This is my Old Heroes section. Last month we had The Fab Four; this month I'd like to highlight bass player Jaco Pastorius. Scofield on guitar, Kenwood Dennard drums.
Lennon/McCartney (such innovators!), Brian Wilson (really killing harmonies), Joni Mitchell (all-time #1 female singer/songwriter), Steely Dan (#1 70's band), Todd Rundgren and the early Neil Young are my main inspirations. 70's Symphonic Rock: Genesis (specially with Peter Gabriel), Yes, Gentle Giant (absolute favourite!). Jazz Rock/Fusion: Weather Report (with Jaco on bass, naturally), Brand X, Yellowjackets, Pat Metheny Group, Wayne Johnson Trio. 60's/early 70's bands: Beatles, Byrds, Beach Boys, Kinks, Them, Doors, Lovin' Spoonful, Creedence CR, Crosby Stills & Nash, Jethro Tull, The Free, Jimi Hendrix Experience. Singer/songwiters: Cat Stevens, Kate Bush, Carole King, the early James Taylor, Gino Vannelli and Michael Franks. 80's: can't think of many, apart from new wave bands like The Police and XTC, or singers like Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, Suzanne Vega. 60's Soul (Aretha, wow!), 70's Funk (Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, or Rufus&Chaka Khan, what a voice). (Not to forget: nearly all of the Tamla Motown artists that caused my adolescence to be an unforgettable one). Most of the jazz standards by Gershwin and Richard Rogers. Old jazz singers: Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Tormé. Old school jazz guitarists: Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell; younger ones: Mike Stern, Wayne Krantz. Major musical hero, and the man that finally brought me here: guitarist Pat Metheny. I've played his music nearly every day for about 3 decades; seen all his shows since '87 or so. Pat and the Group never let me down. Hope you now have sufficient info as to what makes me tick, musicwise.