Virtuoso

by Joe Pass

Overview

When Joe Pass recorded and released this first of his Virtuoso series of albums, he was 44 years old, and ready to reclaim his crown as king of jazz guitar after years of heroin abuse. As a solo artist playing only acoustic guitar in an amplified fusion era, the odds were stacked against him, but Pass boldly issued this, his most creative and improvisation-based work, to mass critical acclaim and widespread general public sales. The genius of Pass was that he was easily able to retain melodic lines of these standards while adding stretched-out, extrapolated thoughts on the top and bottom of the melodies. On every track, with each passing phrase, modified and extended line or poetic thought, Pass proves his unique style is better than all the rest. On the marvelous "Night & Day," classical-flavored "Stella by Starlight" with no small influence of Andres Segovia, faster than the pounding precipitation and pain of "Here's That Rainy Day," or purely improvised "Cherokee," Pass is at the top of his game. He occasionally concentrates more on the melody for the pensive "'Round Midnight" or the fleet "All the Things You Are," but meets any challenge during a masterful remake of "The Song Is You." There can be no doubt as to the essential nature of this incredible recording, a top five item for any jazz guitarist, one of the great modern-day contemporary albums, and essential listening for any serious music lover -- a must have item. ~ Michael G. Nastos

Product Details

Release Date:	11/04/2016
Label:	Imports
UPC:	4988031178850
Rank:	41171

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Joe Pass   Primary Artist,Guitar,Soloist

Technical Credits

Dennis Sands   Engineer
Joe Pass   Composer
Sam Coslow   Composer
James Van Heusen   Composer
Ned Washington   Composer
Nancy Hamilton   Composer
Norman Granz   Producer
Thelonious Monk   Composer
Morgan Lewis   Composer
Arthur Johnston   Composer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Akira Taguchi   Mastering Supervisor
Cootie Williams   Composer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Victor Young   Composer
Johnny Burke   Composer
Alan Yoshida   Mastering
Shigeo Miyamoto   Engineer,Mastering
Phil Stern   Cover Photo
Kazue Sugimoto   Remastering Supervisor
Benny Green   Liner Notes
Tamaki Beck   Mastering Supervisor,Engineering Supervisor
Ray Noble   Composer
Bernie Hanighen   Composer
Cole Porter   Composer
Clifford R. Burwell   Composer
Jerome Kern   Composer
Lorenz Hart   Composer