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Jaco Pastorius is one of those names you hear brought up by musicians that might not be so well known to the wider world. He played bass with the band Weather Report and you have probably heard him in that context. He is one of the people that brought the electric bass out as a solo, or lead instrument, which may or may not be a good thing. His bass playing is somewhat similar to Jimi Hendrix on the guitar. The clip below is, I think, a nod to Hendrix’s famous Star Spangled Banner performance at Woodstock.

John Francis Pastorius III was born in Norristown, PA and grew up near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He started his musical career playing drums like his father “Jack” Pastorius a big band drummer and singer. After breaking his wrist playing football Jaco had to give up the drums. His wrist no longer had the mobility. He took up bass instead. In the video below you can see him playing his Fender Jazz Bass, which he made fretless by removing the frets with pliers and filling the gaps with wood putty. This is an instrument that he played since high school and all through his career.

Mose Allison was born in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi in 1927. As a young child he learned to play the piano by ear, picking out the melodies of songs he heard on the radio on the keyboard. He played trumpet in high school and began writing his own songs, influenced by Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan, and Nat King Cole. After a year at the University of Mississippi, he went to the Army in l946, playing in the Army Band in Colorado Springs. Allison returned to college twice, taking time off again to tour with his own jazz trio and finally graduated in 1952 from Louisiana State University. During the 1950s Allison performed and recorded with jazz greats Stan Getz, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims and Gerry Mulligan as well as with his own Mose Allison Trio.

Allison’s songs are extremely witty. I found a reference to him as the “William Faulkner of jazz.” His piano accompaniment is complex, yet the songs structure tends to be fairly simple. The Yardbirds, Leon Russell, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, even The Clash have recorded rock versions Mose Allison’s songs. At 81, Allison continues to tour and perform.

Here is Mose in an appearance during the 1970s, on the WTTW Chicago television show, Soundstage.

Here’s a soundtrack for your lae night gift wrapping. I hope it puts you in the proper frame of mind.

Mel Torme and Judy Garland singing The Christmas Song. Judy gets the words wrong, but Mel, the consummate professional, makes it OK. His improvised harmonies are amazing.

I Bought You A Plastic Star For Your Aluminum Tree by Michael Franks. Leg lamps anyone?

Charles Browm Merry Christmas Baby The ghost of Christmas past.

Eartha Kitt Santa Baby The ghost of Christmas presents.

Elvis’ Blue Christmas My kind of holiday.