Most of the time, you’re either walking or you’re in a groove. On “Night Passage,” Jaco Pastorius is playing a walking bass line and a funk, R&B groove bass line all at the same time. That’s insane to me. It sounds impossible, and it’s actually not that complicated.
Quick answer
On “Night Passage,” Jaco is playing a walking bass line and a funk, R&B groove bass line all at the same time. At measure 21 he’s literally just walking, and the walking line at measure 26 is just a jazz bass line, something I’d play over any A-flat tune. His fills are always musical, and he plays all the hits with the band.
It’s the title track of Weather Report’s Night Passage (1980), with Peter Erskine on drums. Also known, at least to me, as the greatest composition ever. It’s so good for so many different reasons. It’s interesting, it’s sophisticated, it goes to so many different places, and the bass line kind of does the same thing. If you want more Jaco after this one, here are the other Jaco Pastorius bass lines I teach.
How does Jaco walk in the middle of a groove tune?
Check out what he plays at measure 21. He’s literally just walking. Then at measure 26 there’s another walking line that’s really cool. That’s just a jazz bass line. He’s playing in the key of A-flat, and it’s something I’d play over any A-flat tune, like A-flat rhythm changes or something. That’s crazy.
Listen to what’s under him, too. Peter Erskine is playing a combination of a traditional shuffle and a kind of pocket that’s almost like an R&B groove. He’s combining the two, and so is Jaco.
Fills and hits like a big band chart
What’s also amazing to me is that his fills are always musical. Take the stuff in measure 5. Those are all just fills. He’s kind of just riffing, but somehow it sounds amazing. When most of us try to do that, it’s not happening.
When he’s just out there riffing, it’s the most mind-blowing musical thing you’ve ever heard.
Cole Davis
The other cool thing is that he’s playing all of the hits. They go with the melody and with what everyone’s playing, so it almost sounds like a big band chart where everyone’s playing together. Some of what he plays is, to me, all drums. So much of it is the material the drums are playing, so they’re playing this rhythmic counterpoint together, which is super cool.
Try this: one spot on the neck, then walk it in A-flat
One part, believe it or not, is easier to play than you think. It’s mostly in one spot. I shift there so I can get to the A-flat, and the rest is all right there. He’s creating all this super cool melodic information, and he doesn’t have to go up the neck to play any of it. It’s pretty amazing, actually.
- Learn the passage in one place. Keep it in that one area of the neck, with the one shift to reach the A-flat.
- Walk measure 26 on its own. Treat it like a jazz bass line, because it is one.
- Take it to another A-flat tune. Play it over A-flat rhythm changes or any tune in A-flat.
- Watch the 6/4 bar. There’s one little bar of 6/4 in there. Know where it is.
If walking on electric is new to you, start with these jazz walking lines on electric first.
What’s in the transcription
The full transcription is the Night Passage bass line score in a PDF, plus the 6-minute video lesson where I go through measure 21, the fills in measure 5, the hits, the one spot on the neck and the walking line at measure 26.
It’s an amazing, amazing bass line, and it’s not that complicated. There’s that one little 6/4 bar in there. Other than that, I think you’ve got it.
Go deeper
Jaco Pastorius: Night Passage
Jaco walks and grooves at the same time on Night Passage. It sounds impossible. It isn’t.
FAQ
What album is Night Passage on?
It’s the title track of Weather Report’s Night Passage, from 1980, with Jaco Pastorius on bass and Peter Erskine on drums.
What key is Night Passage in?
The walking line at measure 26 is in A-flat. He’s playing in the key of A-flat there, and it’s something I’d play over any A-flat tune, like A-flat rhythm changes.
What is the drum groove on Night Passage?
Peter Erskine is playing a combination of a traditional shuffle and a kind of pocket that’s almost like an R&B groove. He’s combining the two, and so is Jaco. A lot of what Jaco plays goes with the drums, so they’re playing a rhythmic counterpoint together.
Does Night Passage change time signature?
There’s one little bar of 6/4 in there, so watch out for that one. Other than that, I think you’ve got it.
