The following two entries were made by Victor Bailey at the "official" JacoPastorius.com discussion board and the JacoTheEarlyYears.com guest book.

Thank you! Finally a LEGITIMATE posthumous release celebrating the great master. I had the fortune of being around Jaco when he was at his best. I was also around when he was at his lowest, and some of the various "walkman tapes" and so-called "lost sessions" that have been released do a great disservice to his incredible legacy. POJ puts them all to shame. Hearing the seeds of so many of my favorite Jaco moments is a heart stopping experience. Listening to his development is awe inspiring, and motivates me to pick up my bass every day and still dream.

I ran into Bob, John and Mary at NAMM this year (2004) and was given a copy. Rarely do I have time to listen to anything handed to me in public, but after hearing about this for so long I couldn't wait to hear it. And I know I don't have to tell anyone who took the time to find this site that it was well worth the wait. Congratulations to Bob Bobbing and the Family, for now in passing as in life Jaco is still REPRESENTING!!!!

Victor Bailey
Thursday, March 18, 2004

There are two things that really strike me about "POJ - The Early Years". Firstly, I really am amazed that Bob Bobbing recognized as early as he did that he was listening to the seeds of such greatness. I have to say that on some of the earliest recordings I would have been in the group of people who said "it's nothing special." Of course in retrospect, knowing what those seeds eventually became, I can see that there was so much there. But some of Bob's recordings were made in such a raw stage it's amazing that he thought to tape it at that time. Of course being forty four years old I can clearly remember those days when guys were pursued by the business just for having the potential to do something great. Unlike today where you have to walk in the door with something that falls into a clear category. Bob obviously was of that old spirit and has given us something of a significance unmatched by anything else posthumously released with Jaco. This is the kind of honor a giant of Jaco's magnitude deserves to be remembered with. A million kudos to Bob for having such vision.

The other striking thing is the amazingly high quality, not only of Jaco, but of ALL of the musicians. Being a Jaco-head, I always knew about Woodchuck, Peter Graves Orchestra etc., but I never envisioned that everybody involved would be so great. All of the rhythm sections, the soloists, the writing and arranging is world-class. And remember we're just talking about a little local scene in a relatively little town far removed from the glamour of the "music business". I'm blown away by everybody on this stuff.

Once again kudos to Bob Bobbing. He should get an award for this!!!!!!!!

Victor Bailey
02/17/2005