JACO PASTORIUS

For bassists, this is required listening. For everyone else, it's worth hearing, but not necessary to go out of one's way to get. The late Jaco Pastorius does some phenomenal things on his instrument, but for those uninterested in virtuosic showing off, this will hold little value.

"Donna Lee" Hand percussion accompanies Pastorius in a spirited romp of a bass solo during this rendition of a bebop jazz standard.

"Come On, Come Over" The short initial piece segues right into this louder track, which features vocals and variety of instruments.

"Continuum" Over light drums and electric piano, Pastorius delights the listener with a tranquil lead on his swamped-sounding fretless bass.

"Kuru / Speak Like a Child" A wild, avant-garde piano solo runs over Pastorius's mad-dash of a bass groove. Later, layers of strings and a more bossa nova sound arrive. It's an excellent piece that showcases the bassist's abilities as part of the rhythm section. Astringent strings mark the end of the track.

"Portrait of Tracy" An unofficial benchmark test for bassists, this solo piece employs natural and artificial harmonics, as well as regular notes, to the point that it sounds like more than one instrument.

"Opus Pocus" An avant-garde blend of steel drums, Pastorius's funky bass, and some light drums, begin this dreamy instrumental. The screeching soprano sax of Wayne Shorter wails in, and serves as the lead instrument throughout, even though the steel drums and Herbie Hancock's Fender Rhodes electric piano have their moments.

"Okonkole y Trompa" Subdued, this piece features percussion, electric bass (creatively employed), and soft bellows of the French horn.

"(Used to be a) Cha-Cha" Picking things up is this jazzier number, heavy on Hancock's masterful piano skills and the prowess of Hubert Laws's wind instruments. Pastorius reminds the hearer that this is his album, however, as he engages in a growlingly funky bass solo that makes up a generous portion of the first half.

"Forgotten Love" Lovely strings and piano conclude this album, and so far as I can tell, Pastorius refrains from performing on it.