Jaco Pastorius

Name: John Francis Anthony Pastorius III aka Mowgli
Born/Died: 1st December, 1951 – 21st September, 1987 (Norristown, Pennsylvania)
Profile: An American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged for his skills as an electric bass player and bassist for "Weather Report".

History: Jaco started out on drums in his own band Las Olas Brass, following in the footsteps of his father Jack. He injured his wrist playing football at age 13 and took up the electric bass, the damage to his wrist was severe enough to warrant corrective surgery and ultimately inhibited Jaco's ability to play drums. In 1966, he took over bass duties in his band. Jaco bought an upright bass around 1968-69 as he started to appreciate jazz. Following the development of a crack in the body of his old guitar bass he finally traded the instrument for a 1960 Fender Jazz Bass.

Jaco's first real break came when he secured the bass chair with Wayne Cochran and The C.C. Riders. He also played on various local R&B and jazz records during that time such as Little Beaver, Ira Sullivan's Quintet, and Woodchuck. In 1974, he began playing with his friend and future famous jazz guitarist, Pat Metheny.

His playing style was noteworthy for containing intricate solos in the higher register. His innovations also included the use of harmonics and the "singing" quality of his melodies on fretless bass.

Influences: Unknown

Axology: Fender 60's Jazz bass (fretless) and Variamp EQ amps.

"Jaco Pastorius may well have been the last jazz musician of the 20th century to have made a major impact on the musical world at large." - Pat Metheny

"Jaco was almost single-handedly responsible for the popularity of the fretless bass. He originally used a Fender Jazz with the frets removed." - Ralph Denyer

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwhkPSEXs1Q