There were guitar players.. and then there was Joe Pass

equalsql

IMHO he was the finest solo jazz guitarist who ever lived.
I didn't listen to much jazz as I learned to play in the 1970s, but even back then I knew he was considered the best of the best.
His technique was extraordinary as was his knowledge of jazz composition.
Oscar Peterson called him a genius.
Even if you're not a fan of his style of music you need to see this master of his art at work.

ArchtopDave

I would agree... an extraordinary musician. I always love something he said in a tuition DVD of his that I have ... "and then there are substitutions of substitutions, but we won't go there today."

axisus

OK, he was amazing, but personally I find that sort of music terminally dull. I didn't just come here to rag on it, I genuinely though "Joe Pass, I've heard of him but I don't recall his playing". People here moan at amazing shredders, and I get that, but it's in some ways similar, amazing technique that moves some people and leaves other cold.

My loss of course. 

JasO

Joe Pass used the smallest guitar picks I've ever heard of. When I was putting together a "guitar picks" poster for Guitar Player, I asked Joe to send me one of his. He mailed me a small teardrop-shaped pick, along with the note, "I break 'em in half." 

jdgm

I was fortunate enough to see him live a couple of times.  Unforgettable.  Still got the albums.

He knew an awful lot of tunes.

Blueingreen

No doubt he was a phenomenal musical talent but old school solo jazz guitar just doesn't do it for me. 

I saw him play in my teens, on a double bill with Oscar Peterson.  But I felt pretty much the same about Peterson as I did with Pass, his skill levels were absolutely amazing, most of his music left me cold.

west

I remember being amazed by him on oscar petersons show on the beeb in the 70s , it just showed what was possible on the guitar ...

roberty

Yeah he was something else. I find it astonishing that anyone can follow complex jazz changes, let alone on smack(!)

I've been following a jazz guitarist called Eleanora Strino on social media, here's the clip that reeled me in:

smigeon

Talking of those old jazz guitar guys... And or those who Joe Pass leaves cold - have you tried Wes Montgomery?

Blueingreen

smigeon said:

Talking of those old jazz guitar guys... And or those who Joe Pass leaves cold - have you tried Wes Montgomery?

My remarks on Pass wouldn't apply to old jazz guitar guys generally: for reasons too tedious to relate I wouldn't bracket him with Wes, Grant Green, Jim Hall, Kenny Burrell, early Benson etc. some of whose music I really like.

monquixote

If you want to hear two masters playing together then check out the Fitzgerald and Pass albums:

smigeon

Blueingreen said:

smigeon said:

Talking of those old jazz guitar guys... And for those who Joe Pass leaves cold - have you tried Wes Montgomery?

My remarks on Pass wouldn't apply to old jazz guitar guys generally: for reasons too tedious to relate I wouldn't bracket him with Wes, Grant Green, Jim Hall, Kenny Burrell, early Benson etc. some of whose music I really like.

Then I'm very much in agreement with you. I reach for the players in your list here (esp. Wes and early Benson) far more often than I do for Joe Pass. But they are all great - as are a host of others from the same era who are almost forgotten now. How pale do most of the guitar heroes from my youth in the 70's/80's seem in comparison with these greats - who I used to think were "corny". Laughable!

CoffeeAndTV

He’s great, I don’t do the ‘best’ sort of thing. I loved his method book when I was younger.  Spent many a time playing through it 

roberty

The noise in the OP was annoying me so I ran it through some (very basic) noise reduction. It's taken a little bit of the sparkle away but I think it's more pleasant overall

Philly_Q

west said:

I remember being amazed by him on oscar petersons show on the beeb in the 70s , it just showed what was possible on the guitar ...

I remember those Oscar Peterson shows, imagine seeing something like that on late-night TV nowadays...

I've never been able to listen to jazz, but for some reason I like watching people play it.  And I'd love to be able to play solo jazz guitar.  I think I've got a Joe Pass instructional DVD somewhere, although of course I never attempted to learn anything from it.

roberty

Philly_Q said:

west said:

I remember being amazed by him on oscar petersons show on the beeb in the 70s , it just showed what was possible on the guitar ...

I remember those Oscar Peterson shows, imagine seeing something like that on late-night TV nowadays...

I've never been able to listen to jazz, but for some reason I like watching people play it.  And I'd love to be able to play solo jazz guitar.  I think I've got a Joe Pass instructional DVD somewhere, although of course I never attempted to learn anything from it.

I leant this rote, I don't fully understand everything that's going on in it but the exercise helped to free my fingers up a bit. I've got a tab somewhere I could dig out

DefaultM

equalsql said:

IMHO he was the finest solo jazz guitarist who ever lived.
I didn't listen to much jazz as I learned to play in the 1970s, but even back then I knew he was considered the best of the best.
His technique was extraordinary as was his knowledge of jazz composition.
Oscar Peterson called him a genius.
Even if you're not a fan of his style of music you need to see this master of his art at work.

Nice, does he play it different every time?

guitars4you

Unbelievably talented and certainly a big influence - personally I prefer listening to the likes of Wes Montgomery, Grant Green and Kenny Burrell

Part of the issue I have with Joe, is that on many occasions he plays solo - So no rhythm, groove to fall back on - Have a 4 bar break and the audience clap, thinking it is the end of the song - Yet Wes etc can back off and let the rhythm continue the groove - Also makes Joe far more one dimensional and as such tiring after a while to listen to

Also add to that, on many occasions the tune has just gone into a host of 'licks' - Don't want that to sound like I'm anti who/what he is as that is not the case - I just prefer to listen to others 

I dare say many other players can far more understand and relate to what he is actually doing - I can't - But whilst I can't copy Kenny Burrell, I feel I can take snippets of his songs/licks/chords and bring those ideas into my playing 

Incidentally many above mention Oscar Peterson - My dad always had him amongst the finest 

hollywoodrox

He was sheer genius , the way he plays the melody and rhythm at the same time in that inimitable style . There used to be a secondhand shop in st Mary church in the early 90s & the owner was the image of him 

EricTheWeary

JasO said:

Joe Pass used the smallest guitar picks I've ever heard of. When I was putting together a "guitar picks" poster for Guitar Player, I asked Joe to send me one of his. He mailed me a small teardrop-shaped pick, along with the note, "I break 'em in half." 

I loved that poster (where there two of them?).

When I saw the Discussion title I actually thought it would be a @JasO piece. Joe Pass was one of those players who I only knew existed from reading Guitar Player, he wouldn't have come across my horizon for any other reason. 

beed84

As a jazz guitarist he really was on another level. The way he effortlessly got around the fretboard was quite staggering. But personally I prefer early Benson. His playing moved me more and he had a bloody good voice to boot. His live stuff is amazing.