We’ve been waiting for this one for the last decade; and thank god that someone with cash and time has managed to get it off the ground. Currently in it’s final stages and crowd-funding to get it across the line, the first proper feature-length documentary for Jaco Pastorius is looking to be released in the first half of next year,
Jaco Pastorius is a cornerstone on the musical map for many. From a musician’s point of view the guy practically invented the way to play electric bass. His self-titled debut album in 1976 broke new ground in composing for the instrument at the centre of a jazz group, and later that year he joined Weather Report. All of a sudden his insanely technical playing was reaching a wider audience, outside of core-jazz fans, and Pastorius was becoming known on his own.
As a teenage bass player I idolised the guy, and still remember the cat who introduced me to his music. Every time I picked up the Fender bass catalogue his custom ‘bass of doom’ model, made years after his passing, stood out like a sore thumb. The replica of the legendary single-pickup fretless guitar played by Pastorius even had the signature ‘beaten up’ look, like something you’d expect to find in a broken-down pawn shop. I could never afford one but it didn’t stop me acquiring a considerably cheaper fretless model to try and emulate his sound and style.
Jaco lived an extraordinary life. His charming attitude and lust for music was later somewhat overshadowed by his drug and alcohol problems in the alter years of his life. Jaco died aged 35 at the hands of a bouncer outside a club he wasn’t allowed to drink at. His recordings still speak for him though; it’s crazy how far above the rest of his contemporaries were, and unlikely anyone will ever come close to his unique level.
Rob Trujillo happens to feel the same way, and has been involved with producing a documentary on the greatest bass player to ever live. Evidently there’s been a few evolutions and direction changes along the way, but following a rough screening last month all signs were pointing to a quality production that digs deep in to the character.
To be honest, I was in two minds about Trujillo – as a member of one of the highest earning bands in the world right now – crowd-sourcing funds to finish a project that I thought he should be able to cover himself. But then I read this article on his involvement in returning ‘the bass of doom‘ to Jaco’s family, and realised how involved he is with this project for the right reasons: http://www.fender.com/news/metallicas-trujillo-rescues-jaco-pastorius-bass-of-doom/
Further to that, he’s also opened up the door for those of us emotionally invested to some degree to become a part of the project. We don’t shout a lot about crowd-funding projects on this space, more finished products that we come across, but this here is something worth getting involved in.
Head over here to check out the official details of Jaco – The Film and throw some cash at it for cool stuff: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/jacothefilm
Hola everyone, thanks for checking out our project. Jaco has always been a hero of mine and one of the reasons I play bass to this day. This film has been a project of love and passion for me. This amazing film has been four years in the making, and we need your help to get this film across the finish line!
Our film tells the story of Jaco Pastorius, a self-taught, larger than life musician who made an undeniable impact on music, and reinvented the electric bass; giving the instrument a powerful dynamic voice that had both edge and beauty.
We have assembled an offering of exclusives with PledgeMusic that reflect the documentary and draw upon some of Jaco’s friends and admirers. Pledge and become part of the journey of making this film a reality.
– Rob
Produced by Metallica’s Robert Trujillo in association with Passion Pictures, the film includes some incredible insights from an array of artists (Flea, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Geddy Lee, Bootsy Collins, Carlos Santana) as well as Jaco’s family, and friends. It unveils the story of his music, his life, his demise, and ultimately the fragility of great artistic genius.