Jaco Pastorius: Jaco Pastorius [MUSIC ON VINYL]

Why you'll love it

With Herbie Hancock, Sam & Dave, Wayne Shorter and the Brecker brothers along for the ride, Jaco's debut is the record every bass player has worn out.

This edition

• Music On Vinyl edition, made in the Netherlands
• Original 1976 artwork

About the album

Not many debut albums open with a solo bass and congas playing a Charlie Parker bebop tune at full tilt, but then not many debut albums were made by Jaco Pastorius. Within a minute of "Donna Lee" you can hear why he called himself the greatest bass player in the world, and why nobody argued.

Produced by Bobby Colomby of Blood, Sweat & Tears, it's packed with stars: Herbie Hancock on keys, Sam & Dave singing on the funky "Come On, Come Over," Wayne Shorter, David Sanborn and the Brecker brothers on horns. "Continuum" glides on those singing fretless lines, and "Portrait of Tracy" is built almost entirely from shimmering harmonics.

He joined Weather Report the same year and went on to play with Joni Mitchell, but this is where the legend starts. Jazz, funk, R&B and pure bass wizardry, all in one LP.

Also at Kops: more Jaco Pastorius on vinyl · browse Jazz

Tracklist

Listen

On Music On Vinyl (cat# MOVLP136), a reissue of the 1976 album.