Jaco Pastorius Big Band: The Word is Out

Pastorius' big band roots go all the way back to his earliest professional development. Before the bassist got noticed, he had been working near his home in South Florida with the Peter Graves Orchestra. Graves, a trombonist who had learned the ropes working in the house band for The Jackie Gleason Show, led a jazz orchestra near the bassist's home. About ten years later, after Pastorius had made his claim to fame, his own Florida big band included Peter Graves among its members.

This tribute band plays the music of Jaco Pastorius, as well as other selections that the bassist and bandleader enjoyed performing before audiences all over the world. Quite naturally, the album features electric bass (in the hands of a series of players) along with other contemporary sounds that capture the essence of Jaco's passionate fury. Soloists such as Ed Calle, Mike Stern, Toots Thielemans and Bob Mintzer provide beautiful themes that recall Jaco's love for lyricism.

The program outlines both smooth, lyrical qualities and fiery, forcefully driving rants. "Three Views of a Secret flows evenly with a powerful melodic approach that features Calle on soprano. The band's mellow interpretation warms the heart. "Dania provides a fast romp that features Mintzer on tenor and Randy Brecker on trumpet. "Word of Mouth features Arturo Sandoval in a hot affair that demonstrates his ample virtuosity. The big band interprets "River People with a down-home familiarity that features trumpeter Brecker and guitarist Randy Bernsen in a passionate high point.

The album closes with "Reza, which features Jaco Pastorius on bass, folded into the recording from an old tape which Graves had isolated. The band records around that, paying respects to a bassist and composer who left his mark on the music world with indelible ink.

Visit Jaco Pastorius on the web.

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