Geddy Lee, the Rush frontman renowned for his own virtuosic bass playing, has spoken about the profound impression Jaco Pastorius made on him after seeing the Weather Report bassist perform live. Lee, who drew on influences from players such as Jack Bruce, Chris Squire and Paul McCartney, singled out Pastorius as an artist whose live performances were simply unmatched, describing him as flamboyant, unpredictable and utterly unique.

Recalling a chance encounter in Milwaukee, where Rush and Weather Report happened to be playing at the same theatre, Lee called Pastorius "incredible, and bizarre, and histrionic", praising his distinctive thumb technique and fearless showmanship. He said watching Pastorius live was "something special" and a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience, noting the bassist's ability to make complex runs and harmonics look effortless while still serving the music rather than simply showing off. The article suggests Pastorius, who died in 1987, deserves the same iconic status in bass guitar history that Jimi Hendrix holds for the electric guitar.