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Jaco Pastorius

"Jaco" was born John Francis Pastorius III, the first of three sons born to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius. He had Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. Although "Jaco" was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the family subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement's Catholic School in Wilton Manors, and he was an altar boy at the adjoining church. He went to high school at Northeast High in Oakland Park. He was a talented athlete with skills in football, basketball, and baseball, and he picked up music at an early age. He took the name "Anthony" at his confirmation.

He loved basketball, and often watched basketball with his father, whose nickname was "Jack." Jaco's nickname was influenced by his love of sports and also by the umpire Jocko Conlan. He changed the spelling from "Jocko" to "Jaco" after the pianist Alex Darqui sent him a note. Darqui, who was French, assumed the name was spelled "Jaco"; "Jaco" liked the new spelling.

Originally a drummer, following in the footsteps of his father, stand-up drummer Jack Pastorius, "Jaco" switched to bass at age 15, after suffering an injury to his wrist. In about 1970, he began playing in a nine-piece horn band at the time called Las Olas Brass, which covered popular material of the day by Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, James Brown and the Tijuana Brass.

Influences
Musical influences included James Jamerson, James Brown, The Beatles, Miles Davis, and Stravinsky. Other musical influences include: Jimi Hendrix, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Paul Hindemith, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, The Band, Santana, Frank Zappa, Bob Marley, Rocco Prestia, Tommy Cogbill, Ray Charles, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Otis Redding, James T. Doggington, Cannonball Adderley and Jerry Jemmott.

Music career
He played music throughout his youth, drawing on influences like Jerry Jemmott, James Jamerson, Paul Chambers, Harvey Brooks and Tommy Cogbill and honing his skills and developing his songwriting prowess in bands like Wayne Cochran and The C.C. Riders. He also played on various local R&B and jazz records during that time such as Ira Sullivan's Quintet and Woodchuck. In 1974, he began playing with his friend and later famous jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. They recorded together, first with Paul Bley as leader and Bruce Ditmas on drums, then with drummer Bob Moses. Metheny and Jaco recorded a fusion album entitled Bright Size Life.

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Radio & Podcasts

We Revisit This Month Last Year With John Mclaughlin, Jaco Pastorius And Jeremy Green

Read "We Revisit This Month Last Year With John Mclaughlin, Jaco Pastorius And Jeremy Green" reviewed by Len Davis


Revisiting this week last year with John McLaughlin from The Montreaux Years, Jaco Pastorius from Live At Montreal, guitarist Mike Miller, The Trackers, bassist Lee Puckett and Spherical Agenda. Canadian guitarist Jeremy Green, Tim Miller and Kazumi Watanabe and his Electric Trio. Playlist John McLaughlin “El Hombre Que Sabia" from The Montreaux Years (BMG) 00:00 Jaco Pastorius “Bass Solo" from Live at Montreal Jazz Festival 1982 (Jazz Door) 06:11 Mike Miller “Bipolar Bear" from Trust (Blue Canoe) 12:22 ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Jaco Pastorius, Hiromi Uehara, Per Mathisen and Kazumi Watanabe

Read "Jaco Pastorius, Hiromi Uehara, Per Mathisen and Kazumi Watanabe" reviewed by Len Davis


Jaco Pastorius with a medley from Broadway Blues, Hiromi from Beyond Standard, Spherical Agenda, from Arcane Wisdom Bassist's Lee Puckett and Federico Malaman and a new release from Per Mathisen, plus Japanese fusion from Kazumi Watanabe. Playlist {Jaco Pastorius “Medley+ Donna Lee “ from Broadway Blues & Teresa (Jazz Point) 00:00 Hiromi “Caravan “ from Beyond Standard (Telarc) 05:51 Spherical Agenda “Guts" from Arcane Wisdom (Lunar Signal) 11:41 Lee Puckett “Master of Naan" from Lost Horizon (Self Produced) ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

John McLaughlin, Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius, Chick Corea

Read "John McLaughlin, Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius, Chick Corea" reviewed by Len Davis


Live recordings from John McLaughlin The Montreaux Years , Miles Davis Live At Vienne, Jaco Pastorius Live in Montreal, Al Di Meola Elegant Gypsy-Live and More, Chick Corea Live Under The Sky, Soft Machine Live at Baked Potato and Weather ReportLive in Offenbach. John McLaughlin “Sing Me Softly Of the Blues" from The Montreux YearsBMG) 00:00 Miles Davis “Amandla" from Live At Vienne (Warner) 07:18 Jaco Pastorius “Bass Solo" from Live in Montreal (Jazz Door) 14:54 Al ...

3
Radio & Podcasts

The Montreux Years with John McLaughlin, Gary Husband with The Trackers

Read "The Montreux Years with John McLaughlin, Gary Husband with  The Trackers" reviewed by Len Davis


Jaco Pastorius Live at Montreal, Stick Men, Jan Gunnar Hoff, and Mike Stern. Playlist Mahavishnu Orchestra “Radio Activity" from The Montreaux Years ( BMG) 00:00 Jaco Pastorius “Donna Lee" from Live at Montreal (Timeline) 07:19 Yang “Words" from Designed For Disaster (Cuneiform) 14:48 Gary Husband -Alf Terje Hana “All I Need" from The Trackers (Abstract Logix) 22:05 Stick Men “Leonardo" from Prog Magazine Sampler (Moonjune) 29:28 Jan Gunnar Hoff “City Z" from Jan Gunnar Hoff Group (Losen)36:48 Mike ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Jaco Pastorius, John McLaughlin, John Scofield, Bill Evans-Randy Brecker and more

Read "Jaco Pastorius, John McLaughlin, John Scofield, Bill Evans-Randy Brecker and more" reviewed by Len Davis


Jaco Pastorius: The Criteria Sessions, John McLaughlin: The Heart Of things, John Scofield and much more. Playlist Jaco Pastorius “Baloon Song" from Modern American Music: The Criteria Sessions (Omnivore) 00:00 Niacin “Elbow Grease" from Time Crunch (Magna Carta) 08:31 John McLaughlin “Healing Hands" from The Heart of Things (Verve) 16:50 John Scofield “Protocol" from Pick Hits-Live (Gramavison) 25:10 Bill Evans / Randy Brecker “Big Fun" from Soul Bop Band-Live (BHM) 33:35 John Patitucci “Scophile" from Sketch Book (GRPl) ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Jaco, Miles, Antoine Pierre and More

Read "Jaco, Miles, Antoine Pierre and More" reviewed by Len Davis


In the first part of this week's show, we pay tribute to two great musicians whose anniversary of the passing falls in late September, Jaco Pastorius (September 21st) and Miles Davis (September 28th). The show opens with a take on Miles' Bitches Brew recorded live in Brussels by Belgian drummer Antoine Pierre. Tune in for that and much more. Enjoy the show! Playlist Antoine Pierre “You Nod But You Ain't" Suspended-Live at Flagey (Out Note Records) ...

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Extended Analysis

Truth, Liberty & Soul: Live in NYC The Complete 1982 Jazz Alive! Recording

Read "Truth, Liberty & Soul: Live in NYC The Complete 1982 Jazz Alive! Recording" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Il 1982 doveva essere un anno speciale per Jaco Pastorius. Dopo essere stato riconosciuto come il più grande bassista del mondo (così come amava presentarsi a tutti quando era ancora un perfetto sconosciuto) nel corso dei suoi cinque anni di militanza appena conclusa con i Weather Report, era tempo di dimostrare che era molto più che un bassista. L'anno precedente era passato dalla Columbia alla Warner Bros, e per questa etichetta aveva realizzato il suo secondo disco da leader intitolato ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jaco Pastorius' birthday today!

“Jaco" was born John Francis Pastorius III, the first of three sons born to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius. He had Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. Although “Jaco" was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the family subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement's Catholic School in Wilton Manors, and he was an altar boy at the adjoining church. He ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jaco Pastorius' birthday today!

“Jaco" was born John Francis Pastorius III, the first of three sons born to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius. He had Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. Although “Jaco" was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the family subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement's Catholic School in Wilton Manors, and he was an altar boy at the adjoining church. He ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jaco Pastorius' birthday today!

“Jaco" was born John Francis Pastorius III, the first of three sons born to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius. He had Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. Although “Jaco" was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the family subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement's Catholic School in Wilton Manors, and he was an altar boy at the adjoining church. He ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jaco Pastorius' birthday today!

“Jaco" was born John Francis Pastorius III, the first of three sons born to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius. He had Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. Although “Jaco" was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the family subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement\'s Catholic School in Wilton Manors... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jaco Pastorius' birthday today!

“Jaco" was born John Francis Pastorius III, the first of three sons born to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius. He had Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. Although “Jaco" was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the family subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement\'s Catholic School in Wilton Manors... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jaco Pastorius' birthday today!

“Jaco" was born John Francis Pastorius III, the first of three sons born to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius. He had Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. Although “Jaco" was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the family subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement\'s Catholic School in Wilton Manors... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

Music Industry

Weekly Music Publishing Update: Inside The Ferrick, Lowery Pastorius Spotify Lawsuit

Weekly Music Publishing Update: Inside The Ferrick, Lowery Pastorius Spotify Lawsuit

Source: HypeBot

Ongoing in music industry news these days dwells the combined lawsuits of David Lowery, Melissa Ferrick and Jaco Pastorius. The plaintiffs combined forces to attempt a class action lawsuit against streaming services worldwide. Without judge approval for class action, their efforts narrowed toward Ferrick’s original focus: Spotify.  Ferrick's accusations were made toward Spotify’s inconsistent obligation with the Harry Fox Agency, as well as its failure to file Notices of Intention (NOI’s) for mechanical licenses. Spotify took initiative to seek The ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jaco Pastorius' birthday today!

“Jaco" was born John Francis Pastorius III, the first of three sons born to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius. He had Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. Although “Jaco" was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the family subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement\'s Catholic School in Wilton Manors... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaco Pastorius

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jaco Pastorius' birthday today! “Jaco" was born John Francis Pastorius III, the first of three sons born to John Francis Pastorius II and Stephanie Katherine Haapala Pastorius. He had Finnish, German, Swedish, and Irish ancestry. Although “Jaco" was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, the family subsequently moved to Fort Lauderdale. Jaco went to elementary and middle school at St. Clement\'s Catholic School in Wilton Manors... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

1

TV / Film

Robert Trujillo Releases "JACO" The Exclusive DVD/Blu-Ray Available On Record Store Day Black Friday

Robert Trujillo Releases "JACO" The Exclusive DVD/Blu-Ray Available On Record Store Day Black Friday

Source: Cristina Parker

BLACK FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 WILL SEE THE RELEASE OF THE EXCLUSIVE DVD/BLU-RAY JACO BY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ROBERT TRUJILLO THE EXTRAORDINARY NEW FILM CHRONICLES THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF LEGENDARY BASSIST/COMPOSER JACO PASTORIUS Robert Trujillo, in association with Passion Pictures, has announced the official multi-platform release of the acclaimed new documentary, JACO. The film chronicles the brief but extraordinary life of the great American musician/composer Jaco Pastorius. JACO's official DVD/Blu-ray ...

Brian Swartz
trumpet
Kam Falk
bass, electric
Jim Lutz
trombone
David Leikam
multi-instrumentalist
Petros Klampanis
bass, acoustic
Jacopo Ferrazza
bass, acoustic
Gui Duvignau
bass, acoustic
Daphna Sadeh
bass, acoustic
Jeff Bernstein
bass, electric
Jonathan Kava
saxophone, soprano
Charlie Hoats
bass, electric
Adam Armstrong
bass, acoustic
Arthur Sadowsky
bass, electric
Bele Beledo
guitar
Christian de Mesones
bass, electric
Nicolas Ojeda
bass, acoustic
Gary Kelly
bass, electric
Haavisto
bass, electric
Steven Bulmer
bass, acoustic
Marcos Milagres
bass, acoustic
Michael Waldrop
multi-instrumentalist
Adrian Norton
arranger
Jukka Haavisto
bass, electric
Mishko M'ba
bass, electric
Chris Trinidad
multi-instrumentalist
Michel Seba
percussion
Greg Oliva
bass, electric
Jeff Lopez
bass, electric
David Post
vocals
Bees Deluxe
band / ensemble / orchestra
Machrijam
guitar
Lisipi
piano
Ella Mar
vocals
Max Gerl
bass
Patrick Carey
bass, electric
Petros Dragoumis
bass, electric
Alessandro Bertozzi
saxophone, alto
Vladimir Samardzic
bass, electric
Jatayu
band / ensemble / orchestra
Jaehyun Cho
bass, acoustic
Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra
band / ensemble / orchestra
Brian Eaton
multi-instrumentalist
Anthony Muthurajah
bass, electric
The Modern Beat Combo
band / ensemble / orchestra
Sahib Singh
guitar, electric
Zachary McDonald
bass, electric
Michael Pipoquinha
bass, electric
Matt Gruebner
bass, electric
Mirco Melone
bass, electric
Joby
author
Enrico Solazzo
arranger

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Truth, Liberty &...

Resonance Records
2017

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Jaco Pastorius

Epic/Legacy
2016

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Jaco: Original...

Legacy Recordings
2015

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Anthology

Rhino
2014

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Jaco Pastorius:...

Omnivore Recordings
2014

buy

Word of Mouth

Warner Bros.
2014

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Videos

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