Jaco Pastorius died on September 21, 1987. In the last years of his life, he drank a lot and not only. He got into and fought in bars. The great musician and genius sometimes slept on benches in the parks of New York – he no longer had an apartment.
A few days before his death, Jaco tried to get on stage during a concert by Carlos Santana, he was rudely thrown off, he went to a club, where he quarreled with a security guard. Luc Havan – Vietnamese by birth and black belt in karate beat Jaco to a coma.
After lying in the hospital for several days unconscious, Jaco Pastorius died a terrible deaf death of a comatose. The killer received only 22 months in prison and was released after 4 for exemplary behavior.
Jaco’s widow said: he served a month for every child he left an orphan. Jaco Pastorius was 35 years old.
He is a great bass player and a brilliant personality. “Jimi Hendrix of bass” he was called that way during his lifetime. And his anthology, which came out after his death, was called Punk Jazz. Jaco could be not just different – in general, whatever, and always brilliant.
Donna lee
For the opening of his debut solo album, Jaco chose a composition by Miles Davis, which Charlie Parker helped him to compose. And although there are many great musicians on the album itself, here Jaco plays only with the accompaniment of congas, so that it is more clearly audible – he is able to surpass his own idols.
Soul Intro / The Chicken
Jaco’s incredible confidence is a legend. He became part of the great fusion band Weather Report, having infiltrated the stage after the concert, and introduced himself to Joe Zawinul: “My name is John Francis Pastorius III. I’m the greatest bass player in the world.” In general, it was true. And each entry of Jaco in the Weather Report confirms the greatness of him and the whole group.
Las olas
Jaco Pastorius was a virtuoso and avant-garde, so for the album of Flora Purim, a Brazilian singer, he composed a complex ornate composition, which then went almost unnoticed, but now sounds enchanting.
Come On, Come Over
Another track from the debut solo album, but here Jaco gives funk and erenbee in the company with the duet Sam & Dave. It is difficult to hear this song today as it was in 1976, but Jaco’s radiant talent has not faded.
Suite golden dawn
And Jaco helped another great jazz guitarist – Al Di Meola in the same 1976 released his debut album – “Land of Midnight sun”. The Suite of the Golden East remains a masterpiece of fusion and one of the finest compositions Al has ever recorded.
Birdland
There were many stars in Weather Report – Zawinul, Shorter, Moreira. But it was with the arrival of Jaco Pastorius that the group became truly popular. Jaco’s bass was more like a wind instrument than a familiar rhythm section. “Birdland” is the most popular Weather Report composition and jazz standard.
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