Album Live In New York City Vol. 7 by Jaco Pastorius Review
Live in New York, Vol. 7 is a great addition to the series. Not only does it contain two tracks not available elsewhere, it also features a consistent quality of musicianship that is lacking in the other volumes. Jaco sounds lucid; his performance is mostly clean, vibrant and thoughtful. His opening bass solo sets the tone for an hour of superb jazz-funk. On this first cut, he bridges fluid lines from "Okonkole y Trompa", a fiery "Amerika" and McCartney's "Blackbird". The medley is similar to the bass solo material that comprises Honestly: Solo Live, a 1986 recording from Austria, released on the German Jazzpoint label. Hiram Bullock is a standout on much of Vol. 7. On Freddie Hubbard's "Straight Life", Bullock's playing flows. He becomes a stream of atmospheric, energetic notes. His groovy funk guitar drives the piece, while Pastorius and Lewis keep the rhythm solidly grounded. The following cut, "Teen Town", finds the trio in peak form. This is possibly the finest available live recording of the composition. While some of Pastorius' and Bullock's myriad performances (and recordings) of "Teen Town" sound a bit tired, as if being played in automatic mode, the performance here is tight and inspired and moves at a swift pace. They're driving in high gear, but it's not automatic. Lewis' "Agaya" continues the groove/funk. Jaco carries the piece with his spirited, funky performance. Bullock's jazzy, mood evoking sound literally glides across the aural landscape. Together they create music that soars. Jaco impresses again with solid solos, fluidity, and speed on Hancock's "Dolphin Dance" and Bullock's "History". The personnel on Live in NYC Vol. 7 are similar to those on Vol. 2 and Vol. 4, while the repertoire most closely resembles the excellent Vol. 2. The last cut on Vol. 7 is Jaco's "Three Views of a Secret" on which he plays keys. Hiram Bullock introduces the composition as "on the real side - this is my favorite tune that we play - Three Views". Jaco corrects him, stressing the full title of his impassioned composition: "of a Secret. "Three Views of a Secret!"" The crowd repeatedly yells, "More! One More!" as the performance comes to an end and the trio leave the stage.Review by allmusic.com
