Jaco the Early Years

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Portrait of Jaco... the Early Years Guestbook

Yeah, Bob!

Thanks so much for the Portrait of Jaco CD. Now I remember why I was so
excited to tell the world about it! What an amazing achievement. I always
thought Metheny, Zawinul, and Joni had the best sections, but Herbie's
interview is awesome. The pictures, the sequencing, the first-class editing, your section, the design, Mary's essay--I could go on and on... but I think my girlfriend spoke for both of us when, after listening to Zawinul, Joni, and Herbie talk about Jaco, she said, "I feel like I'm falling in love (with Jaco)." Now isn't that just the perfect woman for me? Damn!

Thanks again, and congratulations--I know this project was a chunk of money and many years of hard work. I hope you know it was worth every f---ing drop of blood. You did all that and you have a beautiful family too! You're a very lucky man.

Stay in touch,

Elton Bradman (United States)
Saturday, January 31, 2004

I met Jack Jaco's dad when I was playin' at the Vally Forge Stouffers bar about '79 & he was great to me...he asked me had I heard of Jaco & I had just got the gray album...Jack invited me down the road to his gig playin' jazz with a piano player...in the piano bench he kept all these newspaper clippings & stuff about his son...years later back home in N.Y. at 55 Grand I heard Jack get up on stage & sing a sinatra tune with Jaco & the crue!

Cricket Cohen (United States)
Friday, January 23, 2004

Dear Bob,

I received the 'Portrait' several months ago but wished to listen to it thoroughly before writing to you. I send a huge heartfelt thankyou for putting together a collection that not only respects Jaco, but also what music is in itself. I havn't heard such fire, passion, expression, & communication combined prior to listening to the 'Portait Of Jaco'.

I distinctly remember hearing the sound of Jaco for the first time via 'Cannonball' & 'Barbary Coast' during the early '80s whilst growing up in rural New Zealand and thinking that it was simply amazing - and that, as a budding bassplayer (I still remain this after so long), I should never try to copy the sound & style of Jaco. I was certainly inspired by his musicianship, enthusiasm, & approach - but the sound & style remains uniquely Jaco's. The 'Portrait' highlights all of this to a great extreme, and I will remain indebted to you for a long time to come. Many thanks for the time & care that you shared with all of us, Bob. I wish you all the best for the new year. Cheers for now,

Geof Lamb.

Geof Lamb (Australia)
Friday, January 16, 2004

I want to thank you, Bob Bobbing, for your unassuming ways. For all of the important archived music you possess, and the special friendship you enjoyed with Jaco, you have never "lorded" it over the rest of us. Indeed, you have done the complete opposite by freely offering your time in conversation, joyfully sharing music that no one other than a lucky few have heard (until of course, POJ was released), and just generally being the nice guy that you are. When a person makes such an indelible mark in others' lives with what amounts to a brief encounter, greatness lies within. One thing that I think I know about you is that you don't necessarily feel that comfortable with such praises hurled your way, but I am moved to share it with so many who have not been so fortunate to have had personal contact with you. Thank you Bob! No wonder you were such a good friend to Jaco.....it is just who you are!

Wayne Dent (United States)
Thursday, January 15, 2004

hello bob, i was pleased to get your e mail reply. though we've talked many times over the phone, this gives me the chance to share my feelings about our friend to others that love him and miss him as much as we do. as you know i don't easily talk about my friendship with jaco, unless it envolves true friends like yourself and a handfull of others, but at times i feel its important to help remove many of the unfounded myths about jaco.

as you know we where both blessed to have known jaco at the begining of his most free spirited years when even jaco himself was amazed upon his discovery of techniques and theorys that were never before considered on the electric bass or musically for that matter! because of this i will always remember him in the most positive light, the way he deserves! also my love & respect for jaco's entire family.

i wish you well.

allyn robinson (United States)
Saturday, January 10, 2004

Unfortunately I was born in 1980. So I missed Jaco in real life... After playing about ten years guitar I started to play some tunes on an old bass. After listening to Jaco's music, I only picked up my guitar to invent some tunes. I can't permit not to play one day in my further life, due to Jaco I think.

Everything I previously heard of Jaco is nothing compared to this fantastic box. I really adore it due to the magic which is on it and want to thank everyone who helped to produce it or to provide any stuff. In fact I don't have any words for it, and really can't stop telling people how great it is.

THANKS a lot.

Bouwe Frank Gall (Netherlands)
Thursday, January 08, 2004

Portrait of Jaco is undeniably the best documentary album ever released. The booklet is powerful, funny, and serious and the 2 CDs reflect the same traits. POJ is a must for any Jaco/jazz/music lover!
	Chris (United States) Wednesday, January 07, 2004

I have really learned a great deal more about the life, genesis and development of Jaco. Bob Bobbing has done a wonderful job compiling these tracks, interviews, photos and text into one of the nicest box sets I've ever seen, this set gets my vote for a Grammy! There is great emphasis on Jaco's composition and arranging skills. Joni shares her thoughts on how revolutionary a player Jaco was. Zawinul, Pat Metheny, Othello Molineaux and many others share their stories and observations about Jaco. One of the most important points of this set is to remind us just how much Jaco revolutionized bass playing. This is something that new bass players need to realize especially when comparing some of todays players to Jaco, it's easy to appear to be a giant when standing on the shoulders of the Colosus that Jaco is.

Brad Mock (United States)
Tuesday, January 06, 2004

Hi Bob, I am so happy for you! I can not believe that your project finally came to a reality. Congratulations! You are making so many people very happy. My love to Maria and the family, see you in Florida soon. I am truly looking forward to opening for the Jaco Big Band. Your Friend, Toni Bishop Lang
	toni bishop lang (United States) Tuesday, January 06, 2004

Dear Bob Bobbing,

I was thrilled to get Portrait of Jaco for Christmas from my lovely girlfriend (I asked her for it and e-mailed her the link to the site as a hint ;). I've made it about halfway through and I'm very touched and quite blown out from what you've seamlessly, intelligently and sensitively assembled. This is a jaw-dropping collection and Jaco was a jaw-dropping man.

Some people cop his sound, to some extent, but what was so evident in hearing this set is how inimitable his sense of where to land in the beat was, both in holding unbelievably rock steady R&B grooves AND elastic, wildly lyrical, Sinatra meets Stravinsky as sung by the Oracle at Delphi on champagne phrasing.

Thank you! You clearly have a total understanding of, and love for, this amazing cat. I didn't have the pleasure of meeting you (or did I?) when I knew Jaco, mostly in the '81-'83 region. I had the pleasure and honor of playing guitar & flute with him a bunch of times, mostly at the Musician's Exchange and sometimes with the gifted Othello. This was when I was getting together with him regularly to work on his Prophet-10, which he'd asked me to teach him through a mutual friend. It was a rare beast (the Prophet-10, as well as Jaco!) and I was one of the few critters in South Florida who had one and wasn't totally intimidated by it (or him).

Our lessons mostly consisted of running around his Florida room in Deerfield and playing other instruments entirely, but that's another story. I only wish you'd had your tape recorder running one of those nights at the Musician's Exchange (maybe you or someone else did!?) as that would be a dearly treasured item.

Every cut on your anthology is a dearly treasured item, both to the many listeners who'll revel in 'em and for the wonderful people who participated with Jaco in their creation. I feel nothing but gratitude and love for the likes of Joni and Joe and Pat Metheny and Charlie Brent, whose own brilliance, sense of mischief and singularity allowed Jaco to truly stretch and be himself. Not that he was especially shy about his talent ;) He'd challenge you to meet him at an extraordinary harmonic altitude and, if you could connect with him there, he'd lose his tough guy shpiel and grin like a 10 year-old. The essence of his musical self is so abundantly evident on these disks, so early. Challenging yet eminently cooperative - a rare confluence of two generally dissimilar qualities.

I can't wait to listen to the rest. Thank you again. Your ability to convey a certain Floridian vibe is another key to capturing a central flavor of the man and his music. He was an astounding musician and a generous, giving heart. And a classic rascal.

Congratulations on your great work and Happy New Year!
Fuzzbee

Fuzzbee Morse (United States)
Wednesday, December 31, 2003

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