"An interesting debate. I think there is an interesting tension between the idea of the art and craft of music, the art and craft of entertainment and the complex dynamics of genre and the market. It is perfectly possible to have a career as a 'musician' without any significant technique (e.g. Adam Clayton) and to have great technique and little or no market for what you do. In simple terms, technique stops and music begins when the artist/performer does not have to seek the means to execute his or her ideas but has them at her or his fingertips. I guess this means different things to different people and a metal bassist a la Cliff Williams will have no strong ambition to excel 'tedhnically' whereas Jeff Berlin will define his development by this aspect of his playing. Horses for courses. The fact is, the overarching 'market' that is music has no baseline (sic) for competence. If you can hold a bass in a video, that'a all that is required for some producers. Others (Becker & Fagan?)look for something that is much harder to define."
Maybe it depends on how you term "music".
If it means something that elisits a strong emotional response in the listener then perhaps "technique" to an extent doesn't matter a monkey's...
For me personally, Jaco has never moved me...
I can appreciate the skill, musicality and technique etc. etc. but listening to Weather Report has never done it for me...
However, the chugging open E as Mr Williams comes into the chorus of Highway to Hell has my spine tingling and the rest of me jumping around all over the place.
Everyone will have a different view... that's what makes the world the wonderful vibrant place it is