The Essential Jaco Pastorius collects tracks the innovative jazz bassist recorded during the ’70s and ’80s. Included here are cuts off Pastorius’ two studio albums as well as some of the work he did with the seminal fusion outfit Weather Report. Also featured are recordings he made with other artists including Herbie Hancock and Joni Mitchell. As a two-disc anthology, this is a hard collection to pass up and certainly includes all of the most well-known of Pastorius’ recordings, not the least of which are his 1976 take on Charlie Parker’s “Donna Lee,” Weather Report’s “Birdland,” and the Mitchell tune “Hejira.” You also get such stellar tracks as the frenetic “River People” and the iconic “Punk Jazz” both from Weather Report’s 1978 album Mr. Gone. As a well-rounded representation of Pastorius’ unique genius during the high-point of his career, The Essential Jaco Pastorius is superb listen. – Matt Collar