"Word of Mouth" is a Jazz album by Jaco Pastorius, released in 1981. It was Pastorius' second solo studio album following his self-titled debut album in 1976. This album is notable for displaying not only Pastorius' signature bass guitar playing and his skills as a jazz composer, but also his talent in big band arrangements.
The album includes contributions from numerous musicians, from stars like keyboardist Herbie Hancock and saxophonist Wayne Shorter to relative unknowns from Pastorius' native South Florida. The musicians bring a wide range of styles to the table, contributing to the genre-bending nature of the album.
The tracks "Crisis" and "John and Mary" are arguably the most significant, displaying Pastorius' compositional skills and his unusual approach to harmony, syncopation, and rhythm. "John and Mary" was named after his two children. In contrast, "3 Views Of A Secret" reappeared later on Weather Report's album "Night Passage", and "Liberty City" was used as an audition piece for his Word of Mouth big band.
On the other hand, "Blackbird," a cover of the well-known Beatles song, is distinctive in its cheerful, reggae rhythm and playful bassline. The album itself is viewed as one of Pastorius' best works and intricately portrays his creative genius and technical prowess as a bassist and composer in Jazz.
