Rating: 
Summary: JACO!!!
Review: I was blown away by this book. It was soooo detailed. It went in-depth in every decade of his life. From his childhood to clubbin' to road gigs to fame even to very personal stuff. There are a lot of great photographs too. Being the HUGE Jaco fan I am I will read this book probably a few 100 times before I die. It keeps you interested in every chapter. I really like how Milkowski got so many bandmates and friends to come in and talk for the book. This is easily the best source out there for any Jaco seekers. Absolutely a masterpiece. We all love you and miss greatly Jaco!!!!! You live with us forever man!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Manipulate the groove not the facts.
Review: I was first turned on to Jaco while listening to some live Weather Report tracks. It wasn't his note choice, or speed that initially impressed me, but his ability to lock into Peter Erskine's groove and move the song by dropping a couple beats here and speeding up a little there. Jaco always played for the song, which led to me to look into his life.His childhood is interesting to see how gifted he was. It is apparent by the interviews of his brother and friends that he certainly had a god given knack for music. He would learn songs by ear very quickly and practiced the bass hours a day when he began. Arguably, the most forgotten portion of his life was his early days on tour where he honed his skills on the road. Jaco would later get gigs with the greatest fusion players in the world, but his personal life is highlited throughout the book showing how he could not cope with reality while in severe bouts of depression and it ultimately led to his tragic demise at the hands of a bouncer. This book is strongly recommended for any fan of music, but this book is absolutely essential for any bassist the life of Jaco is like the life of Jesus to Christians. His life will enlighten and sadden you while gaining knowledge of some of the most amazing music Americans have produced.
Rating:
Summary: Manipulate the groove not the facts.
Review: I was first turned on to Jaco while listening to some live Weather Report tracks. It wasn't his note choice, or speed that initially impressed me, but his ability to lock into Peter Erskine's groove and move the song by dropping a couple beats here and speeding up a little there. Jaco always played for the song, which led to me to look into his life. His childhood is interesting to see how gifted he was. It is apparent by the interviews of his brother and friends that he certainly had a god given knack for music. He would learn songs by ear very quickly and practiced the bass hours a day when he began. Arguably, the most forgotten portion of his life was his early days on tour where he honed his skills on the road. Jaco would later get gigs with the greatest fusion players in the world, but his personal life is highlited throughout the book showing how he could not cope with reality while in severe bouts of depression and it ultimately led to his tragic demise at the hands of a bouncer. This book is strongly recommended for any fan of music, but this book is absolutely essential for any bassist the life of Jaco is like the life of Jesus to Christians. His life will enlighten and sadden you while gaining knowledge of some of the most amazing music Americans have produced.
Rating:
Summary: Bass is over
Review: Jaco Pastorious did all that was possible on the bass. The instrument is done. I have played the bass for 23 years and can honestly say that there will never be another bassist of his kind. Just like Charlie and the sax.
Rating:
Summary: Bass is over
Review: Jaco Pastorious did all that was possible on the bass. The instrument is done. I have played the bass for 23 years and can honestly say that there will never be another bassist of his kind. Just like Charlie and the sax.
Rating:
Summary: Quite sad yet exemplary biography of a jazz legend.
Review: Jaco Pastorius was one of the greatest jazz bassists that ever lived.
his rise to stardom with WEATHER REPORT and WORD OF MOUTH asssured his mark in history.
Yet, this book, excellently written by Mr. Bill Milkowski shows how pressures in personal and professional life can change a person into a shell of what they once had been.
Mr. Milkowski has written this book in a format that is very personable; it is like you know Jaco
Pastorius. As a musician myself, I do feel that this book can be difficult for those who have no knowlege of jazz or music
to catch on to the theory and jargon that is within the text. But, it is certainly vital for those who wish to learn more about Jaco the artist and Jaco the man.
Rating:
Summary: Finally-- somebody said it!
Review: Jaco was the greatest bass player the world has ever known. I met him when I got to NYU; he gave a friend bass lessions in the mid 1980's; we listen to him in the park between classes whenever he was plugged in; he played basketball in the neighborhood, and made collect calls to Paul Butterfield from the Red Lion to goof on him. He was the certainly the candle that burned brightest downtown. And when he jammed in at the Lone Star when it was on 5th avenue, it would burn your hair off! The guy would jump from table to table with a wireless, fretless bass running riffs that were just the most remarkable thing you could ever hear (check him out on Joni Mitchel's Live album with Pat Metheney and M. Brecker). He also got caught up in hard drugs, and it was sad to watch him around Washington Square between classes, as he was falling apart. And when my neighbor, a bar back at the Hard Rock at the time, came home to tell me who his new bass teacher was, I almost fell down. He'd use the small change to get fixed. When he died, we were sick all day. I am so glad this book was written, and with that title because it is certainly true. And I am the frustrated musician who would know! RIP Jaco-- GREAT Title!
Rating:
Summary: Finally-- somebody said it!
Review: Jaco was the greatest bass player the world has ever known. I met him when I got to NYU; he gave a friend bass lessions in the mid 1980's; we listen to him in the park between classes whenever he was plugged in; he played basketball in the neighborhood, and made collect calls to Paul Butterfield from the Red Lion to goof on him. He was the certainly the candle that burned brightest downtown. And when he jammed in at the Lone Star when it was on 5th avenue, it would burn your hair off! The guy would jump from table to table with a wireless, fretless bass running riffs that were just the most remarkable thing you could ever hear (check him out on Joni Mitchel's Live album with Pat Metheney and M. Brecker). He also got caught up in hard drugs, and it was sad to watch him around Washington Square between classes, as he was falling apart. And when my neighbor, a bar back at the Hard Rock at the time, came home to tell me who his new bass teacher was, I almost fell down. He'd use the small change to get fixed. When he died, we were sick all day. I am so glad this book was written, and with that title because it is certainly true. And I am the frustrated musician who would know! RIP Jaco-- GREAT Title!
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking
Review: Mr. Milkowski did a marvelous job of telling the story of "The World's Greatest Bass Player". It made me sad to read, though.
I gave this review the title "Heartbreaking" because I knew Jaco. We were not close freinds, but I used to run into him often; we both lived in New York City. Now, everyone who lived in NYC at the time had a "Jaco Story"; some outrageous anecdote of his antics. But I'd like to share something a bit different.
One night Jaco and I were hanging out in the Village. He and I were talking, mostly about music. But in the midst of the conversation, he told me "You know, I tell people that I like to party and take chances; but the truth is I wish I could give up drinking and drugs. But I don't know how". I didn't know what to tell him, and I don't remember how I replied; nor can I say what prompted him to say this to me.
Four years later he left town and never returned.
Despite his demons and his sickness; in addition to Jaco being an astonishing musician, he was, when he was "himself", a really nice and likeable guy.
Rating: 
Summary: Could not put the book down!
Review: Thats right ,as soon as I got this book I read it,cover to cover!
This book is very informative on this "bass god". And the
end of his life was very sad. It explains, who he got,
started ,down to where he was touring with Weather Report
in Japan,and he was not talking his medication (he was
Manic-Depressive),his behavior was very strange. A must buy
for any body that has heard of this great bass player! RIP...
| 
