4.53

5

Aug 20, 2015

I fucking love Jaco. This book is probably worth 4 stars, but it is about Jaco so who cares? His playing on Joni Mitchell's live version of Hejira is simply perfection.

5

Feb 05, 2013

Jaco Pastorius was an electric bass legend with the equally legendary fusion jazz group Weather Report and died in a senseless beating death outside of a bar. That's pretty much what the average jazzhead may know of Jaco, but this book takes a great look at his musicianship, composition style, great spirit, wild times, and unfortunate mental degeneration. From a writing standpoint, it's put together adequately with many anecdotes from his Jaco's family and colleagues. However, there are some Jaco Pastorius was an electric bass legend with the equally legendary fusion jazz group Weather Report and died in a senseless beating death outside of a bar. That's pretty much what the average jazzhead may know of Jaco, but this book takes a great look at his musicianship, composition style, great spirit, wild times, and unfortunate mental degeneration. From a writing standpoint, it's put together adequately with many anecdotes from his Jaco's family and colleagues. However, there are some repeated quotes here and there along with some glaring editorial errors that mar the writing. For me, what raised this biography above being a standard life story was the emotional undercurrent.

I don't know what Milkowski's secret is with having such moving emotion flow through his words despite its seemingly adequate construction, but it's there. It lurks in the background like, ironically, any good bassline does. The events in Jaco's later years were awful, but Milkowski avoids the melodrama of amping these moments up. The emotions well up from the testimony of those who watched Jaco's rise and downfall, you're almost like the interviewer talking to these people directly.

The author really played this one smart and delivered a powerful biography by just stepping aside and letting Jaco's life and the words of those he loved and worked with tell the hidden story. Milkowski's on drums keeping the beat in time while Jaco's people paint in their various grooves, keeping your heart rising and dipping through a long jam.

And, of course, Jaco is KILLING it on the fretless. ...more

4

Aug 29, 2013

Genius, Virtuoso, composer, innovator, Jaco pastorius, made an everlasting impression for electric bass players. This book takes you through the development of his Carrier and his personal life all the way until the heart braking last few years of his life. "The Extrodinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius" I felt, was a quick and very enjoyable read. Reading about the legend and hearing about how highly people think of his playing is quite inspiring. While reading this book, I very much so Genius, Virtuoso, composer, innovator, Jaco pastorius, made an everlasting impression for electric bass players. This book takes you through the development of his Carrier and his personal life all the way until the heart braking last few years of his life. "The Extrodinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius" I felt, was a quick and very enjoyable read. Reading about the legend and hearing about how highly people think of his playing is quite inspiring. While reading this book, I very much so enjoyed the fact that it talked more so about Jaco's life in terms of what he did as a musician compared to some of the other biographies I've read about musicians although it did talk a lot about his personal life. I would however recommend anyone who wants to read this, to be prepared for how sad the book might seem at times. It's really horrible to hear about someone going through the symptoms of being bipolar, which helped lead to his self destructive behavior. I would highly recommend this to not only any bass players but,to any jazz enthusiasts as well. ...more

4

Oct 24, 2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was outstanding in my opinon, it was some what hard to follow, but still, it was a very very, good book, and it was like if you actually met Jaco Pastorius, and sat him down and asked him evey question about his life that you could possibly think of. I recommend this book to anyone that is intrested in how someone so amazing at bass, that stays drug free through most of his life, can suddenly become a huge drugie, and how drasticaly it affects his entire life, and how sadly... it lead This book was outstanding in my opinon, it was some what hard to follow, but still, it was a very very, good book, and it was like if you actually met Jaco Pastorius, and sat him down and asked him evey question about his life that you could possibly think of. I recommend this book to anyone that is intrested in how someone so amazing at bass, that stays drug free through most of his life, can suddenly become a huge drugie, and how drasticaly it affects his entire life, and how sadly... it lead to his death.

Overall Ratings:
Information Given 10/10
Intrest value 7.5/10
Easy to understand 6/10
Overall 8/10

It held up well in the long run, but at some points in the book i just found my self confused, with all of the bands that he was in, i had to re read alot of it a few times to really grasp, what band he was in at what time, also some parts of the book were, just plain, borring, things that seemed that they didnt need to be in the book, or were just there to make it longer in general. I still highly suggest reading it, to anyone that is a fan of music, or a fan of Jaco. ...more

3

Feb 10, 2013

Ultimately a depressing story of the life of a genuine savant in the world of jazz. The unparalleled promise of his early career devolves into paroxysms of self destructive behavior. A sad tale of someone whose bi-polar disorder was not only untreated but exacerbated by his nomadic musician lifestyle and association with a host of enablers.

5

Mar 08, 2017

An enthralling music biography that had me reading large chunks of in single sittings. the facts of what Jaco also went through in his life just proves the point of the sad state of mental health in this country, let alone how badly it is stigmatized. the latter could be for another time though.

2

Apr 30, 2014

You can't really write a good bio about an egomaniac. Great bass player, but after so many pages of "I am the greatest in the world!" this got old fast.

4

Jan 04, 2018

Good overview of his life but totally missing the Joni band and waaaay too much time spent on his downfall. Depressing in that sense.

0

Mar 25, 2017

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. im tran duc minh born 1973. im musical. i working at Radio the voice of vietnam.

4

Nov 12, 2019

Great bass player, tortured human being. Story tells from his start to end in South Florida and NYC. Sad tale....but really glad I got to see him live

3

Jan 23, 2009

while his recordings of jazz fusion helped to create one of the most loathesome brands of music (that music you hear in an elavator, or at the dentist's office counting backwards from ten, ready to get your teeth drilled, that's all watered down imitations of what jaco was doing), his electric bass playing revolutionized the way the electric bass was viewed in the jazz community. before jaco it was anathema to use an electric bass on jazz tunes, but after jaco, every bass player wanted to play while his recordings of jazz fusion helped to create one of the most loathesome brands of music (that music you hear in an elavator, or at the dentist's office counting backwards from ten, ready to get your teeth drilled, that's all watered down imitations of what jaco was doing), his electric bass playing revolutionized the way the electric bass was viewed in the jazz community. before jaco it was anathema to use an electric bass on jazz tunes, but after jaco, every bass player wanted to play the electric bass just like jaco. and therein lies the problem. jaco's recorded music, incorparated way to many styles of music, thus making his music a goulash of neutered world/jazz music. this was only made worse when the imitators got a hold of his style, and thus was born: dentist jazz (as i like to call it). sorry to any real jazz enthusiast for my lame definitions of jazz terms. anyway jaco, being a genius jazz player, had to also have a serious drug/drink problem as well as serious mental issues. jaco was very abrasive and repeatedly lost control of his behaviour. one night he lipped off to the wrong person: a club owner with a black belt in karate. he proceeded to beat him to death, literally. well as you can see, this is all very compelling reading, even if it is a very cliched brilliant musician/junky tale. it was entertaining enough. for anyone interested in what all the fuss was about, check out this youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25DXcF...

pretty bad ass stuff. enjoy! ...more

5

Nov 13, 2014

I wasn't really sure what to think about this book since I had read Pat Metheny had issues with it. I also found out Pat was able to write a forward to subsequent editions. Nevertheless, Jaco's life was taken way too soon by an over-zealous bouncer. I remember when I had heard that Jaco was murdered-- essentially, that is what happened. I still think that Jaco is one of the few musicians who transcended his instrument-- Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix are a few others-- and was able I wasn't really sure what to think about this book since I had read Pat Metheny had issues with it. I also found out Pat was able to write a forward to subsequent editions. Nevertheless, Jaco's life was taken way too soon by an over-zealous bouncer. I remember when I had heard that Jaco was murdered-- essentially, that is what happened. I still think that Jaco is one of the few musicians who transcended his instrument-- Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix are a few others-- and was able to define an approach to music. Through Jaco's transformation of his instrument, he redefined the roll of the bass as a member of an ensemble. Unfortunately, I think the book spent too much time focused on Jaco's personal experiences and not enough on his musical genius. Still, the book did humanize Jaco and give us a glimpse of what he was going through. ...more

5

Jan 04, 2013

Took a short break to Re-read Bill Milkowski tremendous work on Mr. Pastorius
Having seen Weather Report during his heyday and subsequently with the Word of Mouth Band. I remembers being amazed by the speed and brilliance of ideas being put forth.
Little did I know of the mania that was fueling Jaco's work.

While it is understood that you cannot save someone from themselves as this book so aptly displays, in retrospect this work stands as an indictment against a system that throws away it's artists Took a short break to Re-read Bill Milkowski tremendous work on Mr. Pastorius
Having seen Weather Report during his heyday and subsequently with the Word of Mouth Band. I remembers being amazed by the speed and brilliance of ideas being put forth.
Little did I know of the mania that was fueling Jaco's work.

While it is understood that you cannot save someone from themselves as this book so aptly displays, in retrospect this work stands as an indictment against a system that throws away it's artists when they are no longer easily consumable.

There is a greater issue of mental health care for those of us in the lower classes but that continues to play itself out on a greater stage as time goes by in America.

Mr. Milkowski has set forth a cautionary tale of genius that is still as strong as the music that remains.
...more

3

Sep 04, 2016

Kindle Blew It

Definitely a 4-star book presenting the chronology of the career and life of one of the most important musicians, composers, and band leaders of our time. Jaco Pastorius was a genius and a phenomenon. Milkowski deftly separates the legend from the man, keeping the music at the forefront, while presenting hard evidence that our current protocols for approaching mental illness are tragically inadequate. If Jaco couldn't be helped, is there hope for the rest of us? The reader finishes Kindle Blew It

Definitely a 4-star book presenting the chronology of the career and life of one of the most important musicians, composers, and band leaders of our time. Jaco Pastorius was a genius and a phenomenon. Milkowski deftly separates the legend from the man, keeping the music at the forefront, while presenting hard evidence that our current protocols for approaching mental illness are tragically inadequate. If Jaco couldn't be helped, is there hope for the rest of us? The reader finishes this book with greater insight and appreciation for Jaco Pastorius' innovation and body of work as well as a profound respect for the men and women who dedicate their lives to their craft. Who loves ya, Jaco!
Three stars because my Kindle edition was chock full of typos and missing pictures. ...more

3

Jun 06, 2012

I recommend this book for any Jaco fans, or jazz fans in general, but you should approach it knowing that Jaco's family and many of his friends and peers have cast a lot of doubt on much of what is presented. There are some very entertaining stories, and even if you take everything said here with a few grains of salt it is still a worthwhile read. Hopefully the upcoming documentary takes a few steps towards setting the record straight.

3

Apr 03, 2013

This was one of the saddest things I've ever read. Being a musician, I was very aware of Jaco and his ability on the fretless bass, however, I was totally unprepared for the bizarre antics he exhibited throughout his personal and professional life. Heartbreaking. A must read for Jaco fans.

5

Sep 19, 2012

The truth about the "Hendrix of the bass". Also serves as a cautionary tale for young musicians and artists. The man was a troubled genius for sure, but I will be forever grateful for his contribution to my craft. Truly the world's greatest bass player, bar none.

4

Aug 05, 2014

Jaco was an incredibly unique and explosive musician. Alcohol and cocaine were his demise. Lots of awesome stories in this book, but I felt that the biographer held back from going into too much detail which was disappointing.

2

Sep 12, 2008

If you are interested in Jaco specifically, it's worth the time. However, poorly written.

5

Oct 23, 2016

The life of one of my musical heroes told in detail. I absolutely love this book.

5

Apr 05, 2008

A captivating look into the troubled and chaotic life of the greatest bass player the world has ever known.

4

Feb 14, 2016

If you know any of his music and/or his work with Weather Report this is a great read. Very talented, yet such a tragic end.

4

Aug 06, 2013

finished readings this - what a very sad story, what a genius of a musician - how truly awful he suffered and made those around him suffer too.

4

Mar 26, 2013

What a tragic story, the life of the greatest electric bassist who ever lived. The last few years of his life had me close to tears.

3

Mar 01, 2010

Great book. I just finished reading it yesterday.
I cannot stop listening to Weather Report!!
Yuka