Bilbo Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 (edited) I heard this track first in about 1980 and still drool every time I hear it! 'Shadows and Light' is, for me, one of the best live LPs of all time (for some readon, the best tracks are missing off the CD). The DVD has all of the tracks on it. Mitchell, Jaco, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Michale Bracker and Don Alias - WHAT A BAND!! That took me to the 'Mingus' LP (yes, vinyl). Great bass from our man - lots of space, no overplaying and funky as a mofo! But both versions of 'The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines' (a Mingus composition with lyrics by Mitchell) are fantastic. Go listen on Amazon for a taster - you'll buy it, I guarantee!! Edited November 27, 2007 by bilbo230763 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 [quote name='bilbo230763' post='94955' date='Nov 27 2007, 10:27 AM']I heard this track first in about 1980 and still drool every time I hear it! 'Shadows and Light' is, for me, one of the best live LPs of all time (for some readon, the best tracks are missing off the CD). The DVD has all of the tracks on it. Mitchell, Jaco, Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Michale Bracker and Don Alias - WHAT A BAND!! That took me to the 'Mingus' LP (yes, vinyl). Great bass from our man - lots of space, no overplaying and funky as a mofo! But both versions of 'The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines' (a Mingus composition with lyrics by Mitchell) are fantastic. Go listen on Amazon for a taster - you'll buy it, I guarantee!! [/quote] This is my favourite Jaco tune by a long long way. There's something magical about how he and Joni weave around one another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 (edited) Shadows and Light - with the exception of that bloody awful bass solo that he did, verbatim, in about every show of his I've heard - is Jaco at his best, fitting in with the band rather than dominating it, playing melodic bass under the vocal rather than overly complex lines in competition, and producing a tone with relatively crude equipment that is still for me the definitive fretless sound. Although I recognised the technical brilliance of his first album, and a lot of his WR stuff, to me it wasn't musically exceptional; Shadows and Light was the pinnacle of his musicality. Chris Edited November 28, 2007 by Beedster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 (edited) [quote name='Beedster' post='95463' date='Nov 28 2007, 08:12 AM']Shadows and Light - with the exception of that bloody awful bass solo that he did, verbatim, in about every show of his I've heard - is Jaco at his best, fitting in with the band rather than dominating it, playing melodic bass under the vocal rather than overly complex lines in competition, and producing a tone with relatively crude equipment that is still for me the definitive fretless sound. Although I recognised the technical brilliance of his first album, and a lot of his WR stuff, to me it wasn't musically exceptional; Shadows and Light was the pinnacle of his musicality. Chris[/quote] Must agree with all that.... Interestingly...I read somewhere a couple of weeks ago , an article from Jeff Berlin about Jaco.. Not been a Natural soloist [in JB's opion] But all his Solo's and playing where pre-composed.. I think Mr Berlin should have a listen [or another listen] to the above... It is Jaco at his best [and un pre-composed].. I still love 'Come on over' with Sam & Dave..I bet that inspired the Bass line for 'Hit me''Hit me' Garry Edited December 2, 2007 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 [quote name='lowdown' post='97524' date='Dec 2 2007, 10:32 AM']Must agree with all that.... Interestingly...I read somewhere a couple of weeks ago , an article from Jeff Berlin about Jaco.. Not been a Natural soloist [in JB's opion] But all his Solo's and playing where pre-composed.. I think Mr Berlin should have a listen [or another listen] to the above... It is Jaco at his best [and un pre-composed].. I still love 'Come on over' with Sam & Dave..I bet that inspired the Bass line for 'Hit me''Hit me' Garry[/quote] I tend to agree with JB to an extent. His first album was grounbreaking and demonstrated that Jaco was an extraordinary technician; some of the parts were literally breathtaking. Some subsequent stuff - for example Chromatic Fantasy - although equally technically briliant, was less inspired musically (although in the case of CF, obviously inspired by Bach). Having listened to just about every volume of the 'Jaco Live in NY' series - and several other live albums - much of his improvised solo stuff seems even less inspired, even uninventive. In fact, if you listen to a lot of his live work you realise that the same solo phrases re-appear in many different numbers. He also had a rather annoying habit - certainly for his fellow musicians - of occasionally soling in a completely different key to the rest of the band! OK, a lot of this material was recorded after Joni and Weather Report when he was clearly not at his peak, but I will always think Jaco was at his best as a brilliant ensemble player in Shadows and Light, even if this particular recording doesn't display his technical virtuosity as well as perhaps his solo recordings do. Did any of that make sense? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted December 4, 2007 Author Share Posted December 4, 2007 Perfectly, Chris. Jaco, like Coltrane, has had a problem in that everything he ever did is now being released in order to cash in on his name. So we get to hear all sorts of dubious recordings that probably should never have seen the light of day. He repeated himself an awful lot and anyone who has, at any point, listened to a lot of Jaco's stuff will confirm that. He had some real strengths as a player but, except for a five year period around 76- 81, he was not as 'inspired' as his press would suggest. He nailed a specific groove and stayed with it instead of growing, his health being the main reason for this. But when he was on, he was REALLY on. And 'Dry Cleaner' is, for me, one of those moments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 [quote name='bilbo230763' post='98717' date='Dec 4 2007, 12:04 PM']He repeated himself an awful lot and anyone who has, at any point, listened to a lot of Jaco's stuff will confirm that.[/quote] I do agree with you 100%.... But then did a certain mr Parker.. Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted December 4, 2007 Author Share Posted December 4, 2007 Absolutely. I think when people said Parker didn't repeat himself they were referring to his not using the same lick in the same place on consecutive choruses. I guess most of these people only heard him live due to the recording ban that was in place at the time and the legend stuck. He certainly used his stock phrases as much as the rest of us (an hour with a copy of the Parker Omnibook and a highlighter pen will prove that!!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 (edited) [quote name='bilbo230763' post='98778' date='Dec 4 2007, 01:08 PM']He certainly used his stock phrases as much as the rest of us (an hour with a copy of the Parker Omnibook and a highlighter pen will prove that!!).[/quote] That is such a good book for chop practise [as well as ear training, on the old 2/5/1] In fact , a perfect xmas gift along with the Metro Gnome... Going not to well elsewhere.. Garry Edited December 4, 2007 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted December 4, 2007 Author Share Posted December 4, 2007 Great for reading practice too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 I think any musician, or even standup comedian, when put under the microscope by us lot, would sound like they can be very repetitive. I love both versions of this song, but particularly the Shadows and Light one. Jaco was actually musical director for this touring band. The only problem is, on the DVD, the idiots who edited cut to casino montages just as it gets really interesting between JP and Brecker! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey D Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 I'm actually arranging this at the moment for big band...what a headache. But a great song, I should have a recording of it about the 19th January 2008 (hand in date for assignment) for you to critique. This is one of my favourite jaco parts ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted December 10, 2007 Author Share Posted December 10, 2007 There is a large small group version of this by the Mingus Dynasty on an LP called 'Chair In The Sky' - it might help with your arrangement if you can find it. I don't know which Mingus LP has the original on. Can anyone help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey D Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 [quote name='bilbo230763' post='102145' date='Dec 10 2007, 02:03 PM']There is a large small group version of this by the Mingus Dynasty on an LP called 'Chair In The Sky' - it might help with your arrangement if you can find it. I don't know which Mingus LP has the original on. Can anyone help?[/quote] Wasn't it just one of the original melodies he wrote for Joni for this Album? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey D Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 (edited) Done. Handed in. Awaiting a mark... It's now on [url="http://www.myspace.com/sessionbass"]My Myspace[/url] if you wanna take a listen. The recording was very rushed having to coordinate the band to actually turn up, rehearse and record 19 pieces in about 8 hours. Some parts aren't as tight as I liked, and the bari. missed the cue for the shout chorus at the end...luckily his solo is quite good! What do you think? Edit: For reference, it is not me on bass...we had to direct the band and not play it. Edited January 24, 2008 by Mikey D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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