Jaco Pastorius Big Band – Under Peter Graves’s Direction
The Jaco Pastorius Big Band – Under Peter Graves’s Direction
It’s a grand gathering of the Lords of the Lower Frequencies: bassists Marcus Miller, Victor Bailey, Victor Wooten, Jimmy Haslip, Christian McBride, Gerald Veasley, and Richard Bona are united under a groove to celebrate their hero, Jaco Pastorius. Jaco’s homeboy Peter Graves (who employed the bassist in his South Florida big band before he hit it big with Weather Report in 1975) was the mastermind behind this awesome assembly. Under Graves’s direction these Jaco gems, mostly from his Weather Report days and his first solo recording, highlight Pastorius’ powerful influence. Of course, old standbys like “Havona,” “Teen Town,” and “Barbary Coast,” with Haslip, Wooten, and Veasley, remain true to Pastorius’ fluid, bullet-like basslines. The African-born Bona, arguably the most Jaco-like performer on the date, turns in a beautiful and eerie rendition of “Punk Jazz,” which is contrasted by Marcus Miller’s more Stanley Clarke-ish, avant/hip-hop take on the same tune. Jaco’s voice is heard all through the CD, and through the magic of technology, his bass part (taken from a live recording) drives the R&B bounce of Herbie Hancock’s “Wiggle Waggle.” Eugene Holley, Jr.
Audio Releases | Jaco Pastorius Big Band
Jaco Pastorius Big Band– Jazz Week Record of the Year for 2004 & 2006
Recorded on Sep.1, 1982 Tokyo, Japan | Jaco Pastorius Big Band: Jaco Pastorius (el-b) Don Alias (perc) Randy Breker (tp) Peter Erskine(ds) Bobby Mintzer(sax) Othllo Molineaux(steel drums) Elmer Brown, Forrest Buchtel, Jon Faddis (tp) Ron Tooley, Wayne Andre (tb), David Bargeron(tb, tuba) Peter Graves (b-tb/Co-Conductor) Bill Reichenbach (btb), Mario Cruz(sax, clarinet, flute) Randy Emerick (sax), Alex Foster (sax, clarinet, piccolo) Paul McCandless(sax, oboe,eng-hone) Peter Gordon, Brad Warnaar(frh) 1. Invitation (Bronislaw Kaper) 2. Soul Intro/The Chicken (J.Pastorius/Alfred James Ellis) 3. Donna Lee (Charlie Parker) 4. Continuum (J.Pastorius) 5. Sophisticated Lady (Duke Ellington) 6. Liberty City (J.Pastorius) 7. Three Views Of A Secret (J.Pastorius) 8. Okonkole Y Trompa (J.Pastorius) 9. Reza/Giant steps/Reza (J.Pastorius/Pastorius/John Coltrane/Pastorius)
Other Resources:
Also, See Peter Graves Florida Music Awards Hall of Fame page
