Jaco Pastorius (full length) Throwback Thursday From the MI Vault 

This is a great example of the warm, friendly, and generous man that I knew and loved. It’s wonderful to see this. This is how he was, day in, day out. Yes, there were some very tough and terribly sad times when I helplessly watched him suffer, unable to stop it. He was a dear friend, a brother at times, and it is heartbreaking to witness insensitivity to his illness. We are all flawed, and some of us are far too eager to judge another. Please feel only gratitude for the music, empathy for the man and his beautiful family.

I was in the room. I remember how he came in, totally down, without smiling, without speaking and without his bass ! I remember Ron Benson (1986 MI director) had a hard time to start the masterclass, because he was out of the world. Then he borrowed a bass to a lucky guy, and started showing daily exercices he used to practice, starting to warm up with a lot of difficulty and time. And, little by little he got into it, and began to sound like him ! Then he started jamming with Franck Gambale and drummer Patrick Buchmann (a friend of i who was teaching at the summer session this year), and they played a looooong tune including Chicken, Purple Haze, etc... That was a unique day. Such a great musician. Impossible to forget this day.

No matter where he was on the ladder...top or bottom...he always sounded like Jaco no matter what brand of bass, no matter if it was fretted or fretless. He has been imitated but he will never be duplicated. He showed all of us that there was so much more you could do on a bass than what was being done at that time. When I started playing bass in 1975, Jaco, Stanley Clarke, Percy Jones and Jeff Berlin were all just coming out. They were so great that I almost gave up. It was truly overwhelming to be hit with these kind of influences when you were just starting out. Glad I didn't quit. Bass is a beautiful instrument. Jaco showed us that in a big way.

You can just tell Jaco’s intellect was off the charts. This dude was extremely smart. He had that “it” factor you just don’t see very often.

hearing Jaco saying that he will probably play again with Weather report filled me with sadness!

I was 100% dialed in when he said "the hardest stuff is to not make noise with the other strings while playing that's harder than playing" and he laughed. that's what I am actually working with right now.

Saw Jaco in 82 or 83 at Berklee, when i was going there with Mike Stern. He had about 100' cord on his bass & he hopped on 1 foot all over the stage for about an hr straight. Unbelievable!! Absolutely the best bass player & maybe musician ever. RIP

I'm a musician (keyboards) and just hearing the little impromptu at 9:31hit me like a brick. I don't know why, but this man had a style, a sound, a technique and a way to use everything he had ever heard, from Beatles riffs, Jimmy Hendricks riffs, I even heard him put something from "the sound of music" into one of his performances. His drumming on Teen Town is phenomenal, and I could ramble on for hours about this man's ability, not just ability, his absolute deep feeling, which..... that's it. Jaco Pastorius was Incredible, words have failed me. Just an edit to clarify that, I'm a Brit musician, and I have to, and honestly do admit that a musician of Jaco Pastorius' ability and deep feeling for his music would have been something that we in the UK could find only in America. We copied, we aspired, but we never achieved the heights that the American musicians achieved on a daily basis. A precious few of us made names, George Shearing comes to mind, but it would take hours to come up with many more names. Well, I've meandered a long way from Jaco. He is a maestro, something to behold, and a great loss. In such a short life, he did so much.

1. Intro (jaco talking) 0:01 2. Portrait of tracy 6:17 3. Jaco talks 7:30 4. Donna lee 26:03 5. Jaco talks 26:55 Second half 6. Jam 38:46 7. Guitar solo 39:15 8. Bass solo 41:25 9. Drum solo 44:06 Encore 10. Jam (reprise) 44:18 11. Outro 46:01

Those in the audience were very privileged to listen to Jaco Pastorius. The greatest bassist in history.

The best bassist that ever lived

Jaco was one of the greatest musicians ever and one of the most tragic. I know the guy could be a total ass, but he was also so vulnerable. Gotta love Jaco!

it is a pleasure to watch this. A good meal and this video with the mighty jaco

JACO hailed a cab on Bleeker street nyc Stopped to pick him up and said could you wait my friend is the store, said no problem He said I am Jaco with a hand shake. I said Jaco Pastorius. He said yeah. You know me I said off course Birdland he smiled. His woman came. Actually it was mothers day. Put the meter on heavy traffic going very slow after about three blocks Javo says, wow he told me he was off duty pointing to the taxi on my side to an older white cab driver on my side that he refused to pick him up. Any one in Ny would have said f..k you any kind of curse He said nothing. Very gentle in my part. Not only his music but I liked him too. I was so Sad when I heard the way he died.

This man gave us so much ❤️

This is an absolute treasure! Jaco seems a bit troubled here, not his normal boisterous self... Humble and honest. Beautiful to see him a bit vulnerable in this q and a. Love this. Thank you.

A lot of guys have tried to copy his techniques but his feel... Jaco was cool! Jaco heard the music differently and then made it his. RIP Jaco!

Jaco will always have a place in musical history as an innovator, extraordinary musician, stellar signature sound, and his uncanny ability to help push the boundaries of the bass as well as musical tunes in general. Love was in his sound and his tone showed his soul and all it's beauty! One of the greatest to ever play music!!

"I never practice anything fast." I hear so many teachers saying to practice slow, but hearing it from one of the fastest players every really makes an impact. Such a shame he never got to play with Miles!

Two musical giants! Jaco and Frank!!! Frank Gambale should by all means appear in the video description!!!

Rest in Peace, Jaco. You will always be in our heart. ❤️

First of all I want to thank you for the posting of this series! Wonderful! I am a Jacophile, and can't stop listening to his music. It is great to hear him talk about music and how he thought. You can see the smoke flowing out of ears with all his knowledge of music. He definitely wasn't the talented burned out musician that some unfortunately portray him as. I am now afraid to even look at my bass. He was amazing! I wish I could have met him and just chatted with him. Thank you again for posting.

This thing is a treasure. Never saw it before though I am the Jaco worshiper of all. The thing about Jaco is even when he talks he doesn't bullshit like so many others do in the clinic setting. What he does say you can take to the bank. I always say- Jaco was touched by God. There simply is no other rational explanation.

What humility and kindness ! This video is a treasure, thank you very much for posting it. Great to see, but tearful at the same time..

This looks like when I went to GIT back in 1986, before the move to the new building. I love listening to Jaco. Thanks for posting.

Thank you so much for posting this amazing footage. Love Jaco. Love listening to him speak. May he Rest In Peace. 🙏

I saw Jaco play a couple of times, with WR in 1979, and in 55 bar in NYC 10 or more years later, but never heard him talk, until now. He has a southern cadence in his voice. Here and there, an actual southern accent. Being from TN, I like that. There was a period in the late 70's when I was a Jaco disciple and attempting to be copyist, Fender fretless bass, but eventually I abandoned that pursuit.

Я недавно открыл этого Музыканта. Он прекрасен! Спасибо.

I met him with Joni Mitchell and he was very reserved. This is an awesome look into who he was.

Jaco was so real in this video. I know first hand if you don't keep practicing hard tunes you can't just play them. You have to go over them. We sometimes forget our heroes in reality are just as human as we are. Jaco was an amazing talent. I'm just glad I got to meet and be one of his students. He made a big impact on life . What to do and not to do. Miss you buddy. N.Y.C. OH YEAH

Jaco looking and sounding nothing like you'd expect considering this period of his life. Sad to hear him make the comment about changing strings nightly - when he could afford it. Listening to him speak is never boring...

oh man i could cry !

He is the greatest...! he left behind and ahead a masterpieces.

RIP Jaco..!! If you are in South Florida go to Oakland Park and visit the Jaco Pastorius Park.. where he grew up

great to hear the interview all the way through! As soon as they start jammin, A wild Frank Gambale appears.

I love to hear him actually talk...everything common u tend to find is usually him speaking thru his hands and heart. But to hear him talk about music and the way he learns his chops, how he speaks of influences with such respect...I never pictured him with a southern accent as a kid, I saw him as some Latin souled wizard from another world, lol. He looks so worn down in this tho, it's so friggin heartbreaking to know what direction things went from here on 🥺

He's so level headed and focuses and friendly here, it's hard to imagine he was starting to struggle with mental illness at this time... But all that aside, I really enjoy seeing this and his instructional vid. He was a real pro and inspiration.

Just imagine if he was still alive, what he would have brought us. Same as Jimi. Lost way too soon.

finally! thanks alot, signed by all musicians!

Met Frank Gambli in My hometown downtown Kansas City at the Midland Theatre with Return To Forever got to meet them backstage compliments of my girlfriend seei a band i have been listening too since 10 th grade with Sir Stanley Clarke , Chic Corea, Lenny White on my birthday John Luc Aponty was there talked to him for a second he wasn't feeling well but that was a evening I'll never forget """ peace be with you all """"

Truly a legend, a trendsetter, and a genius.

Jaco, the speaking Bass legend on tape... It's cool !

This is pure gold.

No 'Bass of Doom' and playing through a Peavey bass rig which more often than not was looked upon with much derision by 'tone snobs'. But all I'm hearing is classic Jaco. Further proof that the skills of the player are more important than the equipment they're using. RIP Mr. Pastorius, thanks for the music lessons.

Around 28m Jaco gets a great question about what is called "visualization". So important to becoming better is envisioning the instrument in your head; seeing the instrument apart from tangibility is one of the most useful techniques. So cool he talks about it. This video could easily be edited and the tracking fixed. The alignment on the vhs transfer deck is off and needs to be adjusted.(harder to find vhs repair guys though nowadays for sure!) Someone should re-transfer this excellent historical footage. Besides that, thanks so much!

When I went to BIT, the school was above the Wax Museum and Frank was bald. Jaco sure can make that Mark IV sound incredible.

Awesome rare interview with Jaco......music speaks for itself.........r.i.p.

Holy (God of) crap! I thought I had seen ALL of the recorded footage of Jaco... Wow! Never even knew this exhausted till right now... Thanks for uploading! Back in the day we had to use the internet in it's primitive state just to find other fans to tape trade with...

Such a generous creative soul , and the one and only . A gift to hear Jaco speak about drummers and practice and many other things from his legendary perspective ... a real show of ‘time ‘ and groove at the end when plays with Gambale , you can just feel the experience

Thanks for sharing this. Cant put into more words how much this is keeping me sane right now. As a musician I'm speaking in this regard

At many people love Jaco , i am one too, Probably his illness could be treat, point is , we all are alone , when we scream for help.RIP Jaco.

wow - first time seeing this one. great stuff! Frank Gambale and Jaco session at the end killed!!

THE BIRD OF OUR GENERATION * A NATIONAL TREASURE * GONE FROM LIVING DANGEROUSLY.... broke our hearts to lose him...

Truly a legacy ! Thanks a ton for posting this. Glad that this material survived up until utube dayz .

Jaco,the real deal,the main man,baddest cat in town.

Nice video of the man...he was and always will be one of the greats

It was always wonderful to be around Jocko He was nice to me He taught me a lot of bass stuff He said someday based purgatory won't matter he'll be the guy playing for 50 bucks in a bar or the guy on TV nothing in between

Music amazes me. I allways thought there were 2 types of musicians. People who were natural like Stevie Ray or people who studied like Steve Morse. Turns out to be great you have to work hard and be talented

Damn... Miles Davis and Jaco Pastorius.... that would've been a bomb ass duo! Hell, just mentioning them both on the same sentence gives me chills.

I wrote the horns in about 5 minutes @ 20:00. Love the blues lick ending @ 21:30 ;> and I always keep the melody going in my head.

What a shame the video ended where it did. Could have quite happily listened to Jaco jamming for another couple of hours or more.

Overflowing genius and wisdom.

Here's Jaco Pastorious funny, sane, sober, engaging, informative, and just a regular guy You see---I discovered him in 1976 ("Heavy Weather"), then backtracked thru "Black Market" and "Jaco" (first album) By the early 80s---the rumors began about his changing behavior up to his murder. And to me that has down thru the decades after his death (3 to be exact) dominant his story This is refreshing to see him like this---and I hope for newer devotees---they aren't biased by the darker stories about his life---but more of info like this

Wow , I didn't know these videos existed!!! Very cool!! Seen Jaco with Weather Report Rainbow Music hall, Denver Co. 1983.

THE BEST Jaco R.I.P. 🌹💔

Such a treat to see this

Jaco: Where are these guys that can play? Gambale: SHREDS

he don't play with his jazz bass and his acoustic amp but he have his sound, so the sound is on his hands !!

Best pocket player and soloist around to me. Every note Jaco plays is so tight and fat. And if he holds one his vibrato is just perfect. I never tire of hearing him go!

"where these aguys at that can play?" He says about Frank Gambale on guitar! Haha Jaco was the man.

thank you thank you thank you thank you!

Real bonus at the end though !... Mr Gambale & Jaco ! ...I had no idea that they ever played together !!!

I’m so happy that jaco says it hard to play Donna lee slow cause I feel the same way. Whenever I play it slow I always forget where the next note is. Feels good to know that jaco thinks so too lol

stil love jaco!! over many many years!!

I was in the audience, it was great to see him in person, I remember at the time thinking he was reluctant to play. was also at the playboy jazz 2 years earlier when he threw his bass in air and hit hit the stage full volume. that was interesting......

Nice to see jaco balanced n cool..his son Felix is doin well

This is pure GOLD

How many Bass players -or even major musicians -were shown this level of interest to warrant a 45 minute interview?

"Management and music - they just don't mix"...

This is sobering, in the same way the opening of Jaco instruction video was, in that here is the most influential bassist (or one of the most influential) talking about struggling to find work in NYC.

This is wonderful. I've watched it for the second time. I wish they could fix it up. It's a valuable recording. He is so lucid and at ease here, although you could see he was a little nervous at the beginning. Seems to have been such a sweet guy. He doesn't come across as arrogant at all to me. R.I.P. Jaco. ❤

26:00 VERY useful for transcribing Donna Lee

Love to Jaco on the universe he is rigth now.

Thanks a lot for sharing this MI!

Hes playing on a fretted bass and yet he still has that fretless tone. Its all in the fingers for sure!

11:33 jeff berlin , wow... this footage is getting more interesting every minute !!! wonderful stuff

amazing 🙌

gift of a video.

Jaco... we all miss you ... brother! 🤘

Damn... so good to see him lucid, must be within the "bad" years too.

Thank you for sharing this insightful feature!

The greatest

.."self taught,..I'm formally self taught."..good one J.👍🐓💕

Here Jaco is playing a different bass (fretted), different amp, still when he plays it totally sounds like Jaco.

My Hero.

Funny hearing him say that about Donna Lee. I was thinking that the other other day when I finally sat down to nail it. You can't think about it, it's fluid and if you just play it over and over, the muscle memory kicks in, and it completely blows your mind how your brain does that.

He scuffs on one of his classic licks at 42:31, and then plays it super slowly. Thanks!! :D

I heard weather report when I was a kid and was in ove with jazz fusion 4ever..Rip jaco. Blessings to the rest of the band.bought so much joy to my family on that Saturday morning shopping Ride together in the car just feeding good.smh.

Я прослезился пока читал комментарии... Это самые душевные комментарии за последнее время, что я встречал... У нас в России любят Jaco, но уже начинают забывать. Я храню память о нём, и считаю его одним из самых музыкальных и глубоких музыкантов и личностей... Я посвятил ему несколько произведений, одно из них я записал к его семидесятилетию: "Вспоминая Джако", где я выразил свою любовь к нему на своём басу. Ещё я называю эту композицию "Вальс для Джако". ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Qzoy_jC68lM.html

What a sound 😁👍🏻amazing