Jaco

John Francis Pastorius III (1951–1987) revolutionized the electric bass in innumerable ways. He turned it into a soulful, harmonic and groovy instrument, but also acted as a bridge between rock and jazz audiences. Pastorius became known mostly through the jazz supergroup Weather Report but also from his collaborations with the folk singer Joni Mitchell. Finnish on his mother´s side, Pastorius died at only 35. According to himself he was the greatest bass player in the world, but in the end all his clothes could be fitted in his bass carrying case. As often happens, talent and fame bring about the negative side of success, and in the last years of his eventful life Jaco ended up living in parks. As witnesses to his tragic tale and multi-faceted persona we see and hear such legendary musicians as Flea, Sting, Herbie Hancock, Bootsy Collins and Carlos Santana. The true gems of Paul Marchand´s and Stephan Kijak´s documentary though are the delicious and rare live shows that act as eye-witness accounts to the genius of this man. Pastorius gave the bass a new and unique voice and that four-stringed instrument will never experience anything like it again. (OK) (Midnight Sun Film Festival)