What was unique about Jaco Pastorius’s bass playing?

Jaco Pastorius’s bass playing was distinguished by his use of a fretless electric bass, which gave his sound a smooth tone with expressive vibrato and pitch control. He expanded the instrument’s possibilities through natural harmonics, rapid articulation, and complex rhythmic phrasing, treating the bass not just as accompaniment but as a melodic and solo voice. His style integrated rhythm, harmony, and melody into a single, highly expressive approach.