MusicWhat it was like to work with the legendary Jaco Pastorius, according to Al Di MeolaGuitarist witnessed the legendary bassist at the beginning of his career, when he was just a prodigy unknown to the general publictoday at 08:00

One of the greatest bassists of all time, Jacob Pastorius was — and still is — revered by his instrument colleagues just as Jimi Hendrix on guitar. The American musician, however, built himself a reputation as a tempestuous genius.

But before all that, he was just a prodigy. AND Al Di Meola witnessed his full potential in the studio.

In a podcast interview Moods and Modes (transcription via Ultimate Guitar), the guitarist decided to talk about the experience of recording his debut album, Land of the Midnight Sun. Among the invited musicians was a young man Pastoriuswho played bass on the track “Golden Dawn Suite”.

Di Meola described the scene:

He was with his father, his father came with him to the studio. His father said: ‘This is the first time Jaco has recorded in a studio’. He was on his way to Boston after my album. He even said: ‘Tomorrow I’m leaving, I’m going to record with Pat [Metheny, outra lenda do jazz]’.”

About the bassist’s behavior during the playing sessions Land of the Midnight Sun, Di Meola highlighted the instinctive approach of Jacob. He said:

Jaco was great. He didn’t learn the lines, but there are the grooves. If you listen to everything once, because it’s a suite, ‘Golden Dawn’the way he constructed the phrases… because there wasn’t much composed for the bass in that section of the suite. But what he invented, what he brought to music, how great instrumentalists do, how chick [Corea], Steve Gadd or anthony jacksonthey improve the composed music — whether by bringing a little or a lot. It’s incredible what he brought to music.”

Jaco Pastorius, jazz fusion giant

Jacob Pastorius played on the debut albums of Al Di Meola and Pat Methenyboth recorded in 1975. Between the two sessions, he found time to record his own album, called simply Jacob Pastoriuswhich propelled him to fame in the world of jazz.

Even before the release of the LP, in August 1976, Jacob sent an unfinished copy of the album to Joe Zawinulleader of the jazz fusion group Weather Report. The two met after a show in Miami and maintained correspondence for a few years. When the bassist Alphonse Johnson announced his plans to leave the band, Pastorius was invited to be the substitute.

Its first appearance was on the album Black Marketreleased five months before his solo album came out. He remained in Weather Report until 1982, establishing himself as one of the most influential bassists of his generation. Throughout his career, he also worked with Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Randy Bernsen, Jimmy Cliffamong many others.

Jacob left us very right and in a completely avoidable way. The bassist died on September 21, 1987, at the age of 35, after a fight with a bar bouncer that left him in a coma until he suffered brain death.

Collaborated: Pedro Hollanda.