Hejira

Joni Mitchell, whose albums Hejira (1976), Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (1977), and Mingus (1979) feature some of his most admired playing. With keyboard player Herbie Hancock, Pastorius performed and recorded in both live and studio settings, contributing to Hancock’s harmonically provocative jazz and jazz-rock groove.

With Hejira (1976) and Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (1977), she continued to disregard commercial considerations, while Mingus (1979) was considered by many as beyond the pale. An album that began as a collaboration with the jazz bassist Charles Mingus ended up as a treatment of his…