Word of Mouth Revisited

Word of Mouth Revisited

It's a grand gathering of the Lords of the Lower Frequencies: bassists Marcus Miller, Victor Bailey, Victor Wooten, Jimmy Haslip, Christian McBride, Gerald Veasley, and Richard Bona are united under a groove to celebrate their hero, Jaco Pastorius. Jaco's homeboy Peter Graves (who employed the bassist in his south Florida big band before he hit it big with Weather Report in 1975) was the mastermind behind this awesome assembly. Under Graves's direction these Jaco gems, mostly from his Weather Report days and his first solo recording, highlight Pastorius' powerful influence. Of course, old standbys like "Havona," "Teen Town," and "Barbary Coast," with Haslip, Wooten, and Veasley, remain true to Pastorius' fluid, bullet-like basslines. The African-born Bona, arguably the most Jaco-like performer on the date, turns in a beautiful and eerie rendition of "Punk Jazz," which is contrasted by Marcus Miller's more Stanley Clarke-ish, avant/hip-hop take on the same tune. Jaco's voice is heard all through the CD, and through the magic of technology, his bass part (taken from a live recording) drives the R&B bounce of Herbie Hancock's "Wiggle Waggle." <I>--Eugene Holley, Jr.</I>