A musical version of Pat Mahomes and the value of mere mortals

You don’t have to be a football fan to know who Patrick Mahomes is. Just watch commercials long enough, and there he is. State Farm Insurance, Subway sandwiches, he sells product!

Why such appeal? Yes, he plays quarterback and has won two Super Bowls, but it’s the way he plays. He throws “no look” passes, he throws with the left hand, he makes it up as he goes along, and seems to possess more than just amazing talent. It’s skills like no one we’ve ever seen.

Here is where my musical analogy comes in. Years ago there came onto the scene an amazing talent on electric bass, and his name was Jaco Pastorius. He played like no one before him, and on a fretless bass, highly unusual. His approach was way beyond just outlining the chords, and any traditional bass lines.

He seemed to apply his amazing technique to think about the bass in a new way. Upper harmonic chords could suddenly ring out, glissando embellish a line here or there. And always with the most spot on intonation, something made much harder with no frets.

Now everyone was trying to play like Jaco. Now of course, not everyone can throw a “no look ” pass or toss the ball behind their back, so there were many “interceptions” in the musical world, as “mere mortals” tried to “cop a lotta jaco licks now”. (a joke based on the movie Apocalypse Now by Francis Ford Coppola, I guess you had to be there)

You see, every so often someone comes along that displays a kind of virtuosity that we can’t believe. It seems they were blessed way beyond anyone in their profession, and that’s always captivating.

But what of everyone else, the non superstar, the merely mortal? It can leave a lot of us struggling to find our worth. I mean, if you can’t do what Jaco and Patrick do, what good are you?

Here is where I throw out a couple more names, one musical, one football. (gotta stick with my analogy, right?)

Steve Rodby and Brock Purdy.

There’s a good chance you’ve heard of Brock, as he is the quarterback in this equation. Perhaps you know the other name as well? Steve was an original member of the Pat Matheny Group, back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Steve plays bass, and is a genuinely talented musician. But he isn’t Jaco.

Jaco played with Pat Matheny as well, and it was a really different group with him on bass. But as I listen to the recordings with Steve on bass, I have a hard time imagining Jaco not getting in the way. Sometimes less is more, they say. But what of Mr. Purdy?

In this analogy, Brock gets to be Steve Rodby. He can’t do what Mahomes does, and yet, his team is awesome, and the group plays so well with him, I’m left to think it would be less successful if they had the superstar talents of Pat running the offense.

Brock’s story is also a great one, he was the last player drafted, and as such, dubbed Mr. Irrelevant. But you can look up that story somewhere else later, it’s worth a read.

So I guess my point is that, sometimes to have a successful group, wether it’s a band, or a team, you just need a Steve or a Brock.

Now don’t get me wrong, each are very talented, worthy performers, just not other worldly.

So if you find yourself in the “mere mortal” category, and most of us do, don’t worry. There’s lots of need for very good in the world.

Take whatever talent you have, work hard to be the best version of yourself you can be every day, and relax.

Don’t get caught up trying to throw behind your back, or play Donna Lee on a fretless bass. (think Charlie Parker, and I’m not even gonna dignify that lack of knowledge with an explanation!)

The world needs all kinds. Don’t feel less than, should you not have the ability to throw a football 100 yards, or create the next Jaco, but this time, on Trombone! 

Super talent is exciting, and rare, but sometimes, you can get more done with good, than amazing.

If/when you to hear someone on your instrument that does somersaults and high flying tricks, enjoy and appreciate it, but don’y worry that you need to be a Wallenda. (again, if you don’t know, look it up, I’m not gonna teach you everything!)

The last thing we need is everyone trying to throw behind their back. There’s plenty of opportunity for musicians that play with a good sound, in time, and in tune.

A concert is not the circus, and we can be moved by many things. A soft, gentle, well turned phrase can bring a tear, without the pyrotechnics.

Enjoy the best of everyone, and celebrate the stars, as well as the “mere mortals”.