Thump Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 I have never been a huge fan of Jaco myself , i always assumed it was all just weird jazz widdly stuff. Then i stumbled across a video on youtube where he is discussing his gear , his inspirations , his techniques etc. Very interesting and i have a new appreciation of his abilities. Apologies if it has been posted before 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 This VHS video was sold decades ago (ancient, pre-internetic). I suppose it was one of the most copied educational videos of that time. I think there was a score included, or sometimes a faint copy of it. Jaco plays Jerry's bass, but which brand it is, that I have forgotten. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 I think I still have this VHS video with its booklet somewhere... And yes I bought it new at that time... But was disappointed as he was playing a ... fretted bass. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 I had that video as a teenager, probably still around somewhere. I had the same disappointment @Hellzero not just with the fretted bass. As stunning as his playing still was in parts of this I don’t think it caught him at his best. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 Yeah, this opened my ears probably about 20 years ago - I’d previously been dismissive of Jaco. A lovely bloke lent me his copy on dvd and straight away I was just able to get my head around it all. Changed my playing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boodang Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 Jaco wasn't in a good place mentally when this video was put together and I think Jerry and friends did it to highlight his talent. It's a shame it's not a full on structured tutorial 'method' style book/video though but given the circumstances at least we have this to look back on. Two years later he was dead, a really sad story. Anyway, if you haven't seen it, a really good documentary with some great interviews with Zawinul and others who played or knew Jaco is; Jaco Pastorius "The Lost Tapes Documentary" (on youtube). 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 Still got my original VHS somewhere and the accompanying book. Gimme a gig! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asingardenof Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 11 hours ago, itu said: This VHS video was sold decades ago (ancient, pre-internetic). I suppose it was one of the most copied educational videos of that time. I think there was a score included, or sometimes a faint copy of it. Jaco plays Jerry's bass, but which brand it is, that I have forgotten. He also put a P neck on the bass of doom as I recall, to slow him down or something 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 I think the massive elephant in the room with this video is the big zit on Jerry's forehead. Really distracting. Bit of witch hazel on there and it'll pop out in no time mate. btw Scott Devine and the gang did a video on the "hidden" (not really) riff from the video intro recently: https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2023/07/09/scott-devine-breaking-down-jaco-pastoriuss-modern-electric-bass-opening-bass-riff/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thump Posted July 26, 2023 Author Share Posted July 26, 2023 On 24/07/2023 at 17:15, toneknob said: I think the massive elephant in the room with this video is the big zit on Jerry's forehead. Really distracting. Hadn't noticed until you mentioned it , now its all i can see when he is on camera Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boodang Posted July 27, 2023 Share Posted July 27, 2023 "Give me a gig!" at the very start of this video says a lot about where Jaco was mentally when this was recorded. Has to be one of the most unexpected starts to an interview for someone of his talents! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discojoe Posted July 27, 2023 Share Posted July 27, 2023 "Jaco"... the feature length documentary film is well worth the prime rental fee. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted July 27, 2023 Share Posted July 27, 2023 (edited) On 23/07/2023 at 22:48, Thump said: I have never been a huge fan of Jaco myself , i always assumed it was all just weird jazz widdly stuff. Then i stumbled across a video on youtube where he is discussing his gear , his inspirations , his techniques etc. Very interesting and i have a new appreciation of his abilities. Apologies if it has been posted before Cool video and sound. Watched from start till the end. A bit sad he didn't used a frettless bass. Edited July 27, 2023 by nilorius 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 He plays Jerry's fretless from about 45 minutes in 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 If memory serves me correct I believe Jaco was in part sleeping rough in NYC around the time of this production. Heart rending really. Never is there a truer maxim, 'When you laugh the whole world laughs with you, when you cry you cry alone'. It's all about context: everything always is. In retrospect my guess is a lot of young players won't get what the fuss was about but this footage features a genius talent already set on an irretrievable tragic course. He was on the cusp of being snuffed out and in part he craved it for some blessed relief from his demons. For me he was an absolute beast on the instrument. A monster player and a cool cat. The best. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 I suspect it's a definitive watch for any bass player, whether you like the music or not. To me it's not unlike Some Kind of Monster, less about the music than the people 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.