Jaco Pastorius Archives

We can always count on Rick Suchow to deliver the goods. In honor of Jaco Pastorius’s birthday today, Rick has made available a clip he recorded of Jaco’s quintet performing “Invitation” at Seventh Avenue South in April 1981. The lineup included Michael Brecker and Peter Erskine.

In this episode of “From the Bottom,” Paul Thompson digs into one of his favorite and lesser-known Jaco Pastorius solos. This one focuses on “Midwestern Nights Dream” from Pat Metheny’s 1975 album, “Bright Size Life.”

We can never get enough of Jaco Pastorius. In this isolated bass clip, Jaco plays this classic with a bit of his drumming in the mix. You can really hear that fretless growl!

We can always count on Rick Suchow to unearth some true gems. Here’s one he just shared of Weather Report (with Jaco Pastorius) performing “The Pursuit Of The Woman With The Feathered Hat” in 1978.

Today, Alex Lofoco is paying homage to the legendary Jaco Pastorius and the “Modern Electric Bass” educational video. Check out Alex’s transcription and analysis of Jaco’s “Jam In E”.

The impact of Jaco Pastorius on the bass playing community is still strong, and in 2021, we had some special articles to share featuring him. As a result, Jaco returns to the Reader Favorite Bassists, at the #5 spot.

Seventy years ago today, Jaco Pastorius was born. And today, thanks to Rick Suchow, we have something special to check out: A live recording of “Three Views Of A Secret”, featuring Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, and others.

Here’s a live, rare, and unreleased clip of the Jaco Pastorius Quintet (with Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, and Don Alias) performing “Donna Lee” in 1981. Thanks to Rick Suchow for recording/sharing this one!

A group of people who go by “realcut” on Youtube released a “fan-film” documentary entitled, “Jaco Pastorius: The Lost Tapes”. Some of it includes footage they compiled from other sources while including some of their own interviews throughout.

I stumbled upon a newly remastered version of Weather Report’s live performance in Belgrade on October 31, 1980. Jaco Pastorius is on fretted bass on this one, with the band tearing through “Birdland”, with Jaco’s “Liberty City” in the mix.

Please help us welcome our newest contributor, Alex Lofoco! Alex’s first entry offers up a great analysis and transcription of Jaco Pastorius's bass solo on Ian Hunter’s “All American Alien Boy”.

Today is Jaco Pastorius’ birthday, so it is fitting that Alex Lofoco has a new volume of his instructional book series releasing today. “Contemporary Bass Guitar: Jaco Pastorius” is an in-depth analysis of Jaco’s “Modern Electric Bass” video.