He was born in a musical ambient, he started playing at a very early age, he had good teachers, he had parents who disciplined him to practice and motivated him, he had a healthy competitive relation with his brother, he had good ears and a great passion and love for this music. All the conditions were reunited for the creation of a virtuoso
Exactly! Questions I would have asked. Did Pasquale learn to play piano? Did he receive formal training in classical guitar at a young age or later in his graduate studies? His playing is very pianistic which is synergistic with classical and jazz guitar. Pasquale is refreshingly Italian - honest, open, crediting his brother and family with his success. Bravo! . .
@@patrickkelly9621exactly… there is a story that Barry used to tell us about the “ best “ young players in the world would be these 2 young Italian brothers …. He was correct…. Barry also mentioned a phenomenon - Italian stride and bebop player …Rossano
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It's what happens when you have a great teacher saying to a young gifted kid that que question isn't about what is possible or impossible to play on his instrument but finding out how it can be done, and the kid take it really seriously...
Mr. Bob Bakert: A wonderful interview with my favorite guitarist! Some great information and interesting background on Pasquale. I would like to recommend an amplifier to him, but maybe it would be better to contact him directly. How would I do that? Also, I appreciated the comments he made about how musicians dress. On my YT Channel, I usually dress casually. On the job (I mostly play solo-jazz guitar), I always wear a suit and tie. I just think that's how professional musicians should present themselves. Once again, thank you Bob and Pasquale for such a nice interview...a job well done!
Hi Fred, Thanks for the compliments and support, it is very appreciated. I recommend you contact Pasquale either through the contact on his website or maybe try messenger on Facebook... He's a great guy and an amazing player. Best, Bob
27:34 what tune is that? the counterpoint one? it sounds so amazing man! wow! i am guessing a bird tune? but i don;t recognize it. we're so lucky to live in this era where guitar has being evolved to so much levels
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For the record--and anyone who is listening--can we STOP comparing Pasquale Grasso to Joe Pass. Don't get me wrong, they both play beautifully--and Joe Pass did a lot to bring solo guitar into its own... along with George Van Eps--who is seldom mentioned. Pasquale plays like Bud Powell, like Barry Harris, like Charlie Parker, and like Dizzy. Listen to his inspiration--Elmo Hope and Bud Powell. He doesn't sound like Joe Pass--and that should be a revelation to the jazz guitar community. Pasquale Grasso plays bebop lines that few parallel on the guitar--he doesn't play single lines like Joe Pass either. True bebop--a new bar has been raised. Would have been great to hear him play with Jimmy Raney.
So true, but he has the virtuosity of Pass. I saw Pass in the '70s and he mesmerized the room. I'd like to see Grasso. To me, the newer players don't have the same soul as the greats like Dexter Gordon and Powell. It's almost like jazz has become a new classical music and the new players are divas who never knew the hardships of the era when jazz was being created. I saw the Marsalis brothers in the '80s and they were weak sauce. They played with VSOP once and I thought they might pee their pants. That said, glad jazz is being played, it's the greatest achievement in American music.
Pasquale Grasso! What can one say? My wife is from Padova and I lived for ten years in Italy. Wonderful experience. Pasquale is so genuine and his family so talented. Bravo, and forza Pasquale!
His home environment was the best to grasp long lost work ethics in the country who invented Jazz and Blues! There is no easy route and practice matters. Trane..Martin Taylor..Joe Henderson didn't have perfect pitch!
Bravo ! This is such an inspiring interview. Pasquale’s have to be one of the most exciting jazz guitarists in the world. I wish him a long career with lots of recognition🙏🏼
Siamo molto contenti che ti sia piaciuto questo intervista Pier. Grazie per aver guardato e per il tuo contributo! Sentiti libero di mettere Mi piace, Condividere e Iscriverti al nostro canale. Ciao!
Pasquale...love your guitar playing...looking forward to seeing you live again in NYC...when will you join Frank Vignola's guitar night at Birdland? That would be awesome to see...
There are so many of detractors of his "old-styled" harmonic and melodic approach, but I really think he IS moving forward the way have been traditionally played, no one ever dared to perform such pianistic tunes in such an accomplished way, improvising so many harmonised melodies and playing such wide yet full chord voicings. Surely not revolutionized music but a specific stream of jazz guitar without any doubt! Let's keep in mind we're talking about archtop guitars and not talking about electric guitars, which I consider two separate instruments with a lot in common but different potentials each. When kids will realize this and get inspired, they could definitely make huge improvements to the guitar if spoused to more contemporary sound and repertoire.
Wow. He has an enormous left hand where the fingers have complete independence. I’ve never seen anything like it outside of classical guitar, and even then …
I always had a disconnect with bebop for years-trad jazz, brazilian, cool, etc I could really find and love stuff in them but bebop never spoke to me. I would listen to Bud and Bird per the usual recommendations and while I was able to appreciate their technical prowess and creativity, it didn't spark for me until FINALLY a horn player friend casually told me about Pasquale.
Around 1:50 he says his favorite pianists were Bud Powell, then WHO? & Thelonius Monk... I couldn't recognize the name... (I guess due to the combination of audio quality, accent, etc...)
17:32 incredible! his mom actually learned notes by herself so she could teach them! he completely ignored that...i guess he mis-understood or something. its no easy feat to learn how to read, and even more to make your children play them
Hooray for Classical guitar, how I started and yea it has made a difference for me in my pursuit of Jazz guitar. Last year I had the privilege to hear Pascali live at an intimate venue with the great vocalist phenom Samara Joy. I hope they tour again and come back. I will make a point to drop everything I’m doing. Before that I didn’t know anything about him.
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Pasquale is obviously amazing, but I wouldn’t say he’s really moving anything forward. To me, he sounds like Bud Powell on guitar. Breathtakingly amazing, but not new.
What an absolutely stunning guitarist. I love his playing and seems like a great guy also. Thanks for the content. Sounds like a beautiful piano player on guitar.
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Pasquale Grasso and Claudio Quartarone are the greatest jazz guitarist right not imo. It's incredible that both are from South Italy! Great interview btw
Oh my Mr Grasso is a revelation, he is phenomenal!!!, a really nice person it seems, and he most definitely is a lover of music. He is an amazing guitarist/musician. I am soo happy there is a young person carru Bud's torch... Bud Powell deserves it.
@@jazzguitartodayHis is the most humble and nature based interview heard among hundreds. There is no b.s or political based cowardices instead raw honesty! Nay I contact you via email?
What, William Ash not playing guitar anymore? That's kinda weird, his son is a great guitarist too. Pasquale you need to make it out here to Phoenix AZ, particularly at the Musical Instrument Museum, lots of great players have been through here and a great venue. Looking forward to that new album.
William Ash stopped performing on guitar several years ago. He plays bass mostly in Latin jazz settings. Check him out on the Los Hacheros Tiny Desk concert on RU-vid. That said, he’s recently played a couple of low key gigs on guitar at Mezzrow, on trios led by Ari Roland. He still sounds great!
Mr. Grasso is simply amazing. Wonderful interview. Another jazz guitarist who has the technical facility and ability to play anything on guitar is Swedish virtuoso, Ulf Wakenius. It would be amazing to see Mr. Wakenius and Mr. Grasso perform together some day. Thanks for the inspiring insights.
I really love what he said about the relationship between you as a person and your music, and how fixing your issues will help your music. So true. Some of the warmest musicians (like Pasquale, or Julian Lage) are the warmest people.
