Is This the Greatest Jaco Pastorius Photo Ever?
On July 2, 1982, my bassist brother and I attended Jaco Pastorius and his Word of Mouth Sextet at the Ontario Place Forum.
The revolving stage ensured there were no bad seats—and we had especially great ones. The lineup was incredible: Peter Erskine on drums, Don Alias on congas, Randy Brecker on trumpet, Bob Mintzer on tenor sax and bass clarinet, and Othello Molineaux on steel pan.
While Jaco is arguably the greatest electric bassist of all time, every member of this sextet was in the same league. My brother has always been a massive fan of Pastorius’ Weather Report work—and still is.
Best Photo Of Jaco?
If you are interested in prints from this show, let me know. As of early 2026 I will have a few Jaco Pastorius prints available.
The Show: Toronto, 1982
Jaco arrived a bit late in casual clothes and did a sound check, joking with the audience about their travel experience. Afterward, he changed and delivered an incredible performance, ending with “Third Stone From the Sun” by Jimi Hendrix, placing his bass on the floor and letting it feedback while performing somersaults over it.
Only a small portion of this show exists on video, but my photo captures a key moment.
Shooting the Moment
I shot a roll of film, most of which I have never fully examined. About 20 years ago, my brother had some low-resolution scans done. Over time, I posted a few online, and they have since been widely shared. Initially, I was a bit frustrated about my photos being borrowed, but the feedback convinced me that this might be the greatest Jaco Pastorius photo ever.
It has the bass, the flow, the perfect backlight… and those fingers!
The scans are old and grainy, and I heavily watermark them, but they capture the essence of Jaco on stage.
The Next Night: Montreal Jazz Festival
The following night, Jaco played the Montreal Jazz Festival, a show that was videotaped and remains one of the best records of this band.
Stay tuned—I have a crazy, never-before-told Jaco story that will appear soon.
A Personal Jaco Story
In the 1990s, I lived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, working at The Cambodia Daily. In 1995, a teenager named Alex opened a music bar, bringing a huge cassette collection. During the July 1997 coup, his bar was looted, ending that chapter.
Years earlier in New York, Alex witnessed a young Jaco Pastorius in a strange public incident: swinging a bass at kids and himself, then stuffing it into a trashcan. Young Alex tracked Jaco around the city for three hours to return the bass—a story highlighting the musician’s brilliance and chaos.
Why This Photo Matters
While it’s not perfect in focus or exposure, this image remains my favorite Jaco Pastorius portrait. It captures:
The musician’s mind and flow
Perfect stage lighting
Iconic bass technique
If you think there’s a better Jaco Pastorius photo, I’d love to hear about it! Prints from this show will be available starting August 2024.
Jaco Pastorius and The Word of Mouth Sextet, Toronto 1982
