Customer Reviews
Jaco: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius 
2008-01-08
I really enjoyed this in depth look into the life of my favourite bass player.
I've learned so much more about a guy I thought I had a pretty decent knowledge of anyway! The author, Bill Milkowski, really knows his stuff. He had a personal relationship with Jaco and writes in a way I found intriguing, I really could not put this book down.
To any musician - not just bass players - this book is a must. giving a detailed account of Jaco's genius in writing, composition, arrangement and whole approach to music which at the time really made the man stand out from the crowd.
Filled with interviews taken at the time and more up to date accounts of Jaco's antics the book makes you laugh out loud and at times shed a tear at what this remarkable man could have achieved had his life not been so tragically cut short.
The chronological approach of the author made it very easy to follow Jaco's life from his birth, through childhood, his rights of passage on the music scene to the point where he truly sat on top as the world's greatest bass player, all the way to his sad demise, fall from grace and that fateful night and what truly happened.
Entertaining, but is it accurate? 2007-07-19
First off, the title is great. There is no doubt that Jaco is one of the most (if not the most) gifted bass players of all time. The book documents his life as a young boy who picked up the bass (after he could not play drums any longer because he broke his arm), his career and his later years when he suffered from mental illness and died at 33. I bring up the question of accuracy as it has been raised by others as well.
One criticism about the book has been that it sensationalizes Jaco's destructive behaviour and takes away from his legacy. This is a point made by Metheny (who was a friend and a fellow musician) in the liner notes of Jaco's debut album. Also I have asked the opinion of (via a short e-mail) Jaco's second wife. Her website that details some minor inaccuracies that exist in the first edition.
That being said the book is well written and gives insight into Jaco's life. Milkowski (who is a music journalist) portrays Jaco as an extremely gifted, hard working and narcisisstic man who self destructs at the end due to bipolar disease. The clues to Jaco's illness are evident from his early years. He plays tirelessly and at times seldom sleeps. At the end of his life he self destructs due to a number of reasons including refusal comply with treatment for his illness,drugs and drinking.
One has to wonder what it says about our society that no one helped Jaco when he was clearly suffering towards the end. I posted the same question to Jaco's wife and her answer was that one has to be willing to accept help.
Mental illness is still misunderstood my most of the world. People who suffer from it can be hard to deal with and be around. I hope that if the same scenario plays out today, with better understanding of mental illness, the outcome would be different. But I am not an optimist.
David 2006-11-02
This book is a well done biography worth reading. Unfortunately it focuses mostly on the sensationalism of Jaco's life. Looking back what you remember is story after story of his out of control behavior, and attempts to explain it by blaming the negative people in his life. I would have liked to have heard more of his successes. It is an excellent book for musicians, but even better for anyone in the field of mental health.
This extrodinary man had serious mental health problems. It seems the only time he had a chance was when he was arrested and put in Bellevue psychiatric hospital. Unfortunately he always convinced friends to get him out. Even the author admits to this mistake.
This without a doubt one of the saddest books I have ever read especially since I know and love his music and talent. But also because had he lasted another 10 years, new drugs may have helped.
However there were too many hangers on and bad influences. It reminds me of the old Rodney Dangerfield joke in which he states,"I appeal to people who can do me absolutely no good."
In this book there is plenty of blame to go around.
A different type of read 2006-08-21
This book reads at times like a hagiography of Jaco. Yeah, Jaco's flaws are enumerated, but there is an obvious worship of Jaco by the author. Having said that, it is still a good book. It is a very thorough biography. It is a little different, in that it helps to have a knowledge of the intricacies of music, e.g., specific chord changes are mentioned. Yo, I took piano, so I don't know a D chord from a G chord on a guitar. Still, I enjoyed the book and learned a lot.
The 40 minute CD that comes with the book, is a real nice bonus by the author. Thanks.
An Outstanding Biography 
2006-08-09
I remember Jaco Pastorius through several great concerts with Weather Report and a sizzling show with Word of Mouth at the Cleveland Agora.
For those who had the chance to appreciate his music live or for so many that are grooving to Jaco many years after his death, the updated biography - with a CD that includes additional material - by Bill Milkowski is the best way to piece together the complicated rise and fall of the brilliant musician.
Milkowski has exhaustive interviews with musicians, family members, media, friends and lovers that are split in chapters to coincide with his years as a musician with a dream, the height of musical achievement and then leaving Weather Report, and the controversial years after leaving the group that found Jaco spiralling out of control personally and musically.
That Jaco was a musical genius cannot be denied. The book will leave you wondering why Jaco - as with too many artists - took his gift and tossed it into the abyss of "what could have been."
jaco lives 2005-12-24
A fitting tribute to the troubled genius who revolutionized electric bass playing and bridged the gaps between jazz, RandB, rock and funk. From his early days in RandB club bands through his international stardom with fusion group Weather Report and on to his solo career and tragic death at age 35, this book portrays the life and music of Jaco Pastorius, the self-proclaimed "world's greatest bass player." This special anniversary edition features new interviews with Jaco's childhood friends, prominent bass players of Jaco's era and afterward, and girlfriend Teresa Nagell, who was with Jaco in the last few years of his life. Some incidents from the first edition have been further researched and expanded to become full chapters. Exclusive to this edition, the CD features newly revealed music tracks from Jaco's early years along with spoken testimonials from Jaco's friends and colleagues. The book also contains new, never-before-seen photos acquired from the Pastorius estate.
Disappointing, for a second edition 
2005-12-18
I read the first edition of this book when it first came out 10 years ago, and I was disappointed with the heavy emphasis on Jaco's darker, later years.
I was excited to pick up this "10th anniversary edition" with "the new insights of the early years" and the "new revelations about his tragic final days..."
There is more early years coverage, thanks in large part to Bob Bobbing, Jaco's friend and audio-biographer (the CD included with the book is from the Jaco, the Early Years box set). However, I found this book to be full of typos, passages that appear unedited, repetitive and rambling.
The "new revelations" about his final days were very confusing. Milkowski seems to want to cast doubt over what was regarded as the incident between Jaco and Luc Havan, though it bounces around between Havan actually killing him, to other vague passages that cause more confusion than provide any insight.
This is a sad book, but it has to be, unfortunately. Reading it this time gave me the same feeling as last. I wish someone could have broken through to help him, as impossible as it was to do that.
Not of This Earth 2005-04-11
Great book! As a guitar player, I bought this book to know more about this "great bass player" musicians talk about, I wanted to know the reason of being such a myth as a bassist and as a musician. The answer is: no more questions. He was and will be the "world's greatest bass player in the world". The book has that magic so to put you in the book (kind of "the neverending story")so you live all the Jaco's stories as you have been there. Lot of information about his discography, live concerts and places where he had performed. You end loving this guy, who living and suffering as an ordinary human being, shows you that he was Not of This Earth. I would suggest to listen some of his music or/and see any of his videos, before or while you read the book; the information will be more appreciated.
Heartbreaking 2005-02-16
Mr. Milkowski did a marvelous job of telling the story of "The World's Greatest Bass Player". It made me sad to read, though.
I gave this review the title "Heartbreaking" because I knew Jaco. We were not close freinds, but I used to run into him often; we both lived in New York City. Now, everyone who lived in NYC at the time had a "Jaco Story"; some outrageous anecdote of his antics. But I'd like to share something a bit different.
One night Jaco and I were hanging out in the Village. He and I were talking, mostly about music. But in the midst of the conversation, he told me "You know, I tell people that I like to party and take chances; but the truth is I wish I could give up drinking and drugs. But I don't know how". I didn't know what to tell him, and I don't remember how I replied; nor can I say what prompted him to say this to me.
Four years later he left town and never returned.
Despite his demons and his sickness; in addition to Jaco being an astonishing musician, he was, when he was "himself", a really nice and likeable guy.
Manipulate the groove not the facts. 2004-05-25
I was first turned on to Jaco while listening to some live Weather Report tracks. It wasn't his note choice, or speed that initially impressed me, but his ability to lock into Peter Erskine's groove and move the song by dropping a couple beats here and speeding up a little there. Jaco always played for the song, which led to me to look into his life.
His childhood is interesting to see how gifted he was. It is apparent by the interviews of his brother and friends that he certainly had a god given knack for music. He would learn songs by ear very quickly and practiced the bass hours a day when he began. Arguably, the most forgotten portion of his life was his early days on tour where he honed his skills on the road. Jaco would later get gigs with the greatest fusion players in the world, but his personal life is highlited throughout the book showing how he could not cope with reality while in severe bouts of depression and it ultimately led to his tragic demise at the hands of a bouncer.
This book is strongly recommended for any fan of music, but this book is absolutely essential for any bassist the life of Jaco is like the life of Jesus to Christians. His life will enlighten and sadden you while gaining knowledge of some of the most amazing music Americans have produced.
