General Music Chat

Jook and i were talking yesterday about how whenever someone plays anything melodic on a fretless bass, inevitably Jaco's name and comparisons comes up. another fretless player from roughly the same era who's not nearly as well known is Percy Jones who played bass w the fusion/ prog-rock band BRAND X.

there are obvious similarities in their playing (fretless being the most obvious) but they have other common ground as well, their heavy use of harmonics being one of them....still Percy has a little different thing going on and i wouldn't describe him as Jaco clone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHSWH0n3zy0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3zIKBF5yTg

what's sadly overlooked by those who are quick to dismiss jaco as nothing more than a flashy in your face bassist is the fact that he laid down some of the baddest grooves, was a great accompanist, and could play killer walking bass lines when playing straight ahead jazz grooves.

walking a strt ahead bass line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc6tdUgOaA4

more strt ahead jazz copping an upright feel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVY4quArLBk

laying down a root/fifth "samba" line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j06FOexmoaE

and the guy could write some deep stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBhoDaS5SKQ

some of my favorite jaco stuff is the work he did w joni mitchell. esp on my favorite album of her's "Hejira".

this is maybe a kinda interesting contrast....her song "Coyote" from that album. this goes to what i was talking about earlier about how the bass playing should be dictated by whatever else is going on (esp considering whatever melodies are happening and w attention to other instruments present).

on the original version Jaco is playing against a fairly simple canvas of strumming acoustic gtrs and light percussion that leaves him plenty of room to inject "personality" and interest, while at the same time laying down a great groove.

not long after the album came out Joni appeared at The Band's farewell sendoff "The Last Waltz" and played "Coyote" with them backing her up. it's interesting listening to how Rick Danko (one of my favorite bassists) chose to interpret the tune. no way was he gonna try to do the Jaco thing...not his style....but also....the arrangement is a lot more fleshed out w a bigger cast of contributing characters that he needs to leave space for. still...while maybe lacking some of the "personality" of Jaco's lines....it's great and solid playing nonetheless. and i love how he stands as close to her as he can and rarely take his eyes off of her! (EXACTLY what I'D have been doing)

still for my money... as much as i dig The Band and Danko (he and Levon Helm are on my short list of fave rhythm sections) ... their version feels a little more wooden and stiff. i have to think Jaco's playing, as present and in your face as it is on the album version imparts a lighter and more graceful vibe.


jaco's version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBhoDaS5SKQ

joni w the band and rick danko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7MbmXklj3Q

what's sadly overlooked by those who are quick to dismiss jaco as nothing more than a flashy in your face bassist is the fact that he laid down some of the baddest grooves, was a great accompanist, and could play killer walking bass lines when playing straight ahead jazz grooves.

No dude, don't get me wrong. I don't think Jaco was a novelty act or something of that nature.
Groove, yeah, he had bucket loads.

my statement above wasn't directed at you, buddy! but at those who think jaco was nothing more than a showoff. (truth told...he COULD showoff w the best of them but he was so much more than that)

sounds like a pretty shitty deal working w the too busy bassist. i work w a gtrst like that and it's a shame because he does have skills and technique (that i never will), but it's a drag when every song becomes a gtr showcase and every solo is a Star Search moment.

my experience is people play WHO THEY ARE.....sensitive people who are good conversationalists and are interested in what others have to say bring that to the table when they play...

and the opposite holds true....self centered people who are all about themselves off the bandstage....that's EXACTLY how they play.