The Essential Jaco Pastorius collects tracks the innovative jazz bassist recorded during the '70s and '80s. Included here are cuts off
Pastorius' two studio albums as well as some of the work he did with the seminal fusion outfit
Weather Report. Also featured are recordings he made with other artists including
Herbie Hancock and
Joni Mitchell. As a two-disc anthology, this is a hard collection to pass up and certainly includes all of the most well-known of
Pastorius' recordings, not the least of which are his 1976 take on
Charlie Parker's "Donna Lee,"
Weather Report's "Birdland," and the
Mitchell tune "Hejira." You also get such stellar tracks as the frenetic "River People" and the iconic "Punk Jazz" both from
Weather Report's 1978 album
Mr. Gone. As a well-rounded representation of
Pastorius' unique genius during the high-point of his career,
The Essential Jaco Pastorius is superb listen. ~ Matt Collar