This interview with Joe Pass was recorded in the summer of 1984. A few insights are provided as to how and why Mr. Pass began his solo career. Sadly, the bulk of the interview is lost due to the deterioration of the original videotape.
The more I see of Joe Pass, the more I admire him as a person. His guitar skills have always been phenomenal. To have that much talent and still be a good guy is a remarkable feat indeed.
He truly was a good human being. I was fortunate enough to have a lesson with him in the fall of 1976 that was set up by a mutual friend. I was scared to death. But Joe eventually got me to "calm" down. It was one of the more interesting hours of my entire life. His immense talent was matched by his genuine humility
He is right.. I am alone and watch tv with my guitar..."The very though of you "...was the first I learn from Joe Pass...I mis him...Joe was genius and was a very important teacher ...r.i.p ♥️🎸🎵🎶🦋
Joe is one of the few guitarists who are respected by musicians of all instruments. I am so grateful that my early guitar teacher exposed me to Joe Pass. His music has enriched my life.
what a great musician, this guy could play chords with his fingers, and that sounds magic, then he could play fast lines with a pick, and that sounded magical too. A real hero, Giuseppe Passalacqua
I can't explain adequately how much I value his method series, arrangements, recordings, the transcriptions (Roland Leone, Alan de Mause etc). Such a unique, humble, and virtuosic talent.
this approach and advice on guitar is always so encouraging, he makes it seem that its nothing that special, even to get to be one of the best players out there. this is in stark contrast to the classical snobbery which i was so much around when i was qualifying to be a concert pianist.. when in reality people had more a view or expectation of reality, than what is was really like. Honestly, I pay jazz and classical piano for 20yrs now professionally and I learnt 50% of my stuff in the classrooms and the other performing or collaborating live, and I still practice while watching tv... come on really, how can anyone sit there for 4hrs playing the same scale to build muscle memory doing the same thing over and over again?
This is why I thought it was important to upload this interview even though it is just a short clip. Mr. Pass' philosophy on playing and his music was simple and accessible and yet profound in its own way. Nice assessment.
I would have a hard time having a conversation with THE Joe Pass playing there right in front of me. Those friends of Joe's father didn't know the blessing they were receiving. JP is one guitarist who seemed to never run out of ideas. Put him next to Oscar Peterson on piano and new dimensions open before your ears.
He WAS great without drugs-- If you bothered to find out about his life, his addictions were during the '50s when he fell in with a bad crowd, and he wasn't recording anything during that period.. It was after he cleaned himself up that he began producing his monster output.
Joe became great after he quit drugs. Joe checked checked himself into Synanon, a drug addiction treatment program for musicians, at a time he had no guitar. Synanon had a Fender Jaguar for Joe to play. You can see joe playing that guitar in some old videos. Joe joined Oscar Peterson, played solo albums, and accompanied Ella Fitzgerald. Joe was an innovator. Quitting drugs opened doors for him.
