Last updated: 3 hours ago
Joe Pass did the near-impossible. He was able to play up-tempo versions of bop tunes such as "Cherokee" and "How High the Moon" unaccompanied on the guitar. Unlike <a href="spotify:artist:2mBoEYescv3YHDG5rH6uKd">Stanley Jordan</a>, Pass used conventional (but superb) technique, and his Virtuoso series on Pablo still sounds remarkable decades later.
Joe Pass had a false start in his career. He played in a few swing bands (including <a href="spotify:artist:6zzt6gDMTadZsvnjcao6e3">Tony Pastor</a>'s) before graduating from high school, and was with <a href="spotify:artist:4SPws2VXOmZIiRTp75mzsb">Charlie Barnet</a> for a time in 1947. But after serving in the military, Pass became a drug addict, serving time in prison and essentially wasting a decade. He emerged in 1962 with a record cut at Synanon, made a bit of a stir with his For Django set, recorded several other albums for Pacific Jazz and World Pacific, and performed with <a href="spotify:artist:2gSkBqzo1VXaWnAyjhoYk7">Gerald Wilson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:07tYu4BGrfeogBobCefkHI">Les McCann</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7uUBTiZ2u5b40vymlFmXrn">George Shearing</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1pBuKaLHJlIlqYxQQaflve">Benny Goodman</a> (1973).
However, in general Pass maintained a low profile in Los Angeles until he was signed by <a href="spotify:artist:3I3Jb7GD2tAy4yefo7pZD2">Norman Granz</a> to his Pablo label. 1973's Virtuoso made him a star and he recorded very prolifically for Pablo, unaccompanied, with small groups, on duo albums with <a href="spotify:artist:5V0MlUE1Bft0mbLlND7FJz">Ella Fitzgerald</a>, and with such masters as <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Duke Ellington</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6zkX5fhrSD4tdVOmimR9wB">Oscar Peterson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:23i8EixXKG0EWGRCfHlUGN">Milt Jackson</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5RzjqfPS0Bu4bUMkyNNDpn">Dizzy Gillespie</a>. Pass remained very active up until his death from cancer. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
Joe Pass had a false start in his career. He played in a few swing bands (including <a href="spotify:artist:6zzt6gDMTadZsvnjcao6e3">Tony Pastor</a>'s) before graduating from high school, and was with <a href="spotify:artist:4SPws2VXOmZIiRTp75mzsb">Charlie Barnet</a> for a time in 1947. But after serving in the military, Pass became a drug addict, serving time in prison and essentially wasting a decade. He emerged in 1962 with a record cut at Synanon, made a bit of a stir with his For Django set, recorded several other albums for Pacific Jazz and World Pacific, and performed with <a href="spotify:artist:2gSkBqzo1VXaWnAyjhoYk7">Gerald Wilson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:07tYu4BGrfeogBobCefkHI">Les McCann</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7uUBTiZ2u5b40vymlFmXrn">George Shearing</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1pBuKaLHJlIlqYxQQaflve">Benny Goodman</a> (1973).
However, in general Pass maintained a low profile in Los Angeles until he was signed by <a href="spotify:artist:3I3Jb7GD2tAy4yefo7pZD2">Norman Granz</a> to his Pablo label. 1973's Virtuoso made him a star and he recorded very prolifically for Pablo, unaccompanied, with small groups, on duo albums with <a href="spotify:artist:5V0MlUE1Bft0mbLlND7FJz">Ella Fitzgerald</a>, and with such masters as <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Duke Ellington</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6zkX5fhrSD4tdVOmimR9wB">Oscar Peterson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:23i8EixXKG0EWGRCfHlUGN">Milt Jackson</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5RzjqfPS0Bu4bUMkyNNDpn">Dizzy Gillespie</a>. Pass remained very active up until his death from cancer. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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