Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius (1978) (1LP Vinyl) - Near Mint (NM)

Condition: Used

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM)

Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Jaco Pastorius by Jaco Pastorius.

Few debut albums announce a new voice as boldly as this 1976 self-titled statement from Jaco Pastorius. From the opening moment, the record makes its case that the electric bass could stand at the very center of a modern jazz recording, capable of melody, harmony, and rhythm all at once. It arrives on Epic, released by CBS Inc. in 1976, and it remains one of the most influential jazz records of its decade.

The program opens with an audacious solo bass reading of Charlie Parker's "Donna Lee," a bebop line most players would leave to a saxophone, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. Side A moves through the vocal warmth of "Come On, Come Over," the harmonic beauty of "Continuum," the medley "Kuru / Speak Like A Child," and the unaccompanied harmonics of "Portrait Of Tracy," a piece that would become required listening for generations of bassists.

Side B pushes further into texture and color, from the layered "Opus Pocus" to the unusual pairing of bass with congas and French horn on "Okonkolé Y Trompa." "(Used To Be A) Cha-Cha" and "Forgotten Love" round out a set that balances virtuosity with genuine compositional depth, never treating technique as an end in itself.

The supporting cast underscores the album's stature. Randy and Michael Brecker appear courtesy of Arista Records, David Sanborn courtesy of Warner Bros. Records, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter courtesy of Columbia Records, Lenny White courtesy of Nemperor Records, and Hubert Laws courtesy of CTI Records. Hancock also contributes the liner notes, lending the endorsement of one of the era's defining bandleaders. Bobby Colomby produced the sessions for Colomby Productions.

The record was recorded and mixed at Camp Colomby Studios in New City, New York, with additional recording at Columbia Recording Studios C&B in New York City. Engineering duties fell to Dave Palmer at Camp Colomby and Don Puluse at Columbia, with assistant work from Ted Hammond and Ted Brosnan. The package carries design by Anthony Maggiore and Ed Lee, with photography by Don Hunstein, and direction from Fred Heller Management Enterprises.

Pressing details reward the careful collector. Copies feature the blue gradient Epic labels with rim text, and the runouts are stamped, though a second variant carries an etched side A runout rather than a stamped one. The Pitman 'P' plant stamps are notoriously faint, nearly invisible on inspection. Some US copies also carry a back cover sticker noting distribution for Canada, a detail present on only a portion of the pressing. Marked with Ⓒ 1976 CBS Inc. and Ⓟ 1976 CBS Inc., manufactured by Epic Records/CBS Inc.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Donna Lee
A2. Come On, Come Over
A3. Continuum
A4. Kuru / Speak Like A Child
A5. Portrait Of Tracy
B1. Opus Pocus
B2. Okonkolé Y Trompa
B3. (Used To Be A) Cha-Cha
B4. Forgotten Love

Credits:
Anthony Maggiore - Design
Ed Lee - Design
Ted Hammond - Engineer [Assistant, Camp Colomby]
Ted Brosnan - Engineer [Assistant, Columbia]
Dave Palmer (2) - Engineer [Camp Colomby]
Don Puluse - Engineer [Columbia]
Herbie Hancock - Liner Notes
Fred Heller Management Enterprises - Management [Direction]
Don Hunstein - Photography By
Bobby Colomby - Producer

Notes:
Blue gradient Epic labels with rim text.

Runouts are stamped except variant 2 side A runout etched. Stamped Pitman 'P's are nearly invisible.

Randy and Michael Brecker appear courtesy of Arista Records
David Sanborn appears courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter appear courtesy of Columbia Records
Lenny White appears courtesy ofNemperor Records
Hubert Laws appears courtesy of CTI Records

Produced for Colomby Productions.
Recorded & mixed at Camp Colomby Studios, New City, N. Y.
Also recorded at Columbia Recording Studios C&B New York City, N. Y.

Ⓒ 1976 CBS Inc. / Ⓟ 1976 CBS Inc.
Manufactured by Epic Records/CBS Inc.

Some US copies has a sticker at the back cover for distibution in Canada.
Not every copy of this release has it .

Artist: Jaco Pastorius

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Epic

Catalog Number: PE 33949

Release Year: 1978

Country: United States