Search - Lagrene, Pastorius :: Stuttgart Aria

A sad chapter in Jacos' life beter left unrecorded.

jazzbeau@mindspring.com | atl usa | 11/05/1999

(1 out of 5 stars)

"For those not familiar with Jacos life it goes something like this: artist 'invents' the fretless bass; artist propels super-group (weather report) to commerical and musical success; artist is hailed as "worlds greatest bass-player"; artist falls prey to substance abuse and mental illness; finially, artist is murdered. Along with Bird and Nijinsky, Jaco helped fuel the 'great artist as madman' to the point of cliche. His life was marked by incredible highs and equally incredible lows. Saddly the marerial was recorded when Jaco was all but 'gone' and, should never have been released. Please pass on this and buy any of his incredible CDs with W.R. or Jonie Mitchell."

Any Jaco is worth listening to...

Lord Grenvile | 11/11/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"...and this is doubly valuable in that it was recorded on professional equipment (not transcribed from a Walkman), and that it features gypsy guitar hotshot Bireli Lagrene. This is a studio recording, unlike the other two in the set _Heavy 'n' Jazz_ and _Live in Italy_. It's a competent set of jazz-funk, nothing magic, nothing tragic."

Have you Lost Your senses ? This is a very good Album !!!

Lord Grenvile | Neighborhood Bully ( Dig the song, dudes) | 01/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I ususally listen to it - together with Heavy n Jazz ( which is, admitedly - better [ if very different in style... ],

either b4 - to get myself in the mood - or after, to relax...

Bireli's playing here is Superb throughout, & it's only the material that keeps it from getting 5 stars.

The Standouts are tracks 4,5 & 8.( Jaco's Reggae is a Jem ! )

I also don't agree with the reviewr, that claims this is Jaco's worst - he plays just fine here. no sparks, indeed, just consistent precise playing. He is simply Overshadowed by Lagrenes performance; lets him lead the way, perhaps, but overal the playing is tight.

I could do without the first 2 tracks though: very blend material, the kind that makes people say "if that's fusiion - I don't like it!"... - but then the disk peaks up momentum:

track 3 is Funkey & fun and then it just gets better!

I could listen to track 4 in a loop !

There, I said it. 10x 4 reading my review - Now go & get your hands on every Bireli Disk you cab find !"