Pass, Joe - What Is There To Say: Joe Pass Solo Guitar


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Pablo
Catalog Number: PACD-2310-971-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 58:58:00

This review was previously published elsewhere

This Joe Pass release is all previously unreleased live material recorded September 13th and 14th, 1990 at the Vine Street Bar & Grill in Hollywood, California. These songs have been digitally edited and transferred for a complete remaster of the original recordings.

The last twenty years of Pass's career were immense. Before his passing in 1994 he burned a legacy so bright that anyone who even tries to come close to his accomplishments as a solo jazz guitarists would be doing well. Songs taken from the Great American Songbook are the focus of Pass's selections on this CD.

His virtuosity on the guitar in several genres was mind boggling to say the least. Latin, traditional jazz and mainstream were all part of Joe's array and repertoire. He took slower numbers and injected rapid Latino chords into otherwise mild and mellow songs to provide the music a color and flavor that was unfound amongst any of his peers. The tribute "Django" is to another great jazz guitarist, and it's but one example of Pass's soft yet determined perfectionism with every song that he played. His artistic qualities were relaxing yet very uplifting and moving. Witness the superb "Medley: It's All in the Game/Yesterdays" by Dawes, Harbach, Kern and Sigman. This was Pass at his best. He was like a butterfly in flight just after breaking out of its cocoon, flitting about every which way, showing off its newborn freedom. In a musical sense this is extremely difficult to maintain, Joe made it look so easy and natural.

Joe Pass will be regarded as one of the greatest jazz guitarists to ever cross our paths. With each passing day, and with the advent of more unheard recordings like this, his legend will continue to grow. This is a must have for any jazz collection.


Tracklisting:
Django (5:02) / Old Folks (4:13) / I Concentrate On You (4:04) / I'll Be Around (5:01) / They Can't Take That Away From Me (4:02) / Medley: It's All In The Game/Yesterdays (6:29) / Come Rain Or Come Shine (4:30) / On Green Dolphin Street (7:01) / What Is There To Say (6:44) / Nobody Else But Me (5:17) / Lush Life (7:15)

Musicians:
Joe Pass - guitar

Discography:
Live At Donte's (1974)
Resonance (2000)
What Is There To Say: Joe Pass Solo Guitar (2001)
Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass - Sophisticated Lady (2001)
Meditation: Solo Guitar (2002)
See www.fantasyjazz.com for more

Genre: Jazz-Trad. Jazz

Origin US

Added: December 15th 2002
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck

Artist website:
Hits: 1868
Language: english

  

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