Jaco (Paperback)

~ (Author) "JULY 4, 1986: I'm rudely awakened by the most hateful of sounds, a relentless rrrrring-rrrrring-rrrrring in the middle of a positively delicious dream..." (more)
Key Phrases: greatest bass player, best bass player, track titled, Weather Report, New York, Fort Lauderdale (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Certain innovative jazz musicians end up in thrall to their mystical music. Achieving the altered state playing such music, especially in front of an audience, becomes an obsession, often drugfueled and destructive. Saxophonist Charlie Parker was of that ilk, as was the revolutionary bass player Jaco Pastorius, whose immense talent was tragically subsumed by mental illness. Prolific music writer Milkowski, who knew Pastorius during his most aberrant and hopeless phase, chronicles Jaco's walk across the tightrope between genius and madness with respect and sorrow. Pastorius personified fusion, squeezing more music out of an electric bass than anyone believed possible with his long fingers and double-jointed thumbs. And he had a high-energy, high-impact stage style that galvanized his fans. Milkowski thoroughly chronicles Pastorius' rapid rise and triumphant stint with Weather Report, as well as his terrible decline and tragic, violent death just weeks shy of his thirty-sixth birthday in 1987. His well-illustrated book will preserve Pastorius' memory and remind people to listen to his incredibly funky punk jazz. Donna Seaman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

This tragic tale of the man who revolutionized the electric bass will appeal to players, fans, and anyone curious about the fine line between creative genius and madness. Bass players and music fans today - whether of jazz, rock, reggae, pop, or punk - owe much to Jaco Pastorius who literally reinvented the role of the electric bass. Jaco takes an in-depth look at his life through biographical narrative, personal tributes, and photographs. It chronicles his development beginning in the nightclub circuit, then on the road with Wayne Cochran & The C.C. Riders, then catapulting to stardom in Weather Report. It explores his diagnosis as a manic depressive, his eventual downfall accelerated by alcohol and cocaine, and his senseless and violent death. Includes photos.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books; Later Printing edition (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087930426X
• ISBN-13: 978-0879304263
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #906,005 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging but superficial bio of the greatest bassist ever, June 15, 1998

By	W. Doyle (Boston suburbs, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is no doubt that Jaco was the baddest cat ever to sling an electric bass around his shoulder. The proof is in the pudding: check out any of his recordings, and you will hear a master of the groove like no other. Dazzling technique, yet so darned FUNKY!

Having read biographies of Charlie Parker, I was struck by the similarities between the two who died far too young. Both lived to excess and died as a result of their debilitating addictions. And both turned the jazz world on its ear with their exhilharating innovations.

I found this book to be pretty inspirational, at least in terms of Jaco's virtuosity. It is also an interesting tale about how NOT to live. Nevertheless, I found Milkowski's style to be to more like a lengthy DownBeat article than what one might expect in a 200+ page biography. I wish that he had probed Jaco's psychological problems more, offering some more in-depth analysis on what led him to such a self-destructive lifestyle. Rather, he spends little time on the precursors of Jaco's mental illness, and prefers to give anecdotes and concrete examples of his drug and alcohol problems. True, he goes into some explicit detail about Jaco's binges, but says far too little about Jaco's severely pathological narcissism, which seems to have fueled his frustrations. What led to Jaco's grandiosity? Truly, he had a world class personality disorder, yet Milkowski pretty much ignores this.

Maybe I expect too much; Milkowski is a music writer, not a shrink, but when psychopathology is so extreme, I think a more analytical account is more than warranted. Maybe someone else will eventually tackle the psyche of who who Peter Erskine's psychiatrist father described to a fellow psychiatrist upon Jaco's stay at Bellevue, "the most challenging case you will ever see."

But all that aside, the book is a quick and enjoyable read, and anything about Jaco is probably worthwhile.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compulsive read....................., July 6, 1999

By A Customer

.......Milkowski's book is an effort that should be applauded by all who pick up its pages. When I first looked at the intro to the book, I found it a fascinating look into the genius and tragedy of this landmark musician. Unlike others, who have stated that the book falls short in examining Jaco's psychological short comings and mental closet skeletons, I found the read not to be wanting in any area describing his life. Not only is it a book that is I feel is mandatory reading for any music lover.........it is a book that even the non musician can appreciate as well. The shock and saddness in which the stories unfold make the subject of Jaco as a performer simply a compelling story which the reader begins to empathize with Jaco but feels the same helplessness as those within the book while reading along to the inevitable conclusion. An easy read, and I've read that book at least 3 or 4 times and still pick it up to refer to some of the of profound statements and observation about not only Jaco's life........but the with human experience in all of us as well...Finally, this book (as a screenplay) would make an unbelievable movie ....Kudos to Bill...........RIP Jaco

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking, February 16, 2005

By	Dawoud Kringle "Renegade Sufi" (New York City) - See all my reviews

Mr. Milkowski did a marvelous job of telling the story of "The World's Greatest Bass Player". It made me sad to read, though.

I gave this review the title "Heartbreaking" because I knew Jaco. We were not close freinds, but I used to run into him often; we both lived in New York City. Now, everyone who lived in NYC at the time had a "Jaco Story"; some outrageous anecdote of his antics. But I'd like to share something a bit different.

One night Jaco and I were hanging out in the Village. He and I were talking, mostly about music. But in the midst of the conversation, he told me "You know, I tell people that I like to party and take chances; but the truth is I wish I could give up drinking and drugs. But I don't know how". I didn't know what to tell him, and I don't remember how I replied; nor can I say what prompted him to say this to me.

Four years later he left town and never returned.

Despite his demons and his sickness; in addition to Jaco being an astonishing musician, he was, when he was "himself", a really nice and likeable guy.