Pynchon and Music

[April Phillips]

I have to second that ... I recently re-read Vineland for the first time in a decade, and since my first reading of it have come to be amazed by Jaco Pastorius.  I was so pleased to see that reference (and this time, understand it) when I came across it again.  As a bass player myself, I am always humbled by Jaco's innovative style.  

April
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: ruudsaurins at aol.com 
  To: takoitov at hotmail.com ; pynchon-l at waste.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 3:35 PM
  Subject: Re: Pynchon and Music


  One of My Favorites....
       ....of many, many references; in _Vineland_, Pynchon makes an isolated reference to the electric bass player Jaco Pastorius, who came to fame with a heralded solo album (remember those?), and then with the popular jazz band Weather Report.  He had removed the frets from his bass (or was using one that had the frets already removed; accounts vary), and achieved a legendary tone from his instrument.  He was able to achieve a close fascimile to the sound of an upright bass on his modified Fender Jazz bass, but was also able to play "chops" that would be nearly impossible on an upright.  He literally redifined the role of the instrument in modern music. 
        He is now tragically deceased, but remains an icon to bass players everywhere.  It would appear that Pynchon does not restrict his consumption of jazz to classic be-boppers like Coltrane.   Jaco has lots of material out there, with Weather Report as well as solo and other collaborative efforts.  A reasonable exposure of his talent would be with the Weather Report album _Heavy Weather_.
                                                                        truly,
                                                                        ruud
                                                                          

   
  -----Original Message-----
  From: takoitov at hotmail.com
  To: pynchon-l at waste.org
  Sent: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:52 AM
  Subject: Pynchon and Music


  Another question to the P-listers in the know. I realise that many specific references to American (British?) music of 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s etc. are simply lost to me, because I am only aware of the most popular and pretty obvious samples (I even didn't know about the lollypop song before reading GR). So I would be grateful if you could advise me a "must music package" for his novels (especially Vineland and GR) in terms of performers, groups, albums, songs etc. I am not a complete ignoramus, (Sinatra I know :-) but I do realise that I need to do some listening in my spare time to appreciate more Pynchon's texts. Thanks in advance. 
   
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