Bassist Jaco Pastorius was the Jimi Hendrix of jazz. Before he left this world in 1987, he virtually created the fretless bass with an unorthodox playing style that turned that instrument into a highly tuned, electrified African talking drum. This long-overdue, two-CD compilation details the incredible, but incomplete arc of this artist's genius that encompassed the R&B, Caribbean, fusion, and jazz-rock idioms. Jaco-heads will revel in these legendary sides that made Pastorius famous. There's his solo rendition of Bach's "Chromatic Fantasy," his dreamy improvisations on "Midwestern Nights" with Pat Metheny, and, of course, the 1976 Weather Report megahit, "Birdland." There are also a few unreleased tracks including an early home recording of "The Chicken" and a live version of "Okonkole Y Trompa." Pastorius's sideman work with Joni Mitchell, which features a wicked take on Charles Mingus's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," is also included. But Pastorius's own compositions steal the show: the West Indian-riffed big band number "Liberty City," and his expansive and exotic tone poem "John and Mary." This set will blow your mind and break your heart.
Punk Jazz: The Jaco Pastorius Anthology (Disc 1)
01. The Chicken (Home Recording)* / Jaco Pastorius (1:21)
02. Amelia (Live, 1972)* / Wayne Cochran's C.C. Riders(4:09)
03. I Can Dig It Baby / Little Beaver(5:52)
04. Batterie / Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, Bruce Ditmas, Paul Bley(5:11)
05. Continuum / Jaco Pastorius(4:34)
06. Midwestern Nights Dream / Pat Metheny(6:01)
07. Foreign Fun (Live, 1976)** / Trilogue(7:55)
08. Birdland / Weather Report(6:01)
09. Nativity / Airto Moreira(6:37)
10. Las Olas / Flora Purim(4:29)
11. Sunday / Michel Colombier(4:19)
12. Layas / Michel Colombier(5:52)
13. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat / Joni Mitchell(5:39)
14. The Dry Cleaner from des Moines (Live, 1979) / Joni Mitchell(4:32)
15. Punk Jazz (Live, 1981) / Jaco Pastorius(4:36)
Punk Jazz: The Jaco Pastorius Anthology (Disc 2)
01. 3 Views of a Secret / Jaco Pastorius(6:09)
02. Liberty City / Jaco Pastorius(11:59)
03. Chromatic Fantasy / Jaco Pastorius(3:01)
04. Blackbird / Jaco Pastorius(2:48)
05. Word of Mouth / Jaco Pastorius(3:39)
06. John and Mary / Jaco Pastorius(11:07)
07. Good Morning Anya* / Jaco Pastorius(6:11)
08. Invitation (Live, 1982) / Jaco Pastorius Big Band(8:32)
09. Soul Intro/The Chicken (Live, 1982) / Jaco Pastorius Big Band (6:50)
10. Amerika (Live, 1982) / Jaco Pastorius Big Band (1:10)
11. Okonkole y Trompa (Live, 1982)** / Jaco Pastorius Big Band (7:07)
12. Mood Swings / Mike Stern(6:04)
13. Out of the Night / The Brian Melvin Trio(5:11)
* = рrеviously unreleased
** = first commercial release in U.S.A.
