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IMPORTANT NOTICE
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www.zawinulfans.org website.
To see the new website,
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An
Interview with Ingrid Pastorius According
to the announcement given in our News section, the Pastorius
recently launched his official website. It is an important
event for all of us, Jaco's lovers and supporters. You can
visit this new site at the following addresses: In
occasion of these good news, Ingrid Pastorius accepted to
answer to some questions: Mrs.
Pastorius, can you tell us something about your first
meeting with Jaco ? I
had just moved into my brother Paul's street in Fort
Lauderdale, and since he was a local musician, drummer to be
specific (Word of Mouth, Birthday Concert), he use to let me
know of some of the good gigs around town. One day I heard
Paul, and some other friends, and musicians talking about
Jaco. There was this buzz going on around town... one could
feel the energy......this excitement of anticipation,
because whenever Jaco was home off the road, to the locals
it meant that he would surely be sitting in on some gig
somewhere, at some point, but never knowing when, or
where.... So everyone was on some "high", the whole time
hoping and wishing. Believe me when I say, you could FEEL
the buzz.... Of course, when that moment came, we were all
there, I shall never forget it.... It was at the Players
Club; Jaco sat in with Alex Darqui (keyboard), and Rich
Franks (drums). Rich, by the way, is the reason why Jaco
even plays bass, because it was he who took over Jaco's job
on the drums, while with the Las Olas Brass band, during the
Teen Town days. What
was Jaco's attitude in his private life, at home and with
the family ? Jaco,
first and foremost, was a man who adored his children, and
always made them feel special. Believe it or not, he was
someone who knew how to relax, and when he was on the road,
couldn't wait to go home and mow the lawn. That might sound
funny, but it is true, he loved the outdoors, so we did a
lot of camping, hiking, going to the beach, and working in
the yard. He did most of the maintenance on his home
himself, whether it was electrical wiring, painting, or
fixing. On Joni's tour Lyle Mays taught him to juggle.... It
became one of his favorite pastimes; he made sure he had
balls with him almost everywhere he went.
When
Jaco was not on tour, at home, did he spend much time
playing the instrument ? I
am not sure what would be considered playing the instrument
much, but yes, he played it often. Sometimes he would go
days without playing the bass, but then one day he would
play it for several hours straight, rarely through an amp,
but always as if he was giving the performance of his
life.... The other days he mostly worked on his Prophet 5,
or piano, composing or recording on his four track. We
know that Jaco loved Zawinul's music since the Cannonball
Adderley period. Do you think that Jaco was influenced by
Cannonball's music ? I
can not say for sure, of course, but I will say that he was
influenced by anything he was attracted to, surely one can
feel, and hear most of his influences, and the Cannonball
groove, I think, was there.... Can
you tell us something about the first encounter between Jaco
and Joe Zawinul ? I
was not there when it happened, but what I heard was about
Jaco's persistence to have Joe listen to the tape he had
from his first recording session. Weather Report happened to
be in town at that time, and Joe reluctantly agreed to meet
with him. After listening, Joe asked him if he could play
the electric, to which Jaco informed him that that is what
he had been listening to. I guess this was the beginning of
Weather Report: The Jaco Years. What
can you say about the relationships between Jaco and Zawinul
? Somebody said that Zawinul was like a father for him, and
that the Jaco's departure from the Weather Report left him
without this important point of reference. What is your
opinion about this ? I
am not sure whom you mean was left without the important
point of reference, but if you are talking about "Zawa-head"
(Jaco's name for him), then I would say that might have been
so. I know there was a deep respect, caring, and musical
connection between the two of them. To me, after Jaco left,
WR just wasn't the same anymore. Perhaps "the son" needed to
go out and see the musical world through his own eyes, but I
know Jaco always felt himself to be the "third member" of
the band, and was looking forward to going "back home" some
day. Just too bad it never happened. WR is still my most
favorite jazz/fusion band, no one else has even come close,
and so is it for my sons Julius and Felix, who listen almost
every day to WR from that period. And
the relationships with the others band's members, e.g. Wayne
Shorter ? In
Jaco's eyes (and ears) there was no other horn player who he
respected more than Wayne. He and Wayne had a very
comfortable relationship, and Jaco always felt close to him
and his family. In
1977, Jaco was already co-producer of the "Heavy Weather"
album, that really changed the history of fusion music....
Glad
you put it that way; it certainly felt as such for most
people. Jaco was self-taught, not only on his instrument, or
in composing, but also in the recording studio. This man
knew how to take care of business, and did it well. Can
you give us some more information about the genesis of the
Jaco's compositions in Heavy Weather, "Teen Town" and
"Havona" ? "Teen
Town" was a reference to this club for teens in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, where Jaco use to play at as a
teenager. I think he had many fond memories from that
period. "Havona" was named from Jaco's reading of the
Urantia. In the book, Havona is a particular place. Both
these compositions occurred before I met him.
And
then the "Mr. Gone" period, we imagine that the stress was
high, because of the high number of live concerts...
"Mr.
Gone", not a favorite amongst some, but I think there is
more to it then one can see. For me, personally, "Mr. Gone"
is right up there with "Heavy Weather". In addition it has
Punk Jazz and River People, can't get better than that,
though maybe I am partial to this release because I was
fortunate to join Jaco on this tour. I think it was then
when they did something like 43 concerts in 45 days...... The
8:30 album was registered in January and February 1979. Can
you tell us something more about this period, and about the
idea to record a live album? Yes,
from what I remember, they all felt good about their
performance on that tour, and live recordings were made. In
addition they recorded the same set-list at a studio in Los
Angeles, with approximately one hundred friends, and family
members present. Guess some of us were lucky enough to have
witnessed a private WR concert, awesome! Have
you some detail for us about the genesis of the "Three Views
of A Secret" song ? I
must say that this tune is one of my favorites, well, the
most favorite.... Jaco had just moved into my little
apartment, and soon thereafter received the Prophet 5 he had
ordered, replacing the bulky Oberheim. It was then that
"Three Views" was born...Initially it bore my name, but I
felt uncomfortable about the idea at the time. I do not
regret making him change it, for I just simply love the name
it is now. Actually, I think he said he stole that title
from his friend and guitarist Charlie Brent...... What's
your opinion about the interruption of the musical
relationships between Zawinul and Jaco, and the departure of
Jaco from the Weather Report ? For
me, personally, it was a sad occasion, for I think that they
were in the middle of making some beautiful music...and, me
being a listener, I felt there was a loss. I know that Jaco
needed to take charge over his own direction, and "Word of
Mouth" was something he really wanted to do. I remember how
hopeful he was that Joe and Wayne, his mentors, would like
what he had done with that release. After
the separation from WR, did the relationship with Zawinul
continue? I
don't think they saw much of each other, but of course Jaco
loved Joe, and Wayne, and who knows what would have been in
store for them if things hadn't gone the way they did... And
then the Jaco's experience as band leader. In the "Word of
Mouth" album, Jaco play a Beatles song, "Blackbird". Jaco
liked the Beatles ? Jaco,
in my opinion, was a natural, and great band leader, who was
able to draw the best out of all of the musicians. Yes, I
believe Jaco listened to the Beatles, liked and respected
them. He was really upset when John died. In
1986 Jaco toured with Bireli Lagrene. Can you tell us
something about the Jaco's relationships with this wonderful
guitar player ? I
do not know much about the relationship itself, but I have
no doubt Jaco loved Bireli, as a man, and as a player. I
think Lagrene is one of the best, and I would love to have
seen more collaborations. Bireli is a personal friend of the
twins and I. In
the last years of his life, Jaco had a very difficult
psychological period; in your opinion (we imagine that is
very hard to give an answer to this question), what were the
causes of this ? There
were many causes at hand, some are very difficult to
understand, but I would say, the most important factor is
that Jaco was a good man, in the complete sense of the word.
He was kind, and loved people, all people... he "wore his
heart on his sleeve", and as an artist of his caliber, he
was often vulnerable to the music industry. I believe it ate
him up, then spit him out.. he often felt hurt by it. Sadly
he also had a disposition to a mental condition, bi-polar
manic depression, which was triggered by stress, and
self-medication through alcohol and drugs. Since the illness
was not as familiar to the world as it is now, help came too
late. What
are the things that you remember more gladly of Jaco ?
His
naturalness about everything. He was so strongly connected
to the heavens and the earth...and truly saw himself as a
conduit between them both, while expressing their secrets
through his music. As Joni once said, he is the face of the
man on the moon. We
know that your son Felix played recently with the Robert
Thomas band. We'll have a new Pastorius on the bass ! It is
great ! Yes!!!
Thank you. Actually, Bobby and Felix formed a band
together.... be on the look out! :o)
We
are very grateful to Mrs. Pastorius for her attention and
courtesy, and we think that these words will be very
interesting for all our readers. So,
we thank again Ingrid, and much much luck for your future
projects !!!
Some interesting Links: The
photos are courtesy of Ingrid Pastorius
Clicca qui per la versione
italiana di questa pagina
by
Marco
Piretti,
Joe Zawinul Unofficial Italian Fan Site
www.jacop.net
or www.jpastorius.net.
Jaco
and Ingrid Pastorius with Robert Thomas
Jr.
Jaco
Pastorius with "Las Olas Brass Band" at Teentown,
1967
Ingrid, Julius and Felix Pastorius
Jaco is one of the most important musicians of this century,
and his real importance will be understood only in the
future, we guess.
By our side, we'll continue to pay attention to his new
website, and to his sons who seem to be great musicians, too
!
The
Jaco Pastorius Family Official
Website
www.jacopastorius.com
Ingrid
Pastorius interview on the Joni Mitchell's official
website