Joe Pass
Jazz Guitar Without A Net
Walking onto a stage in a large concert hall alone with only your guitar is
a daunting proposition indeed, yet, Joe Pass did this fearlessly. A short,
slight man, Pass's appearance didn't reveal the creative genius within. Many
guitarists have performed chord melody arrangements, some fewer incorporate
a coherent bass line that allows the arrangement to stand up as a solo
performance. Even fewer guitarists attempt improvisation when playing solo.
Joe Pass could skillfully play the head of the tune as a chord solo, then improvise freely, revisiting the chords and or bass line occasionally to
preserve the continuity of the song.
Pass at one time played in a group lacking a bassist and undoubtedly this taught him to cover both parts at once. His solo abilities never hindered his ensemble playing however, when working with other musicians he never stepped on anyone else's toes, hard to do when you're accustomed to playing solo.
A duo album recorded with Ella Fitzgerald provides a stunning showcase of two great artists interacting without any outside influence. The Virtuoso series of solo recordings were Joe's greatest claim to fame, but any Joe Pass recording has a lot to offer.
