Metallica’s Robert Trujillo, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea and More to Participate in Jaco Pastorius Documentary

2012-06-08

Story by Anne Erickson

Metallica bass player Robert Trujillo bankrolling new documentary about late bass great Jaco Pastorius

Ask any given bass player to rattle off their favorite players of all time, and there’s a good chance he or she will mention late jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius as a top pick. Pastorius is considered one of the most influential electric bass players for his striking command of the fretless bass. The world lost Pastorius too soon, at age 35, and now, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo is paying respect to the late player by bankrolling a movie project that will be a tribute to Pastorius and his body of work.

“Jaco was my hero growing up,” Trujillo told USA Today. “Hearing him was like hearing [Van Halen guitarist] Eddie Van Halen doing ‘Eruption’ for the first time: You thought, ‘What instrument is that?’

“I loved jazz fusion and branched out from there. But Jaco had an edge that far exceeded his jazz persona. He was funk, he was rock, he was soul. And his whole attitude was punk.”

The upcoming documentary, tentatively named simply “Jaco,” will feature previously unreleased video of Pastorius, as well as interview with Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player Flea, Sting and Carolos Santana, all who site Pastorius as one of their biggest musical influences. The film will be directed by Stones in Exile director Stephen Kijack. As for when to expect the flick to drop, Trujillo says that he hopes to premiere the film at the Toronto Film Festival this fall.

Anne Erickson
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