Portrait of Tracy.

[@MichaelWorley]

One of the most beautiful songs ever composed.

[@cookaboorra]

besides the story he's telling here, something that can be if not understood at least appreciated through his creativity, you can feel his own musical path...at least three baselines running together...rhytm, feeling and individuality....I wouldn't even try to replicate this masterpiece !

[@KOOLEE88]

@@cookaboorra Thundercat does, big time

[@M.Robespierre3691]

Are you kidding?!

[@spaghettiopizza8686]

@@M.Robespierre3691 no, they’re not kidding - they’re allowed to have an opinion

[@jacocharzukanamericanautho2422]

It’s the most beautiful you mean. Jaco was the greatest musician ever. This is my absolute favorite song of all time. I could listen to it over and over and I still notice something new.

[@AfferbeckBeats]

This was recorded 6 November 1976, just a few months after Jaco's debut album and this song was released. Most of this audience must have had their minds blown, because they likely hadn't heard it yet.

[@BoiseyMusic]

danehb89 this is an impressive recording then because this looks like it could’ve been recorded in the 90’s or early 2000’s

[@nicholasguerra2498]

@@BoiseyMusic probably recorded on film.

[@emirbalic8800]

Brother I have heard it like a million times and still have my mind blown each time I hear it again

[@udonthavetorobme]

@@nicholasguerra2498 this predates digital video recording by almost 20 years

[@JonHop1]

@@BoiseyMusic its remastered.. Obviously, Jaco had been dead a long time by the time the 90s hit... sadly.

[@earlgarcia6106]

How silent everyone is speaks so loud...truly one of the greatest performances in music history

[@andrerodriguez8092]

I love his look-expression to the drummer at 4:03 after his incredible performance, between ashamed and smiling, a very common reaction among many musicians, but of course, he was not just any musician.

[@feraldynaufal]

I think the 1:50 onward is the most beautiful part. Dreamy, magical bassline. Feels like it can take you to another world

[@weilmusic]

I do agree.

[@andy42x]

Reminds me of Radiohead 😂

[@chi840cken6]

@@andy42x🙁

[@jonathandevries7181]

Agrew

[@jaco5187]

Audience: "What did we just see? Can a bass really be played like that?" Jaco: "Hey guys, is it lunch time yet?"

[@cap_1stuperman536]

I had to see the video myself to confirm that all those different tones were coming from one bass.

[@ericjones3878]

He's playing the melody and the bass part simultaneously...Brilliant!

[@mannymartin_ez]

3:38 what a charming crescendo to end this champion performance man. I could cry, and I will

[@alfafahrer]

Yes, it was the Trilogue concert at the Berlin Philharmonic 1976. I was there.

[@RiveBassCovers]

alfafahrer REALLY? Wow, you are lucky to have seen Pastorius live

[@joythief]

Damn, you old

[@thievingcthulhu8632]

this is from 75’

[@nicholasguerra2498]

You lucky son of a bitch

[@evanabbott2737]

Awesome👍

[@dvx216]

Joe Zawinul said it best .Jaco was a gift that was here for a short time and even though he's gone his gift will always live on.

[@christopherweise438]

"One should not be said that it's over, but just glad that it once was." - Joe Zawinul He said that in a Jaco documentary i watched, and i thought it the perfect commentary on Jaco's life.

[@DreamFragments11]

One of the most touching songs in my library.

[@quickstep2408]

for those who don't know, jaco was actually diagnosed with bi-polar disorder later on in his life. that means that as a musician he would go through periods of great innovation and creativity, coupled with periods of great depression and being uncreative or motivated. 'portrait of tracy' was definitely conceived by him during one of his positive stages; but he was in constant battle with this mental duality that eventually consumed his identity. one of those 'tragic prodigy' stories, just instead of drugs (most of it anyways), it was his own mind. imagine if he never had any psychological thing that inhibited him and was still living today? but i digress, and didn't mean to detract away any of his massive value and influence that he had as a musician, and a person. RIP Jaco. you were quite rare indeed.

[@greenhound]

the greatest creatives tend to have mental health issues. i think the same things that make a mind great cause mental health problems

[@evanabbott2737]

My buddy is second cousins or third cousins to Jaco, it’s a big family, a great family.😁🙏

[@samsochet7436]

Tragic.

[@skiddzie9291]

he was also a drug addict

[@Fireglo]

Depression doesn't determine creativity. The happiest person in the world could be the least creative.

[@robzbobz]

Jaco is so good, he makes guitar players like me want to play like him. My god he is incredible

[@limoncr5205]

Robzbobz true..i've been playing electric guitar,rock,funk,blues,pop etc for 17 years and find myself thinking about buying a fretless bass after watching Jaco..

[@selender42]

Thomas CRuivo it’s worth it. I play a 5-string Jazz fretless

[@evanabbott2737]

@@selender42 my buddy just bought himself a 6 string bass..he loves it.😁

[@robertcubinelli4961]

Rock in Peace Jaco :(:(

[@svenjansen2134]

He makes me wanna get a fretless.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Those hands alone are a thing of beauty unto themselves.

[@ricocallace]

Wow Jaco really was an amazingly talented musician, not just a bass player. Its kinda painful as a bass player to know that i will never be able to see this man in person let alone run those harmonics off like that my self but thank you for posting this clip.

[@cookaboorra]

This is BY FAR the most delicate, cozy, unexplicable, well played feeling I ever heard. AMAZING AND LOVELY. You can feel the religious silence around him playing. The astonishmnent of the audience...the void of the silence after he stops that thing. I'm amazed.

[@frankystrings]

1:19

[@suyo6821]

Awesome to see Jaco in this moment of pure expression

[@tengukage4409]

Goosebumps every time I listen to Jaco especially this performance.his use of harmonics and false harmonics are the stuff legends are made of R.I.P Jaco

[@dcmichailides]

The man who made me fall in love with the bass. I'll obviously never be that good, but it just makes my heart skip a beat knowing what genius and that instrument are capable of.

[@psmith669]

Tracy had to have been a real beauty., he must have really loved her.

[@artthanos5515]

So far, this is my favorite live version of it

[@mikedavis6884]

One like is nothing like enough for this. Thank you for sharing.

[@prodelpe]

The best Pastorius years. Absolutely awesome song and performance. I love the final, when Jaco is waiting the end of the harmonic.

[@buttkrusher]

I was fortunate enough to have seen him live back in '83 at pier 84 in NYC. I was a newbie to his music, and just went with my friends to the concert for a nice summer night out. It was Jaco's big band, with Michael Urbaniak opening, and Lenny White's band in the support slot. What I remember most was being super impressed with Lenny White's guitar player, I think his name was Nick Muroch or something like that, he absolutely slayed. Jaco was good, but I really wasn't into what I was seeing that night. I wish I could go back in time, now that I fully appreciate Jaco's music and influence, but I was only 18 and high as a kite that night! Plus I'm a guitar player, so I was looking more towards the six stringers instead of the four stringer's. Anyways, sorry for the long post, just sharing what I remember about that night. PS- the pier used to have a great music concert series back then, saw a lot of great bands and artists of varied music genres. I saw Jaco there as well as Miles Davis, Jean Luc Ponty, Pat Metheny, King Crimson, David Gilmour, Santana, and even Ratt/Twisted Sister (I have very eclectic tastes). I wish they bought that series back, but the pier is long gone into the river now!

[@elchiquifru]

Has anyone ever played the electric bass so beautifully?

[@evanbabbitz2783]

Victor Wooten, John Entwistle, and for that modern touch, thundercat. Merely my opinion of course.

[@alistairdunnington]

@@evanbabbitz2783 spot on

[@fatheroftwo852]

Of course, but I don't think anyone will bring so many new and daring ideas to the table like Jaco. Especially because this was a transitioning period for the bass; perfect place in time

[@macemaceson5837]

@@fatheroftwo852 yes. Like Eddy VanHalen did for guitar .

[@thenazz724]

@@evanbabbitz2783 Not sure I would describe Entwistle's playing as 'beautiful', impressive perhaps.

[@cyrilbrocard]

Often referred to as a wonderful bass solo. To me, this is not a bass solo, it's a full piece of music.

[@me_angelo]

Def not a bass solo. Incredible

[@jedgallego5131]

Agreed

[@andrearighetti8383]

The melody with the harmonics is incredible

[@おうどんおそばなまたまご]

痺れた😌

[@brucegelman5582]

When someone comes along and changes the possibilities of what an instrument can express through sheer talent we must call it genius.In this particular case it does not suffice to describe...

[@911fever]

My God.. .. .. what a amazing player. Such a beautiful creation songwise as well. Thank You and R.I.P. Mr Jaco.

[@JustDontCall]

I played this during my last jazz concert as a freshman. I would watch this so many times to get Jaco’s feel on the bass.

[@tracey329]

My name is Tracey ~ I cant even describe how Jaco’s song make me feel ~ ❤️ ~ damn he was soooo good 🔥

[@quickstep2408]

it's spelled 'Tracy' in the title though... must be about another girl, sorry. just jking lol, we are all collectively Tracy

[@henri_.leal68]

this makes me feel so hypnotized almost. Just pure bliss.

[@Joeh1154]

Very cool live footage and the sound comes across well. Jaco was amazing. RIP.

[@BGFreerunner]

The world misses you Jaco

[@svenjansen2134]

We will always love you Jaco.

[@arnolddurant8180]

God blessed us with Jacob but for a little while and even after his unfortunate and untimely demise he still impacts our listening ear. An utter genius, an artist-extroadinaire and a free spirit

[@stallion2417]

Amazing, I have no words but to say Jaco Pastorius is my favorite musician to hear from and I’m 16 years old and I’m glad to say that

[@edit3407]

Persona Non Grata I WAS BORN IN THE WRONG GENERATION

[@SilverAudioHiFi]

So lucky to have gone to a Weather Report concert in 1975 I think and the other players left the stage to Jaco. I still remember it. Never heard a bass play so many trebles and chords before or since. What a terrible and tragic loss his passing was.

[@wolfganglauth4015]

Discover this record back in 2010. Played it literally everyday that summer. Good memories

[@松勘]

pure & beautiful

[@ciaoramse417]

Simply out of this world bass sound,,,,,,pure magic,,,,

[@duanemiddleton9162]

Other worldly! Thanks for what you left behind Jaco.

[@luisalmeida6054]

Aaaah so amazing there is a record of this genius

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Prime Jaco. Stunning.

[@celiomota7603]

The best bassist of all time, he made so young kid wish to play, he made every jazz good musician appears average, a true genius, and innovator...God bless you, Jaco!

[@AlbertoOlivieri]

Amazing...Hope to meet the Master one day somewhere in the Sky...

[@TFARM56]

to legend of legends ....who is here in 2024

[@xurdeauxsound]

Been here like once a week since 2015

[@tyler1901hrhrhr]

I am so tired of these comments. I wonder how much storage on this site is consumed by them. I see tens to hundreds on every song I see

[@madeofrat]

This piece of art still inspires many other musicians not using bass too. Only Charlie Parker has had similar influence.

[@thedubmasta]

Maurabazarrelli, the DVD is available at Amazon belo 20$. It's called "Trilogue" Jaco Pastorius Albert Mangelsdorff Alphonse Mouzon I play (a little) trombone because of it

[@BlakeCH24]

The king of playing harmonics on the bass.

[@bobbyohanesian4228]

Played with him 5 hours

[@bobbyohanesian4228]

He played it for me, so sad what happened to Jaco...I played Birdland with him...and 5 sets, he sang! Played my drums wow.....

[@cw9888]

Wowwwww. At his PEAK! Jaco... lives.

[@DenOfVipers]

baby, I'm sorry, you deserved better. You're a legend in everyone's mind.

[@marccru]

Wish they would reissue the original Matheny album with the bass turned up just a hair some how. His work on that was incredible but gets drowned out the way the recorded it.

[@hankrawlins9159]

I was waiting for that last harmonic blast. No deal.

[@laundry1799]

This makes me tear up

[@Woohaaaaaa]

Im a longtime fan and I think Pastorius was in his prime in -76 after his solo debut and recording w Pat Metheny and started work w Weather report. One thing I always wondered is why he couldnt ever during his career make a calm, unstressed, nice and beautiful performance of Portrait of Tracy like the one on the album, without hickups and pauses. I mean its not that hard when you know it, still he just hastens through it always and never performed it like an own piece on concerts. Its reallly a mystery.

[@infotecgames]

Another atmosphere.

[@michaelglennwilliams6278]

Love the extra goodies after the first time through!

[@aleenarazzaq6714]

when i first heard this i swear i thought it was a cello solo or sth ,, it’s so rich and fluid

[@BSIII]

Mind blown. Simply breathtaking

[@timothymckenna1702]

So absolutely beautiful!

[@Justicefordadmom]

❤❤❤JACO WROTE TRACY A BEAUTIFUL POEM THROUGH HIS BASS FROM THE CORE OF HIS SOUL

[@mattbermo1958]

My favorite performance of this solo, long live Jaco!

[@tylerjacobson8012]

Why do all the greats have to be such tortured people? The world needs artists like jaco.

[@tigerscott2966]

It's like watching Picasso paint a masterpiece.. Bass players of all ages including me play one of his songs everyday...

[@detodounpoco37]

This is pure Magic that elevates life

[@DonaldSturgeAnthonyMcKenzieII]

Mindblowing

[@svenjansen2134]

We miss you and we will always love you Jaco ❤

[@fonkymonkey7372]

I discovered this melody due to SWV - « Rain ». Absolutely wonderful

[@RossCampoli]

Stunning.

[@billylikitsakosmusic6367]

What a brilliant musician. R.I.P. Jaco Pastorius.

[@xavierlance2497]

beautiful and moving...

[@markfogarty1954]

The J Bass isn't beat up yet. Go Jaco!

[@stefanochelotti2174]

Incredibilmente, grazie Jaco

[@cookaboorra]

Would you believe such a caleidoscopic inner inflorescence of creativity ???

[@sampowellmusic]

very telling that when the "groove" kicks in jaco is tapping his foot on the upbeats. he had swing in his soul.

[@manny75586]

Such a great piece. So creative and unique. Though people are probably sick of every bass player abusing harmonics now because of this song and Jaco in general haha

[@carlbowles1808]

Jaco is one of a kind no one can compete with, portrait of Tracy is proof.

[@cloudedthoughts909]

Brilliant on all accounts!

[@luizsanderateixeira449]

BILL evans , Miles, Trane And Jaco ! The were all Genius!!

[@Luke4strings4life]

unico...... da piangere.....

[@johndublyoo2553]

A truly remarkable piece of music, of that there is no doubt and the story of Jaco's life and tragic demise is well documented but for me the video "Jaco" comissioned by Robert Trujillo and the biography written by Bill Milkowski are go to sources of information about the true genius Jaco was, for those who haven't seen or read them they are works I can highly recommend. RIP Jaco.

[@07andrew66]

He was a genius in his style...

[@devor3]

GRANDE PASTORIUS !!!!!!!!

[@visog]

Crikey! Imagine hearing this as a bass player in 1975!

[@Freak8451]

What a great bass player jaco was, i would like to go back to the past and see him play either for weather report or just him

[@jorgekarkalius]

Still in 2023 Jaco is phenomenon....

[@erenanidem3479]

Wonderful

[@DeTucciBill]

Incredible!

[@zoltannemeth8864]

Portrait of Awesomeness

[@Rytmecharlie]

Hi "romainlabaye"!!! You're absolutely right, - regarding The Albert Mangelsdorff session. The drummer is indeed Alphonse Mouzon and not Lenny White. PS: Just checked the concert wich last for about an hour. Great that there're truly music-lovers out there. Kindly regards Per.

[@SpaceAce1993]

Beautiful song

[@alexruiz9416]

Just Brilliant!! 👍🏼 AR

[@77salad57]

He was genius and master. Nobody like him, ever, really.

[@usergently]

Fantastique!.

[@onesyphorus]

3:17 Quintiplets!!!!

[@husnainali-gn8bo]

*adam neely wants to know your location*

[@husnainali-gn8bo]

Jokes aside that lick actually blew my mind

[@d.j.ghetoswift1206]

Those false harmonics are killer!

[@RCAvhstape]

Go Phils!

[@omarcosantonios]

A blood fucking awesome masterpiece!!!

[@canalbassoulbass]

Ícone, som que ultrapassou várias gerações !!🙏👏👏👏