JACO PASTORIUS – The Chicken (live)

“The Chicken” or simply “Chicken” is an instrumental funk tune composed by Pee Wee Ellis that was the B-side to James Brown’s 1969 single “The Popcorn”. The tune gained greater exposure with versions by jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius.

Jaco with the slimmed-down version of his big band live in Montreal. Bob Mintzer (sax), Randy Brecker (trumpet), Othello Molineaux (steel pans), Peter Erskine (drums), Don Alias (percussion).

Robert Alan Mintzer (born 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader.

Randal Edward Brecker (born 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock, and R&B.

Othello Molineaux (born 1939) is a jazz steelpan player who spent much of his early career with Jaco Pastorius. He was among the earliest musicians to adapt the steelpan to jazz.

Peter Clark Erskine (born 1954) is an American jazz drummer who was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead.

Charles “Don” Alias (1939 – 2006) was an American jazz percussionist. Alias was best known for playing congas and other hand drums. He was, however, a capable drum kit performer: for example, Alias played drums on the song “Miles Runs the Voodoo Down” from trumpeter Miles Davis’s album Bitches Brew (1969) when neither Lenny White nor Jack DeJohnette was able to play the marching band-inspired rhythm requested by Davis.