Ain’t Misbehavin’ – 1980s
Joe Pass
Relaxed but dazzling unaccompanied guitar
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Joe Pass (1929-94) started out his career as a skilled but conventional guitarist.
In the 1950s drugs hurt his career and life but he made a complete comeback in the 1960s, becoming an increasingly popular bop-oriented guitarist who worked with Gerald Wilson, Les McCann, George Shearing, and in the studios in addition to recording some very good albums of his own.
However it was in the early 1970s when he was discovered by producer Norman Granz, signed to the Pablo label, and began featuring his guitar unaccompanied that his musical genius was recognized.
Pass could play the melody, chords, countermelodies and a bass line at the same time, sometimes sounding like two or three guitarists at once but, unlike Stanley Jordan who came around years later, not by using the tapping technique; he could play an uptempo “Cherokee” and sound like a full band by himself.
Introduced on this early 1980s performance by Oscar Peterson, here is Joe Pass playing a subtle but dazzling guitar solo on “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”
-Scott Yanow
