I was turned on to Weather Report by my boss at sandwich shop in Madison around 1978. This song will forever remind me of the train station where I slept outside the night that Patti Smith played Florence Italy in 1979. Some guy was playing this tape on a boom box.
The main terminal. I don't recall the name. I was back there about 12 years later and it looked smaller.
The most impressive Italian train station is/was the one in Milano. I love the stand up espresso bars with the huge silver sugar bowls and long spoons. Decadent!
This music does reflect the title: Even if you don't buy the premise of pursuit with all that directionality, even a casual listener would have to admit that the piece evokes movement.
He was a gifted and troubled man. Those things sometimes go together. He tried to treat his mental illness by self-medicating, and once again, as is often the case, that did not work out well.
I truly feel sorry for him - to be able to play as he did, to totally reset the world of electric bass playing as he did, to create, on his own, a new vision for that instrument, is an amazing accomplishment and then get are out of whack as he did - that is heart breaking. He died way too young, but those he influenced are still carrying on his way of playing.
Watch a closeup of him playing with his right thumb braced on the lowermost pickup - others may do that now, but I think he originated it. Plus - he removed the frets. I am in awe of his musicianship - he was impressive as all get out.
9 comments:
Joe Zawinul was brilliant. His work with Cannonball Adderley was among my favorite - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy!
Jaco Pastorius - what can I say - he was the best bass player who ever lived, and he would tell anyone that.
I was turned on to Weather Report by my boss at sandwich shop in Madison around 1978. This song will forever remind me of the train station where I slept outside the night that Patti Smith played Florence Italy in 1979. Some guy was playing this tape on a boom box.
Was that the SMN Termini?
The main terminal. I don't recall the name. I was back there about 12 years later and it looked smaller.
The most impressive Italian train station is/was the one in Milano. I love the stand up espresso bars with the huge silver sugar bowls and long spoons. Decadent!
Never made it there, never will. I would love to see an opera at La Scala, and see the Duomo, but that's not going to happen in this lifetime.
Took the train from Milan to Florence, pleasant day.
This music does reflect the title: Even if you don't buy the premise of pursuit with all that directionality, even a casual listener would have to admit that the piece evokes movement.
I just read up on Jaco Pastorius. He sounds like a cross between Flea and Charles Bukowski.
He was a gifted and troubled man. Those things sometimes go together. He tried to treat his mental illness by self-medicating, and once again, as is often the case, that did not work out well.
I truly feel sorry for him - to be able to play as he did, to totally reset the world of electric bass playing as he did, to create, on his own, a new vision for that instrument, is an amazing accomplishment and then get are out of whack as he did - that is heart breaking. He died way too young, but those he influenced are still carrying on his way of playing.
Watch a closeup of him playing with his right thumb braced on the lowermost pickup - others may do that now, but I think he originated it. Plus - he removed the frets. I am in awe of his musicianship - he was impressive as all get out.
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