Gil Evans, Jaco Pastorius - Live Under The Sky, Tokyo '84 (2016)

Jaco Pastorius performed with the Gil Evans orchestra at Japan's Live Under the Sky music festival in 1984. Actually, it was the other way around, as Pastorius took center stage, and Evans' orchestra basically served as the backing band. By 1984, Pastorius was drowning in his own decadent lifestyle, replete with addictions and manic depression. This is visibly evident on the bootlegged videotape of the Live Under the Sky TV broadcast, as Pastorius struts onstage shirtless, covered in grease. For those who now know his tragic story, it's quite a sad sight; however, at the time of this performance, his Japanese fans voraciously devoured his crazy stage antics and maniacal playing. The video, a 20-minute excerpt of the concert, consists of only two compositions -- "Soul Intro./The Chicken" and Pastorius' frantic but vibrant crowd-pleasing solo, "Amerika." The tape also features brief interviews with Evans and Pastorius before the show. Hiram Bullock (guitar), Mark Egan ("backup" bass), Adam Nussbaum (drums), and Gil Evans (keys) comprise the core of the band, fleshed out with synth and a small horn section. The videotape ends comically with a Japanese fan playing "air" bass, imitating Pastorius after the show.