214 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
Photo:
Tati
Shoan
Photo:
Rob
Shanahan
Photo:
Tati
Shoan
Among the performers set to take the stage in tribute to Jaco Pastorius
are (clockwise from top left) vocalist Tierney Sutton; bassist extraordi-
naire Christian McBride; and drummer Peter Erskine, bandmate of
Pastorius' in the seminal jazz fusion group Weather Report.
was very much in my ears when my writing style
was in its formative years." For Jaco's World,
Mendoza is keying more on Pastorius' composi-
tional skills than his bass playing.
"His approach to harmony and sense of pac-
ing and vitality were extraordinary. The horn
par ts he wrote are pure genius," Mendoza
explains. "In this concer t we're embracing cer-
tain stylistic aspects of Jaco's career, the
Cuban influence he was surrounded with
while growing up in Florida and the R&B influ-
ences he soaked up in his early bands."
"If Jaco had never played a note on bass,"
says Will Lee, "if he had only left us with his
compositions, that would have been a lot.
There's so much spirit and joy in them."
Mendoza is also motivated by the group of
musicians he's gathered for the project:
"Getting to work with this music and some
of the players who were around when it was
created is really inspirational to me. It's an awe-
some responsibility that I take very seriously."
Even though it burned short, Jaco Pastorius'
flame burned bright indeed. "It was really sad that
he wasn't allowed to live happily and live creative-
ly," Lee says. "But then again," he laughs "he would
probably have given us too much to chew on."
The 2015 Monterey Jazz Festival takes place
September 18-20. For a complete schedule and
ticket info visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org.
