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| Farewell, Ingrid Pastorius (09/05/50 - 11/28/11) by Bob Weinberg, JazzBluesFlorida  As we were preparing our December edition, we were saddened to learn that Ingrid Pastorius had died on Nov. 28. The former wife of fretless-bass innovator Jaco Pastorius was 61 years old and reportedly suffered a fatal stroke. Born in Indonesia, Ingrid moved with her family to Holland at age 7, and spent her teens years in Puerto Rico. At age 20, she moved to South Florida, where she worked for Eastern Airlines and then as an artist for a company that produced paintings for hotels. She became romantically involved with Jaco and toured the world by his side, at first with Weather Report and then with Joni Mitchell. Divorced from his first wife, Tracy, Jaco married Ingrid in the summer of 1979, and the couple moved into a house in Deerfield Beach. Their twin sons, Felix and Julius, were born in 1982.As Jaco's mental health deteriorated, the couple's life together became increasingly difficult. They divorced in 1985, and the bassist, whose playing had an enormous impact on the jazz and pop worlds, was beaten to death in 1987 at an after-hours club in Wilton Manors. He was 35. Ingrid helped to keep Jaco's musical legacy alive over the years, maintaining Web sites such as jacop.net, and lobbying for a Jaco Pastorius Park in his hometown of Oakland Park and for a postage stamp bearing his likeness. (You can sign a petition at ipetitions.com/petition/jacostamp/). She also raised her twins, who were home schooled, in a stimulating, creative environment filled with musical instruments. Felix followed in his father's footsteps as a bass virtuoso, and Julius, urged on by his brother, picked up the drums. The brothers worked together in the bands Way of the Groove and The Bendy Pastorius Group. Along with John and Mike Bendy, Julius was scheduled to play at a Jaco birthday-party tribute on Dec. 4 at the Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton, to commemorate what would have been his father's 60th birthday (Dec. 1). Information on this event will be updated as when we hear of any changes or confirmation. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Jazz News :: home page |