Word of Mouth Revisited
It's a grand gathering of the Lords of the Lower Frequencies: bassistsMarcus Miller,Victor Bailey,Victor Wooten,Jimmy Haslip,Christian McBride,Gerald Veasley, andRichard Bonaare united under a groove to celebrate their hero, Jaco Pastorius. Jaco's homeboy Peter Graves (who employed the bassist in his south Florida big band before he hit it big withWeather Reportin 1975) was the mastermind behind this awesome assembly. Under Graves's direction these Jaco gems, mostly from his Weather Report days and his first solo recording, highlight Pastorius' powerful influence. Of course, old standbys like "Havona," "Teen Town," and "Barbary Coast," with Haslip, Wooten, and Veasley, remain true to Pastorius' fluid, bullet-like basslines. The African-born Bona, arguably the most Jaco-like performer on the date, turns in a beautiful and eerie rendition of "Punk Jazz," which is contrasted by Marcus Miller's moreStanley Clarke-ish, avant/hip-hop take on the same tune. Jaco's voice is heard all through the CD, and through the magic of technology, his bass part (taken from a live recording) drives the R&B; bounce ofHerbie Hancock's "Wiggle Waggle."--Eugene Holley, Jr.