To say that Jaco Pastorius was a great bassist
understates the case dramatically. "He did for
bass what Charlie Parker did for alto sax and
Jimi Hendrix for the guitar," says Christian
McBride. "There was the bass before Jaco and
the bass after Jaco. Period."
"He's been dead for years and he's still kickin'
ass," says Will Lee, best known to the public as
one of the original members of The World's
Most Dangerous Band from "Late Night with
David Letterman."
Lee heard Pastorius play live on many occa-
sions. "I first came to New York in 1971," he
recalls. "After about a year in town I heard rum-
blings: 'Jaco this, Jaco that.' Later, in Florida, a
friend told me I had to go hear him. He was
playing some unbelievable stuff…perfect execu-
tion…it was like he was able to get whatever
was in his head to come through his fingers."
Lee and Pastorius' paths crossed often and
he was able to call him a friend. "He was a
sweet and supportive man," Lee recalls. "You
couldn't help but love the guy."
Photo:
Getty
Images
212 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 5
He died in 1987 at
35, but Jaco
Pastorius left a rich
legacy, continuing
to influence musi-
cians of all genres,
including "Late
Show with David
Letterman" bassist
Will Lee (left).
Photo: Sandrine Lee
Even though
it burned short,
Jaco Pastorius' flame
burned bright indeed.
