Punk Jazz: The Jaco Pastorius Anthology

Punk Jazz: The Jaco Pastorius Anthology

ASIN: B00008PRS8

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Bassist Jaco Pastorius was the Jimi Hendrix of jazz. Before he left this world in 1987, he virtually created the fretless bass with an unorthodox playing style that turned that instrument into a highly tuned, electrified African talking drum. This long-overdue, two-CD compilation details the incredible, but incomplete arc of this artist's genius that encompassed the R&B, Caribbean, fusion, and jazz-rock idioms. Jaco-heads will revel in these legendary sides that made Pastorius famous. There's his solo rendition of Bach's "Chromatic Fantasy," his dreamy improvisations on "Midwestern Nights" with Pat Metheny, and, of course, the 1976 Weather Report megahit, "Birdland." There are also a few unreleased tracks including an early home recording of "The Chicken" and a live version of "Okonkole Y Trompa." Pastorius's sideman work with Joni Mitchell, which features a wicked take on Charles Mingus's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," is also included. But Pastorius's own compositions steal the show: the West Indian-riffed big band number "Liberty City," and his expansive and exotic tone poem "John and Mary." This set will blow your mind and break your heart. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Product Description
The most comprehensive Jaco Pastorius retrospective ever released in the U.S. Features three tracks previously unavailable in commercial release. More than two dozen tracks, totaling over 2 1/2 hours of music, on two diverse, brilliant, career-spanning CDs! Rhino. 2003.

Tracks:

The Chicken (Home Recording)
Amelia (Live, 1972)
I Can Dig It Baby
Batterie
Continuum
Midwestern Nights Dream
Foreign Fun (Live, 1976)
Birdland
Nativity
Las Olas
Sunday
Layals
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines (Live, 1979)
Punk Jazz (Live, 1981)

Tracks:

3 Views Of A Secret
Liberty City
Chromatic Fantasy
Blackbird
Word Of Mouth
John And Mary
Good Morning Anya
Invitation (Live, 1982)
Soul Intro./The Chicken (Live, 1982)
Amerika (Live, 1982)
Okonkole; Y Trompa (Live, 1982)
Mood Swings
Out Of The NIght

Amazon.com

Bassist Jaco Pastorius was the Jimi Hendrix of jazz. Before he left this world in 1987, he virtually created the fretless bass with an unorthodox playing style that turned that instrument into a highly tuned, electrified African talking drum. This long-overdue, two-CD compilation details the incredible, but incomplete arc of this artist's genius that encompassed the R&B, Caribbean, fusion, and jazz-rock idioms. Jaco-heads will revel in these legendary sides that made Pastorius famous. There's his solo rendition of Bach's "Chromatic Fantasy," his dreamy improvisations on "Midwestern Nights" with Pat Metheny, and, of course, the 1976 Weather Report megahit, "Birdland." There are also a few unreleased tracks including an early home recording of "The Chicken" and a live version of "Okonkole Y Trompa." Pastorius's sideman work with Joni Mitchell, which features a wicked take on Charles Mingus's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," is also included. But Pastorius's own compositions steal the show: the West Indian-riffed big band number "Liberty City," and his expansive and exotic tone poem "John and Mary." This set will blow your mind and break your heart. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Album Description

The most comprehensive Jaco Pastorius retrospective ever released in the U.S. Features three tracks previously unavailable in commercial release. More than two dozen tracks, totaling over 2 1/2 hours of music, on two diverse, brilliant, career-spanning CDs! Rhino. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

huh?.......2006-01-05

Missing alot of good stuff on here, where is Portrait of Tracy??? Donna Lee?? 6-4 Jam????
This is an Okay overall image, but your missing alot and this is a horrible album to base your view on Jaco on. Get his self titled solo album.

Poor sound quality, missing important tracks, yet, decent........2004-06-02

The so-called "remastering" here is not noticeable to my ears; in fact, the one song taken from Jaco's eponymous masterpiece sounds worse than the Sony remaster from a few years back. And why is only a single song included from Jaco's work with Pat Metheny? Furthermore, there is nothing from Weather Report. This collection doesn't quite know what it is. As a long-overdue document of one of the greatest and most influencial bassists ever it both fails and succeeds (but mostly fails). And some of the songs, quite frankly, suck pretty bad, sounding like pre- new age music with sub-par production quality. I would suggest purchasing the remastered "Jaco Pastorius" CD w/ bonus tracks and Weather Report's remastered "Heavy Weather" and then just wait for something better to come out.

Excellent!! But Where is the Third Disc??.......2003-06-24

This anthology is long over due. Jaco Pastorious was and still is the greatest electric bass player these ears have ever heard. Bold, soulful, melodic and full of pure talent - he is the benchmark for modern bass players and his arranging skills cannot be overlooked in the big band arena. As a total musician, Jaco Pastorious was a Genius. He left us way too soon. Upfront, this anthology is a welcomed addition to my music collection. I have managed to purchase most of his recordings, including the imported "Twins" Japanese concert that was only partially released on the U.S. "Invitation" album. Jaco had a long list of valuable guest roles on other artists recordings that are well represented here.

From the very start, Jaco had massive groove and technique. Listen to the bass lines on "I can Dig It Baby" - his signature sound is well defined on that 1974 track. His horn arranging skills are already in full bloom on the 1968 version of "The Chicken" - wow! The first disc is full of suprises that might have escaped many Jaco fans - if not captured here on Anthology. The beautiful "Midwestern Nights Dream" with Pat Metheny, was my first exposue to Jaco and his sound has been with me ever since. "Foreign Fun" is a lovely open-rump that allows Jaco, Mouzon and Mangelsdorff to stretch out and improvise within a tight groove. "Nativity" and "Las Olas" captures Jaco in the Airto and Flora Purim camp - laying down that fat Florida bass sound that only Pastorious could produce. The two Michel Colombier tracks "Sunday" and "Layas" are classic late 70's fusion workouts - bold, brassy and fun. The two Joni Mitchell tracks capture some of Jaco's most vibrant playing from the 1979 "Mingus" period. Exceptional contributions by Jaco always added a breath of fresh air to other artists' sound. For Joni, Jaco was a soulmate. They blended well together and made music magic on three Joni recordings. You can see this band live on the brilliant "Shadows and Light" DVD being released June 24th. Jaco is in top form during that concert and is part of a super group that includes Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny. Jaco fans should not miss that one.

Disc Two focuses on Jaco's solo recordings including the 1981 "Word of Mouth" and the incomplete "Holiday For Twins" and the 1982 Japanese concert "Twins". This disc captured the essence of a masterful musician in full bloom. No matter the musical combinations, be it big band, trio or septet - Jaco made it work. His bass sound and tone were so unique that you would never mistaken him for another musician. He was an exception and gifted writer, arranger and bassist - and the 11 tracks captured here are jewels.

What is suprising here is there is only one track represented from his career defining landmark 1976 "Jaco Pastorious" recording. The one track "Continuum" is a masterpiece. When you look at the track selection of Anthology, it is a glaring omission not to have an additional two or three tracks from Jaco's first solo release. So where is the third disc? Hopefully it will follow in a year or two and also include other side roles Jaco played with Al Dimeola, Randy Bernsen and Brian Melvin's Nightfood. I would also suggest a couple of tracks from Joni Mitchell's "Hejira" and "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" recordings. If you don't have these two, Jaco is upfront and awesome in Joni's band.

I am very pleased with the release of this perspective of Jaco's career - I am just left wanting more. His music will live forever. Thanks Rhino for pulling this double disc together. Now let's get cracking on volume II. Enjoy!!

good but not great, nor essential.......2003-06-17

While I do think a compilation of Jaco's complete works is well over-due, I think this cd could have been better. As soon as this disc came out I rushed out to buy it. I do enjoy the few tracks that were previously unreleased, I felt this was a poor rehash of all of his material.
The first disc is quite good, I felt the second disc is pretty uninpired. I have both his first album and Word Of Mouth already, and to be honest I do not need another copy of WOM, which is basically what the second disc is. Usually Rhino is really good at finding interesting alternate takes and such to put on these rereleases they are famous for. I just found this one fell short.

Buy it.......2003-06-05

This is awesome, it`s worth alone in the remastered WOM tracks. Any Jaco fans will be pleased!! Jaco is the PunkJazz GOD!!!