Jaco Pastorius - City of Angels

[@tonosrecords]

I'm still in shock about the untimely passing of Paul Horn-Muller. While I never met him in person I had heard him play on many tapes that Ingrid let me listen to at the house in Deerfield. What a gifted musician, while being so humble and giving as a human being the way Ingrid was speaking of Paul. Just a few days prior to his passing I was in touch with him here on Facebook regarding a topic which came up when he posted a short comment on someone's posting of City of Angels which unfortunately never made it to any of the official album releases. According to some info on the net it was Michael Gerber on piano while I thought it sounded just like Herbie Hancock to me. So I decided to ask Paul as a first hand witness and actual participant in the recording session to reveal who really played on the track. Paul was kind enough to answer me quite elaborately. I decided to share this excerpt from our communication because I think all the friends and fans of Paul and Jaco will appreciate this true gem of historical facts to put things in perspective about the timeline and creative output which came from Jaco's genius and energetic/inspiring personality. Thanks to our friend Neil Weiss (who encouraged me to do so) I'm sharing my conversation with Paul here: "Hey Paul, I love your playing on the "City of the Angels". The Cello pan is blending so beautifully well with the timbre of Jaco's fretless! I always wondered who the piano player was on the recording. Is it Herbie or Michael Gerber? Paul's answer: "Herbie, my friend ... that day we were recording in NY and the day before we were in a larger studio with the big band recording Liberty City and we moved to the studio , smaller, to record City of Angels ... we were waiting for Othello but O’ got hung up in the city , and of course Jaco said let’s do this without 0’ .. and see what happens . I had my part down dead , because Jaco said/told me if I screwed up he won’t stop taping and he would snip me out ...heheheh, so I showed him i n one take ... ( I was scared ) Recorded as a quartet Herbie, Jack, Jaco and I , I wasn’t sure if I could do it without Othello, but if you knew Jaco , he could put the confidence in your gut . He flew the tape to Belgium to hook up with Toots. My bad Bobby (Thomas) on percussions was there .. Jaco hand wrote my part in cut time so it was easier for me to read when I practiced the tune over and over again ... I had to strike the notes on the pan in such a way that I could draw the note out of it , so a little on top , those were Jaco’s old pans , not the ones I used on the other cuts . His pans I used on Liberty City aswell... now you have a little history my friend . At the time Jaco was recording as much as he could enough for 2-3 albums , he was on a manic roll, between negotiations with Warner Bros and release, Jaco used all the resources he could , when using Peter’s(Yanilos) mobile unit and he was paying him by the day , to Jaco that meant more than a normal work day , all hours in a 24 hr period , he had the steel drums for Mysterious Mountain in Peter’s warehouse , Holiday for pans at criteria recording studios , rehearsals at Othello’s House ... I remember him go go go , I’ve never practiced so much non stop , sometimes I had to hide from Jaco ( so I can practice and prepare ) ... The exit from WR affected him deeply and turned that energy in to creating and creating so he wouldn’t start thinking (thinking slows you down , he would say) “ if you think ..it is already too late”..... by Jurgen

[@georgeeldridge7954]

Wow, you should be honoured ghat you have played on a session with some of the musicians ever without a doubt. Bless you.

[@scatnav]

Haaaah! Thanks... For years I thought it sounded just like Herbie, leaving out the obvious chord tones. Hints of "Used To Be A Cha-Cha"... Now I know.

[@tedpikul1]

That's a fantastic story, thanks for sharing it! It makes sense that Mr. Hancock was the one doing all of that daredevil stuff. Brilliant work on a brilliant track.

[@OscarSalasPercussion]

Although I am not listed in the credits I played percussion on this date along with Don Alias...

[@punkrockadict619]

what was jaco like

[@lowtone9]

What was Toots like?

[@CooManTunes]

What was like like?

[@daawedge9324]

OSCAR SALAS.......KICKS ASS.........God Bless YOU.......

[@pectenmaximus231]

Oscar Salas well then.. Thank you! So awesome.

[@free2bpoppie]

I have seen a lot of Jaco "bashers" who belittle his playing down to a few notes and a couple of riffs. The man changed an entire attitude towards an instrument that was seen as nothing more than a background addition to the real music being played! His contributions are still being felt, no matter what may be said! His playing allowed me to look beyond the lines, and stride out onto the page! I'm forever thankful to him for that!

[@steveball7133]

...well said :-)

[@numanuma20]

This isn’t him playing. This is song is on an album that had the master tapes stolen during the recording. Someone else played this part. Hi

[@MDugardin]

@@numanuma20 Just listen to this, man, that's Jaco playing here, my ears say so :)

[@francesconaddeo1491]

They understand nothing of music.

[@pacrimco]

Jaco and Toots live on forever through musical genius.

[@donovanholden7769]

Markfogarty1954, FYI, Othello played some beautiful pans on my upcoming album A Brighter Day. He’s on my tune, ‘Maria’s Potluck Wedding’. He’s older now, still in So Florida, and graciously agreed to do the recording. I may feel like I’m in heaven, but Othello’s still making beautiful music here on earth.

[@madbebopper]

Five thousand stars!!!!!!!! This music is filled with life and light! What a beautiful tune and such a great performance by all. JACO was a brilliant composer and this composition was one of his best. It was a tough thing to deal with when the front office people at Warner Bros. decided this record should not be released. Those knuckleheads couldn't hear this?? Once again the front office screwed up. I am forever a gigantic Jaco Pastorius fan. I wish he would have lived.

[@Theflowoflove]

Many thanks for uploading :-)) What a beautiful musical conversation.

[@StantoneMusic]

Hey check it out! I currently own that Morch 5 string Jaco is playing in the picture at 2:33, have the original in my collection! That bass is something else I bought it in 1999 and have recorded an played with it since. I spoke with johnny morch and he said " I'm glad a good bass player has it" he didn't say "great bass player" but look who we all have to compete with ! I think of Jaco and what he did for bass everyday! Since I'm from Florida though his name is basically a household name like cannonball & the Allman brothers and has been with me all my life.

[@LageYouTube]

Hey, you probably won't see this but if you do, could you send some pictures or audio of the bass? I run a project dedicated to Jaco ("Jaco Pastorius Archive") here, on Instagram and Facebook, though not as active on FB. There are couple more pictures of him with the bass. Also, just as a bass player, I'd love to hear more about that bass in general. It looks interesting

[@carolsampson2603]

Mr. Leroy Williams said you were the best. and my uncle. knew what it take to be qualified in the music world. he had a very special ear for good music.

[@marcogallesi5132]

FANTASTIC Jaco and Toots...genius!

[@charleslambiase5670]

imagine Jaco and Toots it must have been something else something that I wish I was there to witness

[@frederf69]

Great music & great pics of Jaco. Thanks for posting.

[@ebenezerzorewo789]

my favorite from jaco so far! ***** stars!!

[@MrIlvis]

Now Jaco and Toots are playing music in City of Angels. ;( Im crying of this music.

[@markfogarty1954]

from Holiday for Pans. Available only on bootleg, which is a crying shame. The suits thought this was crazy music and wouldn't release it. It is instead a work of quirky genius. When we all get to heaven I'm sure Othello will be playing pans at the Gates!

[@Zeppolino100]

I am of the opinion that the suits did more to contribute to Jaco's eventual downfall than is written. To be a genius prevented by empty-headed capitalists from reaching the public had to demoralize this very sincere creative artist.

[@marianocastrogiovanni1476]

Toots & Jaco, Geniality!

[@SteelDrumMusic]

Best song ever!

[@oldschoolbbass]

another nice jaco piece love it

[@tygerwardlaw7451]

wow this tune got pass me some how I love it I'm glad to hear it

[@3nthamornin]

R.I.P. Jaco. God of music. R.I.P. to the Goddess Ingrid.

[@sp4gsus]

Some of Jacos melodies are classic...this one and las olas are my 2 favorites

[@flame-sky7148]

My favorite part is when the guitar comes in. Man, Jaco was trying to get these recordings in dedication to his friend and steel drummer, Othello. What loyalty, what dedication for another human being!

[@skineyemin4276]

Hey! What did you not list the second percussionist? Oscar Salas? Why do so called lovers of music never seem list the other musicians?

[@joffyjazz]

Great piece!

[@Sandokanbass]

Beautiful thanks!

[@jazz65]

i hope that You'll met him again

[@PabloVestory]

Amazing! thank you so much! Could be here from were Pat Metheny Group got that great unison sound so characteristic in several tunes? from Toots+others 😮😂

[@janihakkinen8665]

pure beauty

[@tonosrecords]

R.I.P. Paul, my brother from another mother.

[@Tubulous123]

Yes!!! Thank you!!! 1Nation4Life

[@beatthekiyo]

cosmic Jaco!

[@kebiwoni]

Beautiful!

[@bassmickeyd]

If this is part of Holiday in Pans recording, I'm pretty sure that's not Jaco on Bass. .... He only plays bass pans on Holiday. The story is described in the book Jaco....... Great tune though.

[@DRCification]

bassmickeyd this one sounds like him to me. The way he vibratos the bass sounds much more authentic than the other holiday for pans tracks.

[@ricaard]

Toots est un maître! J'aime ce violoniste trop ...

[@jazz65]

wonderful composition

[@christophegaudissart6551]

je m abonne !!!!! jaco jaco !!!!!!!

[@dansullivan1246]

Wow....yes this gets a Wow....

[@tonosrecords]

Hola Ing

[@davidpellow4877]

Mike Gerber! He is the only one who came close to Herbie's piano connection with Jaco. Great player and musical spirit.

[@johnveylupek6771]

Where can I find this recording? I was not able to find it on Amazon anywhere.

[@PIERRE-ERNEST]

A splendid creative music (in a sort of Mingus way)

[@johnknofla242]

💙💙

[@souricetteism]

ce n'est pas le violon c'est l'harmonica de "Toots" Thielemans

[@harrylado]

This is probably not Jaco on bass. After he died the master tapes (sans bass lines because Jaco had not recorded any) were taken to Japan and Jaco impersonators were used to put the bass lines down. The songs are great, but sadly not Jaco. The music is beautifuil though. Check it out, the story of this is out there in net world.

[@elliehjemmet]

You need to read the comment from tonosrecords' "Jurgen" from 3 years ago. It sounds like Jaco and he says it IS Jaco.

[@jeanlucchapelon]

Hey : Mike Gerber is excellent also !! I don’t know him !!

[@ricaard]

Who's on violin?

[@georgeeldridge7954]

Craig thayler IIRC

[@ricaard]

@@georgeeldridge7954 thanks! 🎻🎻🎻

[@LorinCohenBassist]

This has got to be Herbie on piano

[@markrossi5703]

touchingbass It's Mike Gerber.

[@jondavisjazz]

agree....that it's herbie

[@SimbolicProductions]

actually it's Hugh Jazz

[@scatnav]

Mike Gerber. It's documented.

[@scatnav]

And now I know I was wrong. Herbie.

[@SuperFlanders123]

What's Jaco's nationality? Anyone? Sorry,would just like to know.

[@juveydave]

American

[@pectenmaximus231]

American. John Francis Anthony Pistorius I think

[@jazz65]

Pa not Pi ;-)

[@steveball7133]

...Jaco was from Florida, his father was a singer not sure of the nationality of his parents

[@carlosdepaz1148]

American , he was born on Pensylvannia Dec 1 1951 and then go to live to Fort Lauderdale Florida , he was 7 years old

[@jeanlucchapelon]

It seems like Herbie !!

[@jiyujizai]

🌱💛🌾🙄

[@luncius_]

Hate that these recordings got over dubbed with that jaco rip off player, either way still a great song though

[@garethde-witt6433]

I still can’t stand Jaco’s playing and sound it just makes me cringe.