Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Brothers Pub.
• VHS Release Date: October 20, 2000
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301329805
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,434 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important Historical Document Now Digital, February 16, 2003

By 

A Reviewer (The Universe) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Modern Electric Bass, Jaco Pastorius (DVD)

It's great to see that this important historical document of Jaco Pastorius is now preserved on DVD. The video quality in my opinion could have been cleaned up/sharpened a little bit better, but this is a minor issue. The sound quality is noticeably clearer. This, combined with the random-access ability to go to any section or example make this a great over-all package. It's truly inspirational to watch, and a great learning tool as well. While not exactly for the absolute beginner, it does cover some of the more "basic" elements of playing. I would still encourage any beginner to check this out, as it will definitely keep you inspired! It's pretty much essential viewing for any bass player - or musician for that matter. It's NOT a video of gimmicks, licks, or tricks (and believe me, I've seen enough of those). It's a video about music and possibilities, and THAT'S what it's all about folks. You won't get any "secret short-cuts" or "speed techniques", but what you WILL get is sound, practical, insightful KNOWLEDGE from a true musician and master of his chosen instrument. This video still inspires me after years of viewing the VHS edition. It's great that Warner saw the true value in converting this to digital for future generations to see.

Now for the complaints: If any, I would say that the bonus materials are of no value whatsoever. There is a separate short slapping lesson included (not from Jaco of course), that I feel cheapens the true essence of the video, but hey, you don't have to watch this portion if you don't want to! Also, the biography section is weak in not too in-depth. The last bonus section that is supposed to explain a little bit about Jaco's equipment and set-up is nothing more than an advertisement for Fender Jaco re-issue basses - not really too insightful.

In summary, this is an important release both for its historical and educational value. It is true to the orginal VHS release. I'm glad to see the Jaco video has gone digital - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Instructional video: A Free-Form Interview and Jam Sessions, November 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Modern Electric Bass [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"Modern Electric Bass", although featuring all-time great bass player Jaco Pastorius, leaves the viewer somewhat disappointed. The interviewer, fellow bass player Jerry Jemmott, insists on gratuitous flattery while Jaco modestly (and perhaps uncharacteristically) takes all of Jemmott's compliments in stride, almost to the point of ignoring them. The video was shot during a difficult period of Jaco's life, and one can notice a strange demeanor on Jaco's part, as if he were sober and clean but dying for a fix. The lessons consist largely of various scales, harmonics, and bursts of speedy playing, along with several free-form solo, duo, and trio jam sessions. Jaco reveals his attitude toward being a musician and espouses a work ethic that makes little acknowledgement of his own natural genius. He relates the tall tale of an upright bass exploding due to Florida's high humidity, with no apparent contention from Jemmott. The low point of the video has Jaco struggling to play his own brilliant composition, "Portrait of Tracy", forgetting a whole section and commenting "I forget what I do there ..." However, there are moments of inspiring play, as Jaco seems more than eager to show off his considerable chops. He appears most comfortable in playing Ellis' "The Chicken" with guitarist John Scofield and drummer Kenwood Dennard, who also appears in a short interview segment with Jaco and Jemmott. But the video ends with Jaco losing himself on "Amerika" (his arrangement of "America the Beautiful", a idea probably taken from Hendrix's version of "The Star-Spangled Banner"), changing keys, and ultimately simply deciding to turn up the distortion and launch into a crazed, incoherent solo. Credits run with Jaco playing his composition "Liberty City" on piano. All in all, this is probably only a worthwhile purchase for the most extreme Jacophiles, and of questionable value to those hoping to learn useful bass lessons. Probably conceived as a profit opportunity relying solely on the name recognition of electric bass' greatest innovator, "Modern Electric Bass" misses the boat by at least 5 years, as the Jaco Pastorius of the late 1970s (Weather Report and Joni Mitchell) is obviously long gone.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mostly For Jaco Fans, May 4, 2005

By 

Or Hiltch (Rishon Lezion, Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Electric Bass, Jaco Pastorius (DVD)

While this DVD is well worth your couple of hours time, and you're probably going to enjoy watching it more than just once, I wouldn't recommend it to every bass player.

On the bright sides, well, after all, it is Jaco. He does play a couple of cool "Jaco-Sounding" tunes here and there, and you get a nice view of his personality. In addition, Jeremy Jemmott does an excellent job of interviewing Jaco (not surprisingly, since he is a great bass personality of his own).

BUT, As an instructional, it is a fairly lame video. You do get to check out some of Jaco's technique, but not much more. The DVD comes with an exercise booklet (music written in standard bass clef notation ONLY, not "Tabs") that, ironically, looks very much improvised: Watching the video, it really seems like the producers had picked some arbitrary tunes (or scales) Jaco was playing here and there and labeled them as exercises (adding the text "Exercise X" to the video and writing down the notes in the well-edited booklet).

Apart from that, Jaco isn't playing on his trademark fretless fender in this one, but on a fretted model instead. Also, as some other reviewers had already mentioned, this DVD does not show Jaco at his best (meaning that if you're expecting to see amazing performances you're in for a disappointment).

ON THE BOTTOM LINE, owning this DVD myself and watching it a fair number of times, I'd say IT'S FOR YOU IF:
1) You are a bass player and you've got money to spend.
2) Since almost all bass players are into jaco, I'd say you need to be really deep into jaco to think this DVD is actually worth the money.

And I'd say this DVD is really NOT FOR YOU IF:
1) You're considering buying it mainly because of its so called "instructional" nature.
2) You're considering buying it because you're expecting it's got some amazing Jaco music.