Get the Jaco Newsletter | Spread the word Pastorius Family Q&A | Guest Artist Series | Writings | Interviews 3 Views, Remembering a Brotherby Gregory Pastoriusdaddy,just daddy to meby Mary Pastorius 20 YearsIt was 20 years ago today that Jaco Pastorius was tragically taken away from us. Even though he only lived 35 years he still left us with so many gifts. His music... his playing... they will live on forever. He accomplished the ultimate goal of every musician. He influences, he inspires, and he has changed peoples lives. For these things he will always be celebrated. But September 21st will always be a sad day for most people who knew or even heard of Jaco Pastorius. It is the day we all lost the best bass player that this planet will ever know. More importantly, we lost a son. We lost a brother. We lost a father of four children. We lost a friend....We love you and miss you Jaco!!John Francis Anthony Pastorius IIIDecember 1, 1951-September 21, 1987"Only a few musicians of the highest order are recognized by their sound, and Jaco ranks at the top of this short list. And only a few icons, musical or otherwise, are known worldwide by their first name only...mention 'Jaco' anywhere in the world, and you are greeted with such intense passion about the man and his music and his legacy. There's no question that Jaco left us many, many years too soon. But his musical impact couldn't have been stronger. Music was not the same after Jaco came on the scene.It was 20 years ago that his physical presence left us, destroyed by murder most foul. We all miss Jaco, and can only begin to imagine what musical riches he would have brought to us during these last 20 years (and beyond). And yet his musical message remains as vibrant now as when we all first heard his magical tone and unearthly rhythmic prowess.Sure, I remember Jaco by his music. But I remember him more by his smile and the terrific bits of advice he used to give me along the way. "Don't think so much...just concentrate" being my favorite.And now Jaco Pastorius and Joe Zawinul, the 2 baddest cats in the universe, are reunited.We used to tell a lot of jokes in Weather Report. Jaco was the best joke teller of all. Some of those jokes were about the kind of band that was in Heaven (or in Hell...). I know that the band in Heaven has never sounded better than it's sounding right now, and something tells me they're playing "Liberty City" or "Three Views of a Secret" as we celebrate and mourn and celebrate some more ... the gifts of our friend Jaco Pastorius. "Birdland" is on the set list, too ... you know it.Salute to Jaco and Joe, fallen comrades and friends.Peter Erskine--------------------------------------------------------------------------------"in the past 20 years, there hasn't been a day where jaco has not been on my mind. i miss him as a musician, but mostly as a friend."Pat Metheny--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jaco is undoubtedly one of my biggest musical influences and I shall never tire of hearing his performances and compositions. Though I've never been one to learn his tunes and licks per se, what he gave me was a vision of how powerful and important the role of bass can be. His adventurous musical spirit, his impeccable groove and aggressive style, his sound, his presence on and off the stage, his fire, his passion, his love of life and music, and always being willing to take chances, these are the gifts that Jaco gave to me. He is the reason I play fretless bass.When I met Jaco in 1985, it was an overwhelming experience for me, but a memory I will always treasure. I could not say anything meaningful to him, my lips would hardly move. For many years I have pondered the thought: "what would I really want to say to Jaco?" It's quite simple really, and holds true, both now and then: "Thank you Jaco. I love you."Tony Franklin--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Although I never met him personally or saw him perform live, Jaco has affected every part of my playing. He continues to help all of us become better musicians.Victor Wooten--------------------------------------------------------------------------------JACO PASTORIUS was a genius . . . . . You've heard that before many times ! BUT I BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE . . . .No matter what anyone says, in contrast, in support, in truth . . . . . .I think it's an undeniable truth . . . . He was a most gifted man that blessed us with music that could only be described as music that spoke the truth and was channeled through him from a most sophisticated yet naturally spirited and passionate place. He possessed a creative spark that most of us could only dream about . . . . . The bottom-line . . . . . He was a husband, a father, good man and a great musician by trade, that gave his family and those of us whom understood where he was coming from, a wonderful legacy of song, rhythm, poetic music and an almost unexplainable and magical soulfulness envisioned and embraced it all . . . . with a remarkable connection to something extremely wonderful and that was otherworldly . . . .He gave us a most beautiful voice in which he expressed himself from within . . . . From within the deepest depths of his being, that of which I had never heard before until he appeared on the scene, on the world stage so to speak . . . . . . . . .That voice will and should never be forgotten . . . . .HONESTLY . . . . .I miss Jaco . . . . . And from the deepest part of my heart and soul . .I will always embrace and wish him and his family well . . . . . .Jimmy HaslipE-mail this page to a friend Back to top © Jaco Pastorius, Inc. | Site Credits | Contact http://jacopastorius.com/features/writings/20years.asp