Jaco Pastorius - Word of Mouth (Warner Brothers, 1981)

This post is by Scott

Jaco Pastorius (el b, b, org, p, synth, autoharp, koto, perc, vo); Herbie Hancock (kybd, synth, p); Wayne Shorter (sax); Michael Brecker (sax); Tom Scott (sax); Mario Cruz (sax); Toots Thielemans (har); Chuck Findley (tr); John Clark (frhn); Howard Johnson (tu); Peter Erskine (d); Jack DeJohnette (d); Don Alias (perc); Robert Thomas, Jr. (perc); Paul Horn-Muller (st-pan); Othello Molineaux (st-pan); John F. Pastorius IV (vo on "John and Mary")

Recorded in 1981

This is Jaco's finest hour, a testament to his musicality and vision.  Hearing its forcefulness and vitality after the passing of forty years only makes Pastorius' mental health issues and early death that much more galling and terrible.

Jaco was a showman, and -- at times -- a show-off.  But anyone who thinks his music began and ended with over-long bass solos should listen to this album.  It's beautiful and full of life.