Jaco Pastorius: The Florida Flash (1977)
"There's a real rhythm in Florida," Jaco Pastorius says in a voice saturated in matter-of-fact. "Because of the ocean. There's something about the Caribbean Ocean, it's why all that music from down there sounds like that. I can't explain it, but I know what it is." He pauses to unclasp his hands, like gangly sandcrabs, and drop his lanky arms to the sides of his lanky body. "I can feel it when I'm there." read more...
Jaco's Forecast is Sunny (1977)
In the electric world of modern music, nobody thought much about the bass player except in terms of low-frequency rolling thunder until the arrival of Jaco Pastorius. But after two Grammy Award nominations for his debut album, his presence in one of the most respected modern jazz bands in the country and personal appearances throughout the U.S. and Europe this year have not altered the man nearly as much as he's affected the musical community. read more...
Interview with Julie Coryell (1978)
This interview, done in 1977, is taken from the 1978 Dell book entitled 'Jazz-Rock Fusion - The People, The Music' by Julie Coryell and Laura Friedman. read more...
BBC Interview with Clive Williamson (1978)
During a Weather Report tour in the UK in 1978, Clive Williamson, then a BBC radio journalist, found himself interviewing Jaco for a jazz program. read more...
Portrait of Jaco (1978)
Jaco Pastorius, at 26, has developed bass playing capabilities putting him at the top of the technical ladder. He combines an R&B feel with strict jazz lines to produce a style like none other. Using a distinctive muted sound and employing harmonics in a nouveau fashion, he is in constant demand as a session player. read more...
S. Florida's Pastorius Breaks the Bass Barrier (1981)
When Jaco Pastorius became the first musician to break the bass barrier, there was no loud explosion. The only noise involved, in fact, was snap, crackle and pop. Before Pastorius, the bass had always been a rhythm instrument. Pastorius broke the barrier, astounding people by playing it as a lead instrument, and playing things that people had never heard on a bass before. Still, it wasn't a plan. The Northeast High School graduate didn't set out to change things. read more...
