Joseph Anthony Pass & Edward Kennedy Ellington

by | Feb 27, 2022 | Quartet/Quintet

Hearing Joe Pass and Duke Ellington together would normally be a rare treat in itself, but put them together in a small group setting and you have reason to celebrate!  Ellington was always an underrated piano player, probably because he is usually lost among 15 or 16 other incredibly talented musicians in his own band and you don’t really hear him.  After all, as the leader Duke is often buried in plain sight.  Now add bassist Ray Brown and drummer Louie Bellson to the mix, and what you have is the amazing quartet performing Cottontail in the video above and Love You Madly below on a cut from Duke’s 1974 “Big 4” album. Joe Pass?  Well, he sets fire to any group of fine musicians … large or small, slow or fast!

Love You Madly

by Joe Pass & Duke Elliington | Duke's Big 4

Andre Previn & His Friends

by | Aug 21, 2020 | Audio, Trio

Andre Previn actually started out playing jazz but ultimately became primarily known for his classical piano, conducting, composing and arranging in other genres, including Hollywood films (He scored more than 50 during his career).  So, when someone says “Wow, he plays jazz too!” … I say “Wow, he plays classical too!”  On Black & Blue Previn teams up with his friends Shelly Manne and Leroy Vinegar, while A Toujours hands the bass over to Red Mitchell.  Through the years, with these trios, he recorded an entire jazz series of show tunes, piano standards and works of legendary composers. On Ellington’s Cotton Tail Andre is joined by Joe Pass and Ray Brown for some masterful syncopation!

Black and Blue

by Andre Previn | Andre Previn Plays Fats Waller

Cotton Tail

by Andre Previn | After Hours

A Toujours

by Andre Previn | Gigi

Soft Winds / Cakewalk – Oscar Peterson & Joe Pass

by | May 15, 2020 | Quartet/Quintet

In the simplest terms … Oscar Peterson plays more notes per measure than are able to be played with only 10 fingers and 88 keys.  But, he plays them just the same and makes it look easy!  Joe Pass is his perfect complement, as you’ll hear in both Cakewalk, also called ‘Noreen’s Nocturne’ (The top tune) and Soft Winds (The bottom one).  Notice the red circles on the music sheet … that’s what Peterson’s chart typically looks like and, if you are familiar with Oscar, you know how it sounds.

He is joined on both songs by Dave Young on bass, Martin Drew playing drums and of course the Pass magic on guitar.  Are these guys having fun, or what??

Satin Doll – Joe Pass

by | Jan 25, 2019 | Trio

You know a musician is truly great when you can literally listen to him play all day long and still want more. Joe Pass was one of those musicians … arguably the finest jazz guitarist of the Twentieth Century and one of the best jazz guitarists of all time!  Even his imperfections were so enjoyable that nobody cared.  He was a most serious musician who felt deeply about his music but liked to have fun with it at the same time.  Here, he performs the Ellington-Strayhorn classic Satin Doll with Bob Magnusson on bass and Joe Porcaro playing drums.

Hear my interview with Joe on our Jazz Scene PODCAST page.

Oleo – Joe Pass & Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen

by | Mar 3, 2017 | Solo/Duo

Joe Pass was an American musician of Sicilian descent … arguably one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century. Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (often called NHOP) was a Danish upright bassist and composer known as The Great Dane with the Never-Ending Name. Together they speak fluent jazz!