Jaco 75

Join us as we honor Jaco Pastorius, one of the most influential bass players of all time, in honor of the 75th anniversary of his birth.

In this tribute, saxophonist Butch Thomas will celebrate his friend and mentor with a deep dive into Jaco’s songbook, paired with personal reminiscences from their years of collaboration.

Jaco rose to fame through his groundbreaking work with the pioneering jazz fusion group Weather Report, his collaborations with renowned singer Joni Mitchell, and acclaimed album projects such as Word of Mouth.

Butch was a frequent collaborator with Jaco, worked with him on several recordings, and toured with him for nearly five years. He later went on to work with Sting, Lenny Kravitz, and Aretha Franklin.

For this performance, Butch will be joined by an all-star group of Bay Area favorites:

• Elias Tona, bass
• Gumbi Ortiz, percussion
• Luis Alicea, drums
• Edepson Gonzalez, keyboards
• James Suggs, trumpet

Elias Tona, Gumbi Ortiz, and Luis Alicea are also members of Al Di Meola’s touring band.

This must-see upcoming event will take place at the Mainstage Theatre at Hillsborough College’s Ybor City campus.