General Music Chat

No, he didn't. Know why?? He claimed this title for himself!!! He ran around telling everyone he was the best. This 'proclamation' and his ability to back it up were both products of his manic persona.

I respectfully have to disagree.

re. his claim....i know he was big fan of ALI.....who also proclaimed himself to be the greatest. the other thing is....how can any of us be sure he wasn't making that boast tongue in cheek?

i've neither read nor heard anything about any mental health problems from anyone when he was first coming up, or in his first few yrs playing with Joni and Weather Report.

it's not until LATER that he starts to unravel. were the seeds of his later problems and self destruction present earlier? possibly, but if so... no one's ever mentioned it. on the contrary, he was always described as being very together, focused, fully engaged, and a musician dedicated to his art and craft.

Jaco was famous for getting really drunk when he was manic and trying to force his way into venues because he just had to play and show everyone how great he was!!!

nah. that there...that's what you would refer to as "the rub"!

see, it was because of the fact that Jaco WASN'T a big drinker or drug user that everyone was so shocked when he succumbed to that and went down that path. truth is...he was FAMOUS for taking really good care of himself and being about the music and the work....until he wasn't.

it was only later when he hit the skids and hit bottom. i have to ask...how could possibly state for a fact that his intent was to show off how great he was??? if you heard or read that from someone...i'm curious to hear the source.

just as likely he just needed to play and interact w other musicians....just as any great musician would need to do.

for sure he was one of the greatest.... but he was also responsible for a lot wannabe's who missed the point by only focusing on Jaco's soloing and melodic style while missing the point of how he was such a badass groover who could really take care of business....the groove.

The greatest?? IDK about that one. Greatness lies in the eyes and ears of the beholder.

What about Ron Carter, Charlie Hayden, Charles Mingus..................???

first off....different instrument.

great players all....but what were the groundbreaking things they did that hadn't been done before on their instrument?

Jaco on the other hand.....