When a person plays like this-barely looking at the fingerboard, just executing ideas simultaneously (or nearly so) with thinking of them, it becomes obvious that the instrument is no longer an obstacle or an impediment.. it’s just an extension of the man. It’s like he thinks of a sound, whether it be a chord, or a run, etc., and his fingers just respond instantaneously-there’s no hesitation or thought about how to do it, it just happens. That fluency, that absolute mastery, that effortless and joyful translation of feelings to music, is I think what we all strive for as jazz musicians, regardless of instrument, and which maybe a luck few truly achieve. Pass had it in spades. As for the rest of us: Let's remain positive that we can also get there.... so let’s keep practicing!
Joe Pass was a great master musician / guitarist. The key to playing solo guitar is to start with the melody, because that determines where you are playing on the fret board. Of course, the melody can be played in many positions. But if you can play the melody notes, the harmony is there. You develop your knowledge of the neck and fluid execution, so that what you hear in your mind is like a player piano roll. You actually listen intensely to the music and it happens. Notice that Joe played the melody and then "fills". The key is to anticipate the first note of each measure, and then let your subconscious "connect the dots". It is not thinking so much as listening. Voice leading and transitions on the neck are critical. In this regard the bass phrasing also helps. It is all about hearing intervals and harmonizing the melody. Much time is wasted trying to learn "visually" - it is all about the audio intervals. This is also how you can transpose to any key.
epf1961, Well said. Joe was that rare animal, called a natural musician. he just picked it up and became one with it as you said, it is as simple as that
@@kellmerWF52 nothing " natural " with this systemic approach . Lot of work and practice with formulas and combinations . I feel some kind of knitted exercices with too much information at once even if there is a line . Finally I doubt the interest of solo jazz guitar here while I find some chefs- d'oeuvre with DJANGO solo impro , or BENSON or WES all of them three really NATURAL GENIUS MUSICIANS . Now JOE PASS contains the whole JAZZ U.S. Broadway standards catalogue and his technique in any part of his playing is insightful and instructive .
I saw mr. Pass playing brilliantly just like this in a hotel bar in Montreal I think it was..there were maybe 10 people in the place and about 6 of them were at the bar drinking oblivious to what was going on onstage..on his break he was the nicest guy,didn't seem to care that no one was paying attention..he talked to us during the break ,let me play his guitar , but...I couldn't play anything... I was way too nervous..Joe pass was staring at me...lol ... a great moment ..thanks mr. Pass.
1. Stella By Starlight - 0:01 2. Wave - 6:09 3. Blues in G - 11:29 4. Polka Dots and Moonbeams - 20:55 5. Summertime - 25:40 6. All the Things You Are - 33:52 7. Donna Lee - 38:36 (39:24 Salt Peanuts briefly) 8. Bluesette - 45:07 9. Estate - 52:40 10. Seven, Come Eleven - 58:02 11. Sophisticated Lady - 1:04:23 12. Prelude To A Kiss - 1:06:33 13. Don't Get Around Much Anymore - 1:07:12 14. Caravan - 1:07:29 15. Satin Doll - 1:08:43 16. Lush Life - 1:11:00 17. Take the A-Train - 1:15:13 18. Sophisticated Lady - 1:18:40 19. How High the Moon - 1:23:31 20. That Old Feeling - 1:27:00 21. Misty - 1:30:04 22. As Time Goes By - 1:32:02 23. Stompin' at the Savoy - 1:33:37 24. As Time Goes By - 1:33:49 25. Offbeat - 1:34:55 26. It's Only a Paper Moon - 1:37:50 27. Round Midnight - 1:40:09 28. Honeysuckle Rose - 1:42:51 29. Scrapple From the Apple - 1:44:24 30. I'm Glad There Is You - 1:48:09 31. Paco de Lucia - 1:55:33 32. Tarde - 1:59:55
Feel free anybody to double check these and make corrections. Does anybody know what 1:34:55 is? I suspect there's also a few missing ones which he briefly goes into especially within 1:04:00 and 1:33:00 period!. If you spot any I missed please say so and I'll update! There's a bluesy one after Honeysuckle Rose I think it is but wasn't sure. Hope this roughly helps anyway!
thanks for the great work, i never posted the list i wrote because i had a couple of songs missing.cant really add anything anymore, but i just realised there is a salt peanuts lick in donna lee at around 39:20 :)
Similar story to George Monroe. At Berklee around 73' went to symphony hall to Oscar Peterson, w/ Joe Pass.There was a snow storm and Oscar missed his flight. The place was packed probably thousands of people mostly musicians. Joe Pass played solo and had the place screaming for more. At that time I didn't know a guitarist could do that. Changed my life!
I saw him play an amazing solo show at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, July 78. This video captures his stellar playing and wit. During breaks he circulated around the audience sitting at tables and talked to us joking and chatting like he was making new friends and truly appreciated people coming to see him.
As great as he is, he's humble and funny and real. THAT'S what really grabs me about Pass. You can picture yourself being buddies with him and having a beer and a burger together and talking about jazz and just about anything else... He seems like the kind of guy who would always make time for you, and be happy to do so. Just a regular, nice guy who also happens to probably be the greatest jazz guitarist in history. Amazing combination!
Yeah, I love the New York Mag quote "Joe Pass looks like somebody's uncle and plays guitar like nobody's business. He's called 'the world's greatest' and often compared to Paganini for his virtuosity. There is a certain purity to his sound that makes him stand out easily from other first-rate jazz guitarists." Certainly didn't have the ego associated with many of the big name guitarists!
The first time I saw Joe live was in Silver Springs Maryland at the Showcase (now defunct). He wandered around the audience during the warm up act with a his hands in his sports jacket front pockets and a cigar in his mouth looking every bit like a loving old grandfather.
Joe would play in Dayton, Ohio from time to time at a place called Gilly's. One night I went back to the green room in between sets and he gave me lesson right there on that guitar. It changed my life forever. It became a mission requirement to play solo jazz guitar. Thank you for sharing.
21 people took the trouble to dis-like . Go figure ? Even if Jazz ain't your bag , if you've got an inch of music in your soul you would realize Joe was a real artist .
Damn, that brings it back. I 1st encountered JP in '76, my first semester at Berklee. I was a rocker (more precisely, a Progger), but was already getting interested in this jazz thing thru the fusion guys. Joe had a gig at the Jazz Workshop on Boylston, and was asked to do a workshop/Q&A at the school. This was scheduled for 2:00 in the old Recital Hall at 1140 Boylston. At noon, the line stretched to Jack's Drum Shop, and they moved it to the newly-opened Performance Center pretty quick. My jaw was on the floor the rest of the day, and we got to the JW early, got good seats, and were further amazed. At one point, JP got off on a tangent on one of those old Real Book standards, had taken it way the hell out somewhere, when he stopped for a sec, whispered "OK how do I get back?" then "Ahhh!" and executed some series of 2-5s or whatever and seamlessly returned to the head. Unforgettable. Thanks for this....
I've been around a long time. I've seen a giant load of great musicians in my life, and in particular guitar players. I've even seen Joe Pass, close up at The Village Gate, in Greenwich Village and other places too. But, damn !!! I have never seen anything quite like this performance on the guitar, in my life. This really IS quite a treat. Joe was remarkable, and I assume we all knew that. But, this is magnificent. Two hours in a music store?? Holy crap. Amazing. This is what we imagine in our heads when we think of guitar perfection. Few ever get there.
This is absolute lesson in what the guitar can do. The instrument has had its share of masters over the years and Joe is unquestionably one of them.. How sad that the generations of guitar players raised on R & R , and shredding in particular, do not get the exposure to Joe and this type of music that he and it deserve.
I'm upset nowadays people play rock, metal and those mainstream things. Whilst jazz is incredibly rare. As a 15 year old female jazz (jazz standard) guitarist/vocalist, i have no friends at all pfft nobody LITERALLY likes jazz. Nobody. Not in my peers/eyes at least.
+N so if you're looking for inspiration listen to Emily Remler. There have been precious few female jazz guitarists. But don't follow her into the world of drugs! I guess that's what ended up taking her life. Surely, though, give her playing a listen.
+N so if you're looking for inspiration listen to Emily Remler. There have been precious few female jazz guitarists. But don't follow her into the world of drugs! I guess that's what ended up taking her life. Surely, though, give her playing a listen.
+apoculamus ah i have indeed learned a lot from her! Even though she doesn't play fingerstyle her playing is still incredible. I listen to Joe Pass, Ted Greene, George Van Eps, Ella Fitzgerald and many more honestly.
I finageled a lesson with him in the early '70's in the San Fernando Valley. Part of my story was I had (and still own) an ES 175 and I was inspired to play jazz after listening to his For Django LP (true). I knew some basic substitue chords, ii-V-I turn arounds and some chord runs but that was all at that time...he was very kind and for $20 (a lot then) he gave me an attentive 20 minute lesson. A true gentleman and genius on guitar.
The solo Jazz guitar maestro and virtuoso said "you cannot think and play" but most of us we are taught in our music schools to always think of "chord scales and modes" to navigate the changes.
If you watch most of his live performances they're better than the album recordings. Compare the 1992 Summertime live one to his Virtuoso one, it's most better!
When I figure out a new standard as a chord-melody, I tend to go: 1st chord, 2nd chord, etc, then string them all together. Listening to Pass (ex: Sophisticated Lady) reminds me that it needs to be more seamless, that a tune is not just a sequence of changes but rather a continuous flow of harmonies and you need to really use your ears to make it smooth and interesting... So yes, first figure out the changes, but then go back and re-orchestrate (if that makes sense) to really make it MUSIC. Very inspiring.
howard morgan has a great course you can buy on TrueFire that explains that very well. One of the best courses i have ever bought. I too struggle to get it to flow sometimes, howard shows you how to connect things very well. I like using my own arrangements too, but I do steal a lot lol. The course is called Fretboard breakthrough. If you try out a free month, you will be able to buy it cheaper, I'm from 1960
A brilliant artist!! Soothing but alert and intellectually stimulative, intimate but can sound like an orchestra on fire, creative surprise at every stroke and before anything else the humor!!!
I would love to make a movie about Joe and his performance at this music store in 1985 when jazz was fusion and such. It would be a melancholy look at artists whose art is under appreciated but appreciated by few and the problems that life brings.
This is more than 2 hours long of just a man and his instrument,no drums, no effects,nothing but this man’s soul coming out of that d’angelico hollow body guitar..... If Joe pass isn’t a jazz genius than i don’t know what or who is... Ripeace Joe.
I was fortunate to be at this show as I was assigned TEMP DUTY at Dam Neck and would stop in the store checking out guitars and saw the poster fore this show. At can be seen, Joe Pass is absolutely amazing.
Great contribution Robert. 1986 got orders to be assigned to Marine Corps Base, Quantico. Where Joe Pass served as a Marine in the 1940s, presumably. On Main St., Quantico was "Bill's Shoes". Owned by Billy Martin. A piano player who had served with Joe. They even played gigs at the White House in those days. Bill was a friendly guy. Who lamented that Joe never called him when he visited Washington D.C. Finally in 1988 my active duty was up. And I flew to Munich, Germany. Where I still reside. In late 1988 or 1989 Joe and Ella gave a concert in Munich. Got to meet and talk with them both after the concert backstage. Lovely experience I cherish and keep as a personal inspiration. Thanks for posting Robert.
To make this more listenable as a performance, I downloaded this and edited out all the talking and jokes, just captured the tunes.. I ended up with 1 hour 36 minutes of pure JP. It has subsequently become my favorite Joe Pass "album".. Listen to it constantly. Thanks again to the poster of this gem...
True master!!...great and rare "footage"!!...you can ear him keeping time with is "foot"!!...love is playing!!...melody, harmony, rythm, fills etc...amazing!!...and great endings!!...
I was blessed to see him five or six times in San Diego, got to talk with him two or three times. Great guy and my north star as far as the instrument, but if I lived another six hundred years I doubt I could get there. Thanks for this.
I finally got to watch this vid in it's entirety and, needless to say after reading all the comments of praise, this is an absolute treasure. Thank you,Robert, for posting this and I truly envy you for having been able to spend time with, imo, the greatest guitarist the world has ever known. Long live the brilliance of Joe.
We are indebted to Joe's dad for being such a taskmaster with his son and have him play tunes day and night. What a gift that humble factory worker gave us all.
here is a very insightful interview about Joe digital.nepr.net/music/2016/01/13/joe-pass/#:~:text=Pass%20next%20worked%20in%20show,he%20entered%20Synanon%20in%201960.
I saw Joe play at least 3 times but the first was when I just started university and it turned me not only onto Jazz but a desire to learn guitars because this was what it could do..,. Amazing! The first set was Joe, solo guitar and the second set was him and Oscar Peterson. So two unforgettable experiences.
OMG - This is one of the best concerts I've seen by him. I've seen him in three states over the years. I've got tears in my eyes right now. What a great guitar player. One of the best. Thanks Robert and thanks Joe, you'll be missed. Notice he never looked at the fretboard he knew exactly where he was at all times. Again Thank You so much.
The most amazing man to ever play guitar. Joe, you might not have enjoyed being video recorded, but there is no telling how much better my life is because you allowed it and gave this gift! Thank you !
Robert: The highest compliments to you for capturing and sharing this: This video is a treasure-- I downloaded it and must have played it a zillion times...and I have yet to be done with it. As a developing jazz guitarist, to me this would be a no-question "desert island video".. (ie, if I had just one to take with me...) I firmly believe that everything you wanted to ever know about jazz guitar is on this video: No need to look any further. There's priceless lessons inherent in both his playing and his commentary. Absolute GOLD. Its only flaw is that it ends. Thanks again.
In the early 80s , at the Village Gate, I HAD THE HONOR of sitting with Mr.Pass on his break . I asked him how much does he practice, he said that he does not have enough time now, but he said that he would practice 8 to 10 hours a day when he was learning to play. We both drank Vodka and Grapefruit Juice and I did not have the nerve to tell him that I HAD RECORDED HIS FIRST SET ......I still have that tape ...lol
Boy oh boy....I recently discovered this. Can't say much more than what I keep reading, an absolute treasure. The one thing I don't like about this video, is that every single time I've watched it, I'm stuck here for 2 hours and get nothing accomplished ;) Lookit him taking that coat off, what a cool cat. It's like he's Uncle Joe to us all. Thank you so much for this!
I’m my 2nd rock band in high school my fellow guitarist’s dad Irwin Rosman was a genius. A scientist at Rockadyn, a game developer who independently invented board games for companies like Milton Bradley but he also was an arranger for Joe Pass. He arranged allot of his stuff and as we were rehearsing Joe would just pop in! And he always asked if he could play one of our guitars to try out the arrangement. Needless to say, our rehearsal was over after Joe played, nobody wanted to ruin the vibe!
Wow this performance of Joe is just amazing. I agree with the posters who feel this is better than his solo recordings! He is so relaxed here. Thanks so much for posting this. It really shows the depth of his playing as well as what a kind soul he was. What a gift you have given us to see this glimpse into the greatest solo jazz guitarist the world has ever seen. The one and only Joe Pass.
This must have been the coolest experience for everybody there. I would give anything to see Joe Pass in such an intimate setting, sadly he passed away a year before I was born! Also, you gotta love all the people in the audience calling tunes like take five, lmao.
There is nothing I can add in praise of Joe Pass that has not been said before. But in case you have never heard the record he made with Roy Clark shortly before he died you have a treat in store. Apparently he always admired Roy Clark and wanted to have a chance to play with him. They got together and recorded an album of Hank Williams tunes. And it is absolutely incredible but what I like best about it is that most of Hank's stuff is fairly simple 3 chord tunes that are masterpieces in their own right. But they are such less complex harmonically than most jazz standards. Still Joe and Roy wove incredible lines in around over and upside down through them. If you haven't heard it you should hunt it up.
PS the guitar was an Ibanez JP20, Joe designed it and had a deal to use them. I owned one years ago, lovely instrument although its single pickup placement away from the neck meant it lacked a warm jazz sound (in my opinion) Wonderful upload, many thanks.
Audio ear listening and theory and practice and God given talent and determination but without this video i would have missed the pick in the mouth while the left hand still hammers the smooth fluent lead bass chords seamlessly around 15:16. . amazing musician
Thanks for the posting of this! Joe Pass, the Art Tatum of the jazz guitar! I was lucky enough to see JOE play live at SCULLERS JAZZ CLUB many years ago, not to long before his death. A memory to last a lifetime! He was nice enough to also sign an album for me to. HE'S a major influence on my own playing. He was a "Heavy Weight" talent we'll never see the likes of again. TRUELLY a master indeed! Thanks Joe!
When a person plays like this-barely looking at the fingerboard, just executing ideas simultaneously (or nearly so) with thinking of them, it becomes obvious that the instrument is no longer an obstacle or an impediment.. it’s just an extension of the man. It’s like he thinks of a sound, whether it be a chord, or a run, etc., and his fingers just respond instantaneously-there’s no hesitation or thought about how to do it, it just happens. That fluency, that absolute mastery, that effortless and joyful translation of feelings to music, is I think what we all strive for as jazz musicians, regardless of instrument, and which maybe a luck few truly achieve. Pass had it in spades. As for the rest of us: Let's remain positive that we can also get there.... so let’s keep practicing!
Joe Pass was a great master musician / guitarist. The key to playing solo guitar is to start with the melody, because that determines where you are playing on the fret board. Of course, the melody can be played in many positions. But if you can play the melody notes, the harmony is there. You develop your knowledge of the neck and fluid execution, so that what you hear in your mind is like a player piano roll. You actually listen intensely to the music and it happens. Notice that Joe played the melody and then "fills". The key is to anticipate the first note of each measure, and then let your subconscious "connect the dots". It is not thinking so much as listening. Voice leading and transitions on the neck are critical. In this regard the bass phrasing also helps. It is all about hearing intervals and harmonizing the melody. Much time is wasted trying to learn "visually" - it is all about the audio intervals. This is also how you can transpose to any key.
epf1961, Well said. Joe was that rare animal, called a natural musician. he just picked it up and became one with it as you said, it is as simple as that
like SRV in the blues...amazing masters of the guitar.
@@guitargod6997 He didn't have perfect pitch nor Martin Taylor..Andreas Oberg!
@@kellmerWF52 nothing " natural " with this systemic approach . Lot of work and practice
with formulas and combinations . I feel some kind of knitted exercices with too much
information at once even if there is a line . Finally I doubt the interest of solo jazz guitar
here while I find some chefs- d'oeuvre with DJANGO solo impro , or BENSON or WES all
of them three really NATURAL GENIUS MUSICIANS . Now JOE PASS contains the
whole JAZZ U.S. Broadway standards catalogue and his technique in any part of his playing is insightful and instructive .
I saw mr. Pass playing brilliantly just like this in a hotel bar in Montreal I think it was..there were maybe 10 people in the place and about 6 of them were at the bar drinking oblivious to what was going on onstage..on his break he was the nicest guy,didn't seem to care that no one was paying attention..he talked to us during the break ,let me play his guitar , but...I couldn't play anything... I was way too nervous..Joe pass was staring at me...lol ... a great moment ..thanks mr. Pass.
yea @Ben Jammin’
you were the person Joe played for that night! One real music lover is all that's needed
These people are blest with a special extra ordinary ingredient in their emotional makeup
Saw him at the "Rising Sun" next to the late Spectrum… A warm, accessible and passionate man.
right no one cares
1. Stella By Starlight - 0:01
2. Wave - 6:09
3. Blues in G - 11:29
4. Polka Dots and Moonbeams - 20:55
5. Summertime - 25:40
6. All the Things You Are - 33:52
7. Donna Lee - 38:36 (39:24 Salt Peanuts briefly)
8. Bluesette - 45:07
9. Estate - 52:40
10. Seven, Come Eleven - 58:02
11. Sophisticated Lady - 1:04:23
12. Prelude To A Kiss - 1:06:33
13. Don't Get Around Much Anymore - 1:07:12
14. Caravan - 1:07:29
15. Satin Doll - 1:08:43
16. Lush Life - 1:11:00
17. Take the A-Train - 1:15:13
18. Sophisticated Lady - 1:18:40
19. How High the Moon - 1:23:31
20. That Old Feeling - 1:27:00
21. Misty - 1:30:04
22. As Time Goes By - 1:32:02
23. Stompin' at the Savoy - 1:33:37
24. As Time Goes By - 1:33:49
25. Offbeat - 1:34:55
26. It's Only a Paper Moon - 1:37:50
27. Round Midnight - 1:40:09
28. Honeysuckle Rose - 1:42:51
29. Scrapple From the Apple - 1:44:24
30. I'm Glad There Is You - 1:48:09
31. Paco de Lucia - 1:55:33
32. Tarde - 1:59:55
Feel free anybody to double check these and make corrections. Does anybody know what 1:34:55 is? I suspect there's also a few missing ones which he briefly goes into especially within 1:04:00 and 1:33:00 period!. If you spot any I missed please say so and I'll update! There's a bluesy one after Honeysuckle Rose I think it is but wasn't sure. Hope this roughly helps anyway!
the tune at 1:34:55 is called "Offbeat." It's an original JP piece from Virtuoso 3.
Nice one mate.
thanks for the great work, i never posted the list i wrote because i had a couple of songs missing.cant really add anything anymore, but i just realised there is a salt peanuts lick in donna lee at around 39:20 :)
Well spotted haha!
Similar story to George Monroe. At Berklee around 73' went to symphony hall to Oscar Peterson, w/ Joe Pass.There was a snow storm and Oscar missed his flight. The place was packed probably thousands of people mostly musicians. Joe Pass played solo and had the place screaming for more. At that time I didn't know a guitarist could do that. Changed my life!
That is so friggen cool!
+Frank Kohl What a great story! Thanks. You are a lucky person.
imo the best jazz guitar player ever specializing in improv chord melodies / chord solos. just insane
I saw him play an amazing solo show at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, July 78. This video captures his stellar playing and wit. During breaks he circulated around the audience sitting at tables and talked to us joking and chatting like he was making new friends and truly appreciated people coming to see him.
As great as he is, he's humble and funny and real. THAT'S what really grabs me about Pass. You can picture yourself being buddies with him and having a beer and a burger together and talking about jazz and just about anything else... He seems like the kind of guy who would always make time for you, and be happy to do so. Just a regular, nice guy who also happens to probably be the greatest jazz guitarist in history. Amazing combination!
Yeah, I love the New York Mag quote "Joe Pass looks like somebody's uncle and plays guitar like nobody's business. He's called 'the world's greatest' and often compared to Paganini for his virtuosity. There is a certain purity to his sound that makes him stand out easily from other first-rate jazz guitarists."
Certainly didn't have the ego associated with many of the big name guitarists!
The first time I saw Joe live was in Silver Springs Maryland at the Showcase (now defunct). He wandered around the audience during the warm up act with a his hands in his sports jacket front pockets and a cigar in his mouth looking every bit like a loving old grandfather.
@@broetker Thanks for sharing and like you a retired Bandsmen. What types of strings and gauges did he use?
Joe would play in Dayton, Ohio from time to time at a place called Gilly's. One night I went back to the green room in between sets and he gave me lesson right there on that guitar. It changed my life forever. It became a mission requirement to play solo jazz guitar. Thank you for sharing.
What was the lesson? Can you remember any pearls of wisdom?
21 people took the trouble to dis-like . Go figure ? Even if Jazz ain't your bag , if you've got an inch of music in your soul you would realize Joe was a real artist .
One of my favorites. As a young guitarist I remember the first time I ever heard him play. I think it was life changing :-)
One of the greatest ever!!!
This makes sense
Holy smokes, how did he remember 31 songs! Not just changes but he's improving all around them, absolutely insane. Best ever, no question
I'm sure those were just a few in his large repertoire. Thanks for listening.
I'm impressed by his ability to play a perfect chord melody on all of his songs, he did what I couldn't do once, 31 times
@@broetker Man this is like dying and going to Haven. Bless you.
Mind blowing. No idea how he did it. Like you say, untouchable. The best.
True Genius!
THE MANY HOURS HE LABORED ON THE GUITAR TO ACHIEVE THIS LEVEL OF PLAYING SHOWS ! AN EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BEING ! 🤗
It's easy Joe pass stuff
@@dontgoout1434Easy, and Joe Pass don’t belong in the same sentence except for “Joe makes it look easy”
Damn, that brings it back.
I 1st encountered JP in '76, my first semester at Berklee. I was a rocker (more precisely, a Progger), but was already getting interested in this jazz thing thru the fusion guys. Joe had a gig at the Jazz Workshop on Boylston, and was asked to do a workshop/Q&A at the school. This was scheduled for 2:00 in the old Recital Hall at 1140 Boylston. At noon, the line stretched to Jack's Drum Shop, and they moved it to the newly-opened Performance Center pretty quick. My jaw was on the floor the rest of the day, and we got to the JW early, got good seats, and were further amazed.
At one point, JP got off on a tangent on one of those old Real Book standards, had taken it way the hell out somewhere, when he stopped for a sec, whispered "OK how do I get back?" then "Ahhh!" and executed some series of 2-5s or whatever and seamlessly returned to the head. Unforgettable.
Thanks for this....
Saw him in 1983 in a small club in downtown Denver.There was only twenty or so people there.He made a huge impression on me.I was only 14.
You were allowed to a club downtown in Denver at 14?
@@bowserh2012345 They didn't serve alcohol
@@tomsmith1847 Ah fair enough
I've been around a long time. I've seen a giant load of great musicians in my life, and in particular guitar players. I've even seen Joe Pass, close up at The Village Gate, in Greenwich Village and other places too. But, damn !!! I have never seen anything quite like this performance on the guitar, in my life. This really IS quite a treat. Joe was remarkable, and I assume we all knew that. But, this is magnificent. Two hours in a music store?? Holy crap. Amazing. This is what we imagine in our heads when we think of guitar perfection. Few ever get there.
i play for almost 30 years, not even close to get 1% of professor passalaqua, what a true genius, his flow is suberb, almost unhuman, we miss you joe.
I heard Joe Pass playing and instantly was hooked. For he's a jolly good jazz man which nobody can deny.
This is absolute lesson in what the guitar can do. The instrument has had its share of masters over the years and Joe is unquestionably one of them.. How sad that the generations of guitar players raised on R & R , and shredding in particular, do not get the exposure to Joe and this type of music that he and it deserve.
I'm upset nowadays people play rock, metal and those mainstream things. Whilst jazz is incredibly rare. As a 15 year old female jazz (jazz standard) guitarist/vocalist, i have no friends at all pfft nobody LITERALLY likes jazz. Nobody. Not in my peers/eyes at least.
+N so if you're looking for inspiration listen to Emily Remler. There have been precious few female jazz guitarists. But don't follow her into the world of drugs! I guess that's what ended up taking her life. Surely, though, give her playing a listen.
+N so if you're looking for inspiration listen to Emily Remler. There have been precious few female jazz guitarists. But don't follow her into the world of drugs! I guess that's what ended up taking her life. Surely, though, give her playing a listen.
+apoculamus ah i have indeed learned a lot from her! Even though she doesn't play fingerstyle her playing is still incredible. I listen to Joe Pass, Ted Greene, George Van Eps, Ella Fitzgerald and many more honestly.
I'm 42 and nobody liked jazz when i was starting out either.
PURE MUSICAL GENIUS.
I didn't know guitars could sing!
I finageled a lesson with him in the early '70's in the San Fernando Valley. Part of my story was I had (and still own) an ES 175 and I was inspired to play jazz after listening to his For Django LP (true). I knew some basic substitue chords, ii-V-I turn arounds and some chord runs but that was all at that time...he was very kind and for $20 (a lot then) he gave me an attentive 20 minute lesson. A true gentleman and genius on guitar.
May I ask what did he teach you?
The solo Jazz guitar maestro and virtuoso said "you cannot think and play" but most of us we are taught in our music schools to always think of "chord scales and modes" to navigate the changes.
I think his performance here outshines most of the pro shot stuff. His natural environment perhaps!
If you watch most of his live performances they're better than the album recordings. Compare the 1992 Summertime live one to his Virtuoso one, it's most better!
When I figure out a new standard as a chord-melody, I tend to go: 1st chord, 2nd chord, etc, then string them all together. Listening to Pass (ex: Sophisticated Lady) reminds me that it needs to be more seamless, that a tune is not just a sequence of changes but rather a continuous flow of harmonies and you need to really use your ears to make it smooth and interesting... So yes, first figure out the changes, but then go back and re-orchestrate (if that makes sense) to really make it MUSIC. Very inspiring.
howard morgan has a great course you can buy on TrueFire that explains that very well. One of the best courses i have ever bought. I too struggle to get it to flow sometimes, howard shows you how to connect things very well. I like using my own arrangements too, but I do steal a lot lol. The course is called Fretboard breakthrough. If you try out a free month, you will be able to buy it cheaper, I'm from 1960
A brilliant artist!! Soothing but alert and intellectually stimulative, intimate but can sound like an orchestra on fire, creative surprise at every stroke and before anything else the humor!!!
No-one does it better ... always a joy to see and hear Joe Pass playing. Thanks for sharing.
I'm glad someone took the time to record this event, and to post it, what an awesome guy and he plays effortlessly. Just Brilliant. ..thanks
I would love to make a movie about Joe and his performance at this music store in 1985 when jazz was fusion and such. It would be a melancholy look at artists whose art is under appreciated but appreciated by few and the problems that life brings.
I a movie around this spontaneous performance is a great idea!
This is more than 2 hours long of just a man and his instrument,no drums, no effects,nothing but this man’s soul coming out of that d’angelico hollow body guitar..... If Joe pass isn’t a jazz genius than i don’t know what or who is... Ripeace Joe.
Well said.
I was fortunate to be at this show as I was assigned TEMP DUTY at Dam Neck and would stop in the store checking out guitars and saw the poster fore this show. At can be seen, Joe Pass is absolutely amazing.
True self expression. A man and his instrument. Nothing more nothing less. RIP Joe!
Great contribution Robert. 1986 got orders to be assigned to Marine Corps Base, Quantico. Where Joe Pass served as a Marine in the 1940s, presumably. On Main St., Quantico was "Bill's Shoes". Owned by Billy Martin. A piano player who had served with Joe. They even played gigs at the White House in those days. Bill was a friendly guy. Who lamented that Joe never called him when he visited Washington D.C. Finally in 1988 my active duty was up. And I flew to Munich, Germany. Where I still reside. In late 1988 or 1989 Joe and Ella gave a concert in Munich. Got to meet and talk with them both after the concert backstage. Lovely experience I cherish and keep as a personal inspiration. Thanks for posting Robert.
Amazing Mr.Pass! Thank God for UA-cam
Even as a bassist, I am captivated by Jazz Guitarists. Joe always stood out, had a voice of his own, and he was paisan 🤌
wow, Joe Pass plays in a small music store, and you are with him!!!
I think joe was very comfortable and his playing was more free because of that.
To make this more listenable as a performance, I downloaded this and edited out all the talking and jokes, just captured the tunes.. I ended up with 1 hour 36 minutes of pure JP. It has subsequently become my favorite Joe Pass "album".. Listen to it constantly. Thanks again to the poster of this gem...
Great idea. You could post that for other folks to download. Thanks.
Great idea!
True master!!...great and rare "footage"!!...you can ear him keeping time with is "foot"!!...love is playing!!...melody, harmony, rythm, fills etc...amazing!!...and great endings!!...
I was blessed to see him five or six times in San Diego, got to talk with him two or three times. Great guy and my north star as far as the instrument, but if I lived another six hundred years I doubt I could get there. Thanks for this.
I finally got to watch this vid in it's entirety and, needless to say after reading all the comments of praise, this is an absolute treasure. Thank you,Robert, for posting this and I truly envy you for having been able to spend time with, imo, the greatest guitarist the world has ever known. Long live the brilliance of Joe.
"greatest guitarist the world has ever known"
truth
You may be right. But Nigel Price!!
We are indebted to Joe's dad for being such a taskmaster with his son and have him play tunes day and night. What a gift that humble factory worker gave us all.
really liked his playing........you will always be in our hearts Joe Pass R.I.P
This is the best Joe Pass show I have ever heard, thanks so much for recording it and the re- upload
here is a very insightful interview about Joe
digital.nepr.net/music/2016/01/13/joe-pass/#:~:text=Pass%20next%20worked%20in%20show,he%20entered%20Synanon%20in%201960.
Just red you blog story. Amazing. You are blessed to have had this time with him.
+greatvanzinni Or Read as some might say! LOL!
Playing in a relaxed way with no pressure!!...talk about a "master" class!!...
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I saw Joe play at least 3 times but the first was when I just started university and it turned me not only onto Jazz but a desire to learn guitars because this was what it could do..,. Amazing! The first set was Joe, solo guitar and the second set was him and Oscar Peterson. So two unforgettable experiences.
Not that music is a contest, but He Is the best of all time In my opinion. Thanks for posting this inspiration!
Couldn't agree more!
OMG - This is one of the best concerts I've seen by him. I've seen him in three states over the years. I've got tears in my eyes right now. What a great guitar player. One of the best. Thanks Robert and thanks Joe, you'll be missed. Notice he never looked at the fretboard he knew exactly where he was at all times. Again Thank You so much.
Joe Pass, gênio da guitarra! Harmonia complexa, intercalada com acordes dissonantes e uma técnica magistral.
Parabéns pelo vídeo.
He leave us a lot of good music,lets apreciate it!
The best jazz guitarist of All time! Not that music is a contest. Thanks for the inspiration :-)
The most amazing man to ever play guitar. Joe, you might not have enjoyed being video recorded, but there is no telling how much better my life is because you allowed it and gave this gift! Thank you !
Robert: The highest compliments to you for capturing and sharing this: This video is a treasure-- I downloaded it and must have played it a zillion times...and I have yet to be done with it. As a developing jazz guitarist, to me this would be a no-question "desert island video".. (ie, if I had just one to take with me...) I firmly believe that everything you wanted to ever know about jazz guitar is on this video: No need to look any further. There's priceless lessons inherent in both his playing and his commentary. Absolute GOLD. Its only flaw is that it ends. Thanks again.
After 70 yrs of playing; what can I say? Mystical. Hands down: the very best! Excellence. Perfection. Is this even possible?
Not really Joe repeats same stuff
Notice how he jumps all over the neck from position to position using passing chords etc...what a player!!...
Mains Blanches Notice how he doesn’t look at the neck either 👌
In the early 80s , at the Village Gate, I HAD THE HONOR of sitting with Mr.Pass on his break .
I asked him how much does he practice, he said that he does not have enough time now, but he said that he would practice 8 to 10 hours a day when he was learning to play. We both drank Vodka and Grapefruit Juice and I did not have the nerve to tell him that I HAD
RECORDED HIS FIRST SET ......I still have that tape ...lol
We want the tape lol
yes please post tape, Robert.
How could anyone give this a thumbs down?!!! If you do that then you should be able to get up and play like that... and you can't.
Boy oh boy....I recently discovered this. Can't say much more than what I keep reading, an absolute treasure. The one thing I don't like about this video, is that every single time I've watched it, I'm stuck here for 2 hours and get nothing accomplished ;) Lookit him taking that coat off, what a cool cat. It's like he's Uncle Joe to us all. Thank you so much for this!
i love this man so much. you can feel the emotion in his playing every time. warmth, sadness, joy, and spirit. thanks for all the memories joe. rip...
I’m my 2nd rock band in high school my fellow guitarist’s dad Irwin Rosman was a genius. A scientist at Rockadyn, a game developer who independently invented board games for companies like Milton Bradley but he also was an arranger for Joe Pass. He arranged allot of his stuff and as we were rehearsing Joe would just pop in! And he always asked if he could play one of our guitars to try out the arrangement.
Needless to say, our rehearsal was over after Joe played, nobody wanted to ruin the vibe!
This is an amazing video. Living or dead, few come close.
Randy Cherry got that right..
Wow this performance of Joe is just amazing. I agree with the posters who feel this is better than his solo recordings! He is so relaxed here. Thanks so much for posting this. It really shows the depth of his playing as well as what a kind soul he was. What a gift you have given us to see this glimpse into the greatest solo jazz guitarist the world has ever seen. The one and only Joe Pass.
Oh my redefines how to hear all the things you are… 🙏
This must have been the coolest experience for everybody there. I would give anything to see Joe Pass in such an intimate setting, sadly he passed away a year before I was born!
Also, you gotta love all the people in the audience calling tunes like take five, lmao.
There is nothing I can add in praise of Joe Pass that has not been said before. But in case you have never heard the record he made with Roy Clark shortly before he died you have a treat in store. Apparently he always admired Roy Clark and wanted to have a chance to play with him. They got together and recorded an album of Hank Williams tunes. And it is absolutely incredible but what I like best about it is that most of Hank's stuff is fairly simple 3 chord tunes that are masterpieces in their own right. But they are such less complex harmonically than most jazz standards. Still Joe and Roy wove incredible lines in around over and upside down through them. If you haven't heard it you should hunt it up.
dear joe..miss you every day
So Beautiful.Thank you,what a treat.Saw him a few times in the Seventies,Just the best.
Just mind blowing!!!!!!
Incredible. Thanks so much for this world treasure.
How does he do that. Wow!! He never runs out of ideas. Always with his eyes closed. Breathtaking!! Joe is a real beauty!
My god....lol..you gotto be kidding me....the best of all time...
its so awesome how relaxed he is while playing and improvising all of those songs
Thank you Robert, precious.
Amazing player. JP 20 Ibanez?
Thanks for posting this. I am watching it in sections.
Thanks Bob. SO much!
I got to hang with Joe too.
He was really supportive of other musicians.
PS the guitar was an Ibanez JP20, Joe designed it and had a deal to use them. I owned one years ago, lovely instrument although its single pickup placement away from the neck meant it lacked a warm jazz sound (in my opinion)
Wonderful upload, many thanks.
einer der größten aller zeiten danke.
This just what I needed to get back on track to playing Jazz...what a talent!
what a brilliant guitar master----none like Joe....such beautiful licks. my my my
Audio ear listening and theory and practice and God given talent and determination but without this video i would have missed the pick in the mouth while the left hand still hammers the smooth fluent lead bass chords seamlessly around 15:16. . amazing musician
Spontaneous Guitarrist, spontaneous man.
Thanks for the posting of this! Joe Pass, the Art Tatum of the jazz guitar!
I was lucky enough to see
JOE play live at SCULLERS JAZZ CLUB many years ago, not to long before his death. A memory to last a lifetime! He was nice enough to also sign an album for me to.
HE'S a major influence on my own playing. He was a
"Heavy Weight" talent we'll never see the likes of again.
TRUELLY a master indeed!
Thanks Joe!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Joe was unique and a giant among guitar players.
This is a gold mine of Pass Guitar, looks like Mr P was feeling comfortable cause he is in a groove, Big time.
Amazing connect straight to the heaven👍the best.
Pure Joy. All of this.
Thank you for this.
Wonderful!
Thank you from Italy, JP forever...
Wow Bob, thanks a zillion, this is great!
excellent upload! this kind of video is the best thing about youtube.
Thank-you so much for this video. Joe always has a great sense of humour. Even in his instructional videos.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is gold! Thanks for the upload.
You are quite welcome.
This is superb thank you. Not just great techniques etc - but just plain fab music.
Quite a tie choice for '85 too...
Absolutely Superb !. Marvellous Stuff !. Dear Joe. Will We See His Like Again ?, I Doubt It.
you got us A treasure!
one hell of authentic preformance!
fucking genius!
Thank you for sharing the man with genius fingers, super beat leg.
Thanks for sharing!!!
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Thanks a lot for this video from Italy!
My pleasure!
What a treasure! Thanks for posting
Wow! What a treasure. Thanks for sharing this genuine miracle!
Peak Joe! Great video. No one swings like Joe!