we’d vouch for him so he could get in the theater! He was pleading with the lady in the ticket booth, “I’m Jaco, I’m Jaco, I’m supposed to play tonight!” She wasn’t taking his word for it or ours. Someone finally came out and got him. Great concert.

My heart just breaks every time I think of his death and the more I learn about bipolar disorder, the more it seems like a nutritional balance that the drugs and alcohol could have caused. Jaco actually ended up homeless sleeping in a park in NY with his bass at one point. Just tragic. Someone should do a movie of his life, but nobody can play like he does.

Last year I had a very vivid and startling dream of him calling me for help, bloody from being beaten up (how he was killed) so started praying to make sure he knows to go to the light, don’t be afraid, and that his soul is at peace. If you are so inclined, the more prayers the better.

Happy Birthday, Jaco. We love you.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:43:30 +0000

Incredible what a bass can do. Posting to FB, as usual.