The best Jaco Pastorius’s movies

Jazz great Pastorius instructs, does solo performance work, exclusive interviews, performance footage with Jeremy Jemmott, John Scofield and Kenwood Dennard; also cutting edge special features. This is one of last known Videos of the most influential Bassist ever!

The reputation of the late Jaco Pastorius is legendary, based as much on his mercurial personality as his groundbreaking bass playing and small but significant repertoire of original music. His declining mental health became increasingly evident following his departure from fusion super group Weather Report, ultimately leading to his tragic demise in 1987. Still, while the bassist was already beginning to show some signs of decline when Jaco Pastorius: Live and Outrageous was filmed at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 1982, he was still capable of putting on an exciting show.

Joni Mitchell's 1970s and '80s forays into jazzier territory may have distressed her folkie faithful, but they also resulted in some uncompromising, challenging, and, yes, entertaining music. Witness this 73-minute document from her '79 tour, which finds her backed by her greatest band ever. Mitchell's The Hissing of Summer Lawns-Hejira-Mingus period is heavily favored; there are two tunes from Court and Spark, but nothing earlier. It's not perfect--the film clips edited into the live tracks (at Mitchell's direction) are an annoying distraction (Rebel Without a Cause? Huh?). But by the time Mitchell, Mays, and vocal group the Persuasions finish a spine-tingling version of the title song, you'll have witnessed something special--and historic, as this was the only time this stellar crew toured together. --Sam Graham

Filmed at the Montreal Jazz Festival in the early 1980s, this concert provides nearly an hour of first-class jazz. Bob Mintzer is outspoken on tenor sax in the opening number, underpinned by Jaco’s clear and propulsive bass. Othello Molineaux coaxes a wide range of sounds out of a single steel drum – possibly the most awkward musical instrument ever devised by man – but Othello makes it sing radiantly.

Jaco Pastorius Trilogue with Albert Mangelsdorff and Alphonse Mouzon. Recorded live at the Berlin Jazz Days, 6 November 1976 at the Berlin Philharmonic. Albert Mangelsdorff – trombone, Alphonse Mouzon – drums, Jaco Pastorius ‎– bass 1) Foreign Fun 2) Accidental Meeting 3) Zores Mores 4) Trilogue 5) Portrait Of Tracy 6) Trio Song 7) Ant Steps on an Elephant's Toe