The first time I heard Jaco.....

[Bilbo]

I was doing a Spotify nostalgia trip and put on one of the first 'Jazz' Lps I ever bought which was Al DiMeola's Land of the Midnight Sun' (I think I saw some pictures of him in a guitar magazine and thought 'I'll give that a try'). Anyway, the bulk of the LP features Anthony Jacksom but there is one extended track called 'Suite: Golden Dawn' which as Jaco on it. Now remember, I was a rock and metal fan and had never really heard much funk etc and 'bass' was Roger Glover and Geezer Butler and, maybe, a young Steve Harris. When the DiMeola piece featured that classic melodic fretless in the early part, it was a case of 'mmmmmm; niiiiice' but when he went into what I now know was a classic Jaco sixteenth note funk groove, it was like I had been hit by a train

Now we have all moved on and, like Hendrix in my day, it is difficult to see how influential the guy was but that 10 minutes on Spotify brought it all back. I wish I could still be blown away like that.

[Happy Jack]

The first time I heard Jaco?

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXiYkOEBv8U"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXiYkOEBv8U[/url]

Mind you, it would be another 30 years before I realised it ...

[Dad3353]

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1367245038' post='2063061']...I wish I could still be blown away like that.[/quote]

Lost innocence, eh..? That's one of the downsides to becoming a musician. A younger brother found this out, many years ago; he explaind to me that he could no longer just listen to a piece without 'analysing' the guitar part. He turned to classical for listening pleasure, as he can't play the trombone or such, but still found himself 'thinking' instead of simply enjoying.
It's probably similar in a restaurant; if you know how the chef cooked it, some of the 'magic' is gone.
Would that we could return to be the child we once were... Such is life...

[Low End Bee]

Is he still out on bail?

[dlloyd]

This was one of the first I heard, and it's still my favourite:

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgrnAcPHJWo[/media]

[spongebob]

First time for me was this -

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vbPEFb4OVg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vbPEFb4OVg[/url]

It was in the last 10 years, though. Love Jaco now, but came to him via my love of Joni!

[toneknob]

I think he's great on "Moondance"

[wombatboter]

I was listening to a lot of punk and new-wave at the time here in Belgium and I loved Echo and The Bunnymen, The Sound, etc.. A friend of mine introduced me to "Teentown" and I thought it sounded awful. It took me years to get into his style but then he had a huge impact on me.

[louisthebass]

This was the first time I heard Jaco:

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae0nwSv6cTU"]http://www.youtube....h?v=Ae0nwSv6cTU[/url]

Edited November 3, 2015 by louisthebass

[lowdown]

With Pat Metheny - I was knocked out with both.
Then came the Jaco solo album next for me.

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX2cPUs-ot0"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX2cPUs-ot0[/url]


Garry

[icastle]

I'd never even heard of him until I joined BC.

I've tried listening to him but he just doesn't press any buttons for me.

[Lynottfan]

My mate lent me the Jaco solo album, hated it,at first, a lot of the vids on YT did nothing for me, but then I saw vid for the chicken from the Jerry Jemmott (sp?) vid, Schofield on guitar, Kennard on drums, Jaco funky as, went back to the solo album and I loved it.

Edited April 29, 2013 by Lynottfan

[louisthebass]

This is one of my all time favourite Jaco moments, this just grooves for days:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytItYLEBMK4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytItYLEBMK4[/url]

Jaco really lays it down on this track with Wayne Cochran & the CC Riders, would love to hear some more of his work in his time with that band.

Apologies for the thread derail....

[molan]

I saw him with Weather Report - one of the worst gigs (by a 'name' band) I've ever seen

Technically very clever indeed. Musically, duller than a very dull thing in dull town

[Muzz]

Heavy Weather indeed. Listening to those clips, I think it's the parpy sound which I dislike the most. Technically very good and all that but leaves me cold and slightly irritated.

Edit: back to the OP, first time I heard Jaco was via Joni, on Hejira. Still like that album.

Edited April 29, 2013 by Muzz

[chardbass]

My first experience was Teen Town from 8.30. A bit clanky and confused to my young, inexperienced ear. The 'hit by a train' moment was a many months later hearing A Remark You Made.
If I listen to that tune I'm transported back to my late teens.

[L_Bass_Dog85]

When I was first on the gigging scene my guitarist from my then covers band wanted to do Donna Lee. Our practice involved searching youtube vids to learn the songs and I stumbled on Jaco's version and fell in love!

[xilddx]

I'd read a lot about him before hearing him. I was disappointed because I didn't like his tone or what he was playing. That was about 25 years ago, and my opinion is the same despite hearing loads more of him. Some of his work with Joni Mitchell was alright though.

[Low End Bee]

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1367257004' post='2063284']
I think he's great on "Moondance"
[/quote]

Have you got the tab?

[xilddx]

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1367320873' post='2064088']
Have you got the tab?
[/quote]

[Dad3353]

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1367319831' post='2064067']...Some of his work with Joni Mitchell was alright though.[/quote]

Simply 'alright'..? Some of the finest music this side of Schubert..? Not just because of Jaco, of course, but I'd love to hear 'better' than this, if it exists. Any recommendations..?

[xilddx]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1367322189' post='2064105']
Simply 'alright'..? Some of the finest music this side of Schubert..? Not just because of Jaco, of course, but I'd love to hear 'better' than this, if it exists. Any recommendations..?
[/quote]
Bach is amazing too but his music doesn't touch me.

It's nothing about 'better, or 'worse', this is music we're talking about. I adore Scott Thunes' and Tom Fowler's bass work, but hardly anyone knows who they are or would give a sh*t anyway because it's about context. The Jaco thing is a 'jazz problem'. I don't like most jazz and fusion so I find Jaco's context difficult, and I can't get on with his rancid tone, it's so harsh. I also prefer to hear the harmonic possibilities of the bass rather than the melodic, hence my love of Zappa, and Tom and Scott in particular.

I also think some people buy into that troubled genius backstory too.

Edited April 30, 2013 by xilddx

[chris_b]

The first time I hear Jaco was on Hejira.

I thought he spoilt a good Joni Mitchell record, but what do I know!

[dlloyd]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1367323926' post='2064137']
The first time I hear Jaco was on Hejira.

I thought he spoilt a good Joni Mitchell record, but what do I know!
[/quote]

?

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qGTeMBNuGM[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV4D1hez-Lw[/media]

Edited April 30, 2013 by dlloyd

[Mook]

Mine was listening to Coyote from my Dad's Hejira LP. Love that album, glad that Jaco wasn't playing on every track because it would have been overkill and love the contrast with the other guys playing. Coyote made my mind up that I wanted to play bass.