Jaco Pastorius - Portrait of Tracy - bass performance

Jaco's masterpiece...played with my Peavey J-84 Liberator - Neck pickup 90%, Bridge 100%. If I hadn't played the intro and those C Maj 7th chords incorrectly throughout I would be happier with it but I am grateful to get this far with it. Also, I know there are three notes at the end harmonic but guess what?...I can't reach it so I only play the top two. I know it's not perfect or a proper "lesson" so thanks for listening.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jaco
• Pastorius
• Portrait of Tracy
• harmonics
• bass
• liberator
• j-84
• zuma
• zumaz

[ZappaFan101]

Great job! I have always felt that all bass players should learn this, or at least hear the tune. At the time, no one was doing the stuff Jaco did. It's an excellent example of what you can really do beyond the role of traditional bass playing. And yes, that last harmonic chord is a nightmare to pull off. I play it the same way you do - I just play the two higher notes. As a matter of fact, I don't recall anyone on youtube that played it the way Jaco played it. Its the stretch from hell.

[zumazmusic]

@ZappaFan101 - Indeed it is a stretch from hell! Thanks for the great comment. I agree with you, it should be a staple to at least be familiar with it.

[janethelion]

Wow- I never knew the intro to this could be that funky. Nice job!

[zumazmusic]

@janethelion - Thanks, I really appreciate it.

[Skeedaddy91]

hey man great job! Would you take a look at my version and give me tips about the settings? I'm kinda of a bass-newbie so I don't know that much! Yeah your video is absolutely Ok, very rich and clear tone...How did you do? :)

[zumazmusic]

@Skeedaddy91 - I just looked at your version and I think it's great! Keep it up. You are pretty damn good! As to your other question - I record bass seperately in ProTools and then I mix the video in using Sony Vegas. It's a lot more work but I think the sound is worth it when compared to most built-in camera microphones.

[mediatesilent]

great rendition. i think the harmonic at :39 is false, it seems like you play the actual root note.

[sprintbass]

i think that j84 sounds alot like an aria... ive never come across one of those in real life.. when i play this song i do it on my fretless its just easier for me...i hope that bouncer in florida who killed jaco has a long painful death...it makes me so mad he was taken from us how he was..i heard he (bouncer) got off easy..id love to take a jazz fretless bass and play tennis with his head...terrible loss.

[adebicki]

@zumazmusic yeah man, i like your version a lot. very clean and rich. i didn't know it was so involved.

[adebicki]

@zumazmusic yeah man, i like your version alot. very clean and rich. i didn't know it was so involved.

[maazisworld]

Very nice!

[danmo1993]

awesome job man!

check out my cover btw - let me know what you think :P

watch?v=JWUBdyjGpLk

[basssheasd4]

@zumazmusic Very nice!!!! im really trying to learn this cover !!!i grew up in the funk error .....all thumbs!!!!!!!!!! but im good at it!!!!