Jaco
Pastorius is considered to be one of the best, most progressive bass
player of his time, and possibly of all time. He started his music
career following his father as a drummer. He broke his wrist at a
young age, and consequently was unable to play drums at all. His
wrist was damaged enough to receive a surgery, which fixed his wrist
but limited his physical abilities. During this time, he was involved
in a local band; the bass player of the band quit, leaving them with
an incomplete crew. Jaco decided to step up and be the bass player
for the band, buying a 15 dollar electric bass from a shop. He
continued on this path, with his first breakthrough in music working
with Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders. Later on, Jaco began working
with the band Weather Report, a jazz fusion band, where he really
blew up and got a name for himself. Pastorius is also known for
having bi-polar disorder-- the periods of time where he was
innovative were typically times where he was in his other psyche.
Jaco was brought into the band solely by his legendary technical
skills and abilities. He played a 1960 Fender Jazz Bass, A.K.A the
Bass of Doom because of its deep, pounding tone and fret-less neck
design. Jaco's bass is currently being legally held by Robert
Trujillo and owned by Jaco's Family. They received it from a
collector in a legal battle, who received it from a pawn shop, who
allegedly bought it from a man who stole it from Jaco at the time of
his death. Jaco mainly played jazz and jazz fusion, evident in the
Weather Report and his own musical endeavors. Pastorius is known for
being funky, using 16th notes and ghost notes to create
his bass lines. He also popularized the electric bass, and more
specifically, the fret-less bass. Jaco thought that frets were
“speedbumps” and slowed him down. Jaco unfortunately died of a
brain hemorrhage and brain death, at the hands of Luc Havan, a club
bouncer. Havan was sentenced to 22 months and 5 years probation for
manslaughter, but was then released on parole after 4 months on
account of good behavior and recognition of no previous offenses.
Jaco left a legacy behind-- one of funky, groovy bass lines, and
innovative musical structures. He and will always be remembered as one
of the greatest.
