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Jaco: The Extraordinary and the Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius, "The World'S Greatest Bass Player"
The life story of the man who revolutionized the electric bass is an in-depth look at a tormented genius who achieved international fame and died tragically at a young age. First serial, Bass Player. IP.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
August 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.
August 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 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.
February 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.
June 15, 2024
Jaco Pastorius was a tortured genius who transformed the bass into a musical voice much in the same way Jimi Hendrix did with a guitar and Charlie Parker had accomplished with the saxophone. All three suffered from serious substance abuse and Jimi died at twenty-seven, Bird at thirty-four, and Jaco at thirty-five.
Jaco's father was a musician who was frequently on the road and he had his own issues with alcohol. This trait was passed onto his son with the added fuel of cocaine in his son's case.
Pastorius became a legend after joining the jazz-fusion band Weather Report. Even as a music lover with more than five hundred CDs, I am more of a traditional rock fan(Beatles, Pink Floyd. CCR, Stones), than a listener of that particular category of music, although I did attend a concert by Return to Forever in 1983. YouTube has enabled me to catch up on the extraordinary talent of Jaco in recent times.
As someone who has never used drugs, I am always puzzled by the way in which human beings indulge in self destructive behavior. Jaco, Jimi, Janis, Bird, and too many great artists have been lost to us through the years.
Jaco's downward spiral was a truly heartbreaking tale. His drug use and romantic relationships were volatile and, worst of all, he left behind four young children when he died from injuries after a fight with a nightclub bouncer in Florida. He had told friends that he would die young, possibly at thirty-three, the same age as Jesus at His death. The former altar boy had experienced a dream in which he was present at the Crucifixion. He never lost his faith and a photograph of his prayer card is included in the book.
The author interviewed Pastorius and played basketball occasionally on a court in Manhattan where Jaco often slept. Milkowski has written a sympathetic love letter to the lost soul.
Jaco's father was a musician who was frequently on the road and he had his own issues with alcohol. This trait was passed onto his son with the added fuel of cocaine in his son's case.
Pastorius became a legend after joining the jazz-fusion band Weather Report. Even as a music lover with more than five hundred CDs, I am more of a traditional rock fan(Beatles, Pink Floyd. CCR, Stones), than a listener of that particular category of music, although I did attend a concert by Return to Forever in 1983. YouTube has enabled me to catch up on the extraordinary talent of Jaco in recent times.
As someone who has never used drugs, I am always puzzled by the way in which human beings indulge in self destructive behavior. Jaco, Jimi, Janis, Bird, and too many great artists have been lost to us through the years.
Jaco's downward spiral was a truly heartbreaking tale. His drug use and romantic relationships were volatile and, worst of all, he left behind four young children when he died from injuries after a fight with a nightclub bouncer in Florida. He had told friends that he would die young, possibly at thirty-three, the same age as Jesus at His death. The former altar boy had experienced a dream in which he was present at the Crucifixion. He never lost his faith and a photograph of his prayer card is included in the book.
The author interviewed Pastorius and played basketball occasionally on a court in Manhattan where Jaco often slept. Milkowski has written a sympathetic love letter to the lost soul.
July 25, 2022
Odlična knjiga o (kako i naslov kaže) fenomenalnom i tragičnom životu Jaco Pastoriusa, verovatno najbojleg električnog basistu svih vremena.
Ako niste fan jazz muzike, nemojte da gubite vreme. Kao i svaka druga biografija o jazz muzičarima, detaljno objašnjava odrastanja, uticaj drugih muzičara, prve uspehe i naravno veliki pad usled droge, alkohola i mentalne bolesti.
Jaco Pastorius . ekstremno talentiran, bez formalnog muzičkog obrazovanja do ranih dvadesetih, koji je uveo nove tehnike sviranja, totalno novi pristup električnog basa u bilo kom jazz/blues formatu, ali kao i Joplin, Hendrix, Winehouse....žrtva stila života, uzaludne potrošnje talenta zbog alkohola i droge (redovna pojava kod jazz muzičara, i ne samo) i ostao samo deo velikih enciklopedija kao jedan od odabranih, ali nas obične smrtnike uskratio za njegove albume, koncerte, uticaj na druge.
Pisac Milkowski je bio prijatelj sa Pastoriusom pa ima "svo pravo sveta" da napiše njegovu biografiju, ali, kako je i sam gitarista, može da stručno komentira o sviranju, albumima....
Ako ste nekad slušali Weather Report, ili ste neki povremeni jazz fan, preporuka.
Ako niste fan jazz muzike, nemojte da gubite vreme. Kao i svaka druga biografija o jazz muzičarima, detaljno objašnjava odrastanja, uticaj drugih muzičara, prve uspehe i naravno veliki pad usled droge, alkohola i mentalne bolesti.
Jaco Pastorius . ekstremno talentiran, bez formalnog muzičkog obrazovanja do ranih dvadesetih, koji je uveo nove tehnike sviranja, totalno novi pristup električnog basa u bilo kom jazz/blues formatu, ali kao i Joplin, Hendrix, Winehouse....žrtva stila života, uzaludne potrošnje talenta zbog alkohola i droge (redovna pojava kod jazz muzičara, i ne samo) i ostao samo deo velikih enciklopedija kao jedan od odabranih, ali nas obične smrtnike uskratio za njegove albume, koncerte, uticaj na druge.
Pisac Milkowski je bio prijatelj sa Pastoriusom pa ima "svo pravo sveta" da napiše njegovu biografiju, ali, kako je i sam gitarista, može da stručno komentira o sviranju, albumima....
Ako ste nekad slušali Weather Report, ili ste neki povremeni jazz fan, preporuka.
January 24, 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 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!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25DXcF...
pretty bad ass stuff. enjoy!
October 24, 2012
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 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 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.
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.
February 3, 2018
As a Bass Player myself I must admit that my review might come off as biased. However I cannot stress how incredible this book really is. Jaco Pastorius was not only a unique bass player whose technique challenged (and changed) the status quo of the instrument? He was also a man whose life did the same!! From his humble beginnings as a boy who fell in love with music to his meteoric rise to fame and eventual fall from grace. Jaco Pastorius was (and in many instances still is) a man who could not settle for being just another person. This book is not only very moving but it is also inspiring to see what a person is capable of when focused as well as the self destruction that can come with success. Pick this book up, put on your favorite Jaco record and be prepared to travel back to a time when music meant more than people ever could've imagined.
March 8, 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.
September 3, 2026
I have been a fan of Jaco Pastorius for many years. He plays on one of my all time favorite albums, Joni Mitchell's Shadows and Light. His playing is just amazing there but then I have listened to him on many other albums and bootlegs. I will admit I have, known about this book for sometime and kept putting off buying it until it recently was on sale as an Audible so that made it a no brainer to get.
This story is masterfully told by someone who knew Jaco. It's a great tale and you really get a feel with regards to the type of person that Jaco was and how far he fell once he got in to the drink and drugs. I agree with a theory that it wasn't necessarily him being bi-polar that lead to his downfall but more something got triggered when his marriage to Tracey fell apart and it was downhill from there. This work does a brilliant job capturing the highs and lows that Jaco had in his all to short a lifetime.
I give this work 5 stars plus all around. As an Audible review, the narrator did a good job presenting the story. The story was extremely captivating. I highly recommend this to any musicians and to anyone that wants to see what the perils of genius can potentially lead to if one is not mindful.
This story is masterfully told by someone who knew Jaco. It's a great tale and you really get a feel with regards to the type of person that Jaco was and how far he fell once he got in to the drink and drugs. I agree with a theory that it wasn't necessarily him being bi-polar that lead to his downfall but more something got triggered when his marriage to Tracey fell apart and it was downhill from there. This work does a brilliant job capturing the highs and lows that Jaco had in his all to short a lifetime.
I give this work 5 stars plus all around. As an Audible review, the narrator did a good job presenting the story. The story was extremely captivating. I highly recommend this to any musicians and to anyone that wants to see what the perils of genius can potentially lead to if one is not mindful.
March 17, 2021
Jaco realmente lo tenía todo: groove, virtuosismo, identidad sonora, improvisación y astronómicos dotes para componer. Eso es algo que no se puede decir ni siquiera de los mejores bajistas contemporáneos y es un gran privilegio poder apreciar toda su trayectoria desde mi perspectiva como bajista. Jaco no era solo el mejor bajista, era el mejor músico de Jazz, Rock y Soul-una de esas que, ciertamente, nacen con ese dote natural cada 50/100 años.
Sufrida, ardua y sumamente triste vida personal que, lamentablemente, lo persiguió hasta el final de sus días. Es bastante obvio que Jaco estaba en medio de un episodio maníaco extremo. Es lamentable que nadie lo haya ayudado en el momento en que más lo necesitaba. Un final extremadamente penoso para una persona que supo transmitir tanta luz y emoción a través de su arte.
PD- Siempre que mi bandeja siga funcionando, tus huellas artísticas van a permanecer sonando.
Gracias eternas maestro y que viva el jazz!
Sufrida, ardua y sumamente triste vida personal que, lamentablemente, lo persiguió hasta el final de sus días. Es bastante obvio que Jaco estaba en medio de un episodio maníaco extremo. Es lamentable que nadie lo haya ayudado en el momento en que más lo necesitaba. Un final extremadamente penoso para una persona que supo transmitir tanta luz y emoción a través de su arte.
PD- Siempre que mi bandeja siga funcionando, tus huellas artísticas van a permanecer sonando.
Gracias eternas maestro y que viva el jazz!
July 5, 2023
This book almost landed in my lap as a cosmic gift from the universe.
I watched a documentary about Jaco less than 6 months ago, a recommendation I received from a college professor that lent me her DVD.
6 months later, after wanting to learn more about Jaco, I found this book in a "free library"...
This book filled in all of the gaps and questions that were left unfulfilled by the documentary, and it has only confirmed that Jaco remains to be one of the most polarizing characters, and talented artists, in the history of music.
I watched a documentary about Jaco less than 6 months ago, a recommendation I received from a college professor that lent me her DVD.
6 months later, after wanting to learn more about Jaco, I found this book in a "free library"...
This book filled in all of the gaps and questions that were left unfulfilled by the documentary, and it has only confirmed that Jaco remains to be one of the most polarizing characters, and talented artists, in the history of music.
September 11, 2024
I turned spoilers on just in case, but what hasn’t been said about Jaco? You might think you know Jaco, but this book does really well to encapsulate his whole life and the amount of digging and interviewing Milkowski put into this is just so awesome. He organized this book so well and it was really touching to hear so many perspectives from the entirety of Jaco’s career, like literally people who first jammed with him up to all the jazz giants who knew him. It’s really worth reading, it’s thrilling and hard to put down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2026
4.5
"He went from being the most beautiful thing ever created to sheer destruction!"
Listening to "Picture of Tracy" (still one of the most beautiful pieces written for bass, ever) you would never guess where the GOAT of bass guitar would end up. And yet, this biography, without going into overt theorizing about what really was going on in its hero's brain, does a pretty good job at presenting the complexity of the character that was Jaco Pastorius. It is not always pretty, but that is only natural.
"He went from being the most beautiful thing ever created to sheer destruction!"
Listening to "Picture of Tracy" (still one of the most beautiful pieces written for bass, ever) you would never guess where the GOAT of bass guitar would end up. And yet, this biography, without going into overt theorizing about what really was going on in its hero's brain, does a pretty good job at presenting the complexity of the character that was Jaco Pastorius. It is not always pretty, but that is only natural.
March 31, 2026
I’m not sure Jaco Pastorius’s life rises to the subtitle of extraordinary, but it certainly is tragic. His bass playing and composition, however? All the superlatives fall short of capturing his genius. This book provides intriguing insight to Jaco’s origins, playing style, and ultimate downfall with key personal commentary from the author. The deepest tragedy of it all is that he was born too soon for medicinal mental health assistance and matured into a society that turned its back on vulnerable people like Jaco—a Continuum we still live with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2024
Loved the first half. Hated the second half. The writing is excellent, but the story is so painful. It's just incomprehensible that a person who brought so much joy and beauty into the world could have lived like this. Hopefully we can start focusing on the 'extraordinary' part going forward and let the 'tragic' story fade into the background. BTW, in my humble opinion, The Greatest Musician of the Century!
November 27, 2025
The book itself is OK: well written, no factual mistakes that I could spot.
But the subject matter is problematic for me. I'm a bass player. I'm supposed to revere this guy. But I dont. I never did. He had talent, he had skills. But I never found him to be influential in the least. I'm sorry he had a rough time growing up, and I'm sorry he died the way he did. But I think he squandered his talent and the opportunities he had along the way.
But the subject matter is problematic for me. I'm a bass player. I'm supposed to revere this guy. But I dont. I never did. He had talent, he had skills. But I never found him to be influential in the least. I'm sorry he had a rough time growing up, and I'm sorry he died the way he did. But I think he squandered his talent and the opportunities he had along the way.
January 5, 2020
Un livre intéressant, mais trop centré sur les anecdotes de folies de Jaco. Cela fait partie de sa vie, mais il est avant tout un des plus grand bassiste de tous les temps. La musique m'intéresse, pas ses moments d'égarements. / An interesting book, but too much stories about his illness. What is all about for me, it's music side of Life, not the others bad things.
July 16, 2023
Heartbreaking
A great tragedy, well documented.
I must say I skipped the last section, which is just tributes and discography, but I get why they are included. They don't in any way diminish the value of the work even if you don't read them.
A great tragedy, well documented.
I must say I skipped the last section, which is just tributes and discography, but I get why they are included. They don't in any way diminish the value of the work even if you don't read them.
Read
February 9, 2026(he de dir q no me'l vaig acabar al 100% però... li vaig haver de tornar al meu profe i dubto poder tornar a tenir aquest llibre a les meves mans so... de totes maneres el q més em va interessar és el q aporta musicalment, no la seva vida com a tal)
Read
March 25, 2017im tran duc minh born 1973. im musical. i working at Radio the voice of vietnam.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 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.
March 12, 2018
Brilliant musician, deeply struggling individual.
November 25, 2020
It makes you feel you are there present witnessing his life, great book
February 6, 2021
Still a mystery to me, how could it happen..... But the book is comprehensive and enjoyable.
November 10, 2024
An amazing book about an amazing musician. So much I didn’t know about Jaco and his wild life which was ended too soon. Thank you Bill
March 5, 2017
A very sad story about a young, fantastic musician.
September 4, 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 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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews