Search - Artist/Band: Joe Pass

• Name: Joe Pass
• Birthday: 01/13/1929
• Birth Place: New Brunswick, NJ
• Died: 05/23/1994
• Decades Active: 1950,1960,1970,1980,1990
• Genre: Jazz
• Styles: Bop, Hard Bop, Mainstream Jazz, Guitar Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Standards
• Moods: Amiable/Good-Natured, Elaborate, Elegant, Intimate, Playful, Refined/Mannered, Sophisticated, Austere, Cheerful, Confident, Dramatic, Earnest, Earthy, Exuberant, Freewheeling, Laid-Back/Mellow, Literate, Organic, Passionate, Poignant, Precious, Reflective, Relaxed, Searching, Sentimental, Stately, Stylish, Thoughtful, Warm, Witty

Title	Release
The Stones Jazz/12 String Guitar	12/08/2009
Virtuoso in New York WA	08/31/2004
Sueno Navideno Con Guitarra	10/07/2003
Simplicity/A Sign of the Times WA	07/23/2002
Joe Pass: Solo Guitar WA	10/24/2001
The Complete Pacific Jazz Joe Pass Sessions WA	07/2001
Les Incontournables	01/04/2000
Joe's Blues WA	07/21/1998
Unforgettable WA	1998
The Best of Joe Pass: Pacific Jazz Years WA	03/25/1997
My Song WA	1993
Six String Santa WA	02/04/1992
Joe Pass in Hamburg WA	1992
Songs for Ellen WA	1992
Duets	1991
Appassionato WA	1990
Summer Nights WA	12/1989
One for My Baby WA	12/28/1988
Blues for Fred WA	1988
We'll Be Together Again	1988
Whitestone	1985
The Best of Joe Pass [Pablo] WA	1983
Eximious WA	1982
George, Ira & Joe WA	11/23/1981
Checkmate	01/12/1981
I Remember Charlie Parker WA	02/17/1979
Chops WA	11/19/1978
Tudo Bem!	05/08/1978
Quadrant WA	02/02/1977
Virtuoso No. 3 WA	1977
Virtuoso No. 2 WA	1976
Portraits of Duke Ellington WA	06/21/1974
Virtuoso WA	12/1973
Virtuoso No. 4 WA	11/1973
Better Days	1971
Intercontinental WA	06/1970
For Django WA	10/1964
Catch Me	07/1963
The Complete "Catch Me!" Sessions	1963
Sounds of Synanon WA	07/01/1962
Speak Love

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 Stanley Jordan, 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 Tony Pastor's) before graduating from high school, and was with Charlie Barnet 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 Gerald Wilson, Les McCann, George Shearing, and Benny Goodman (1973).

However, in general Pass maintained a low profile in Los Angeles until he was signed by Norman Granz 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 Ella Fitzgerald, and with such masters as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, and Dizzy Gillespie. Pass remained very active up until his death from cancer. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide