Joe Pass - Intercontinental

Joe Pass is one of the most innovating and influential US jazz guitarists. Thanks to the famous recordings with Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, but above all with the help of his Trio and solo sessions, his impressive performance, which often united subject and chord accompaniment, remains in the memory elegantly and timelessly.

With his multi-faceted performance, Pass also shone on the Trio album recorded in June 1970 in Villingen, on which he can effortlessly develop his creativity as the bandleader. Both the American-European line-up and the choice of compositions are a credit here to the album title. Eberhard Weber was one of the most important (contra-) bassists of modern jazz in Germany at the time, whilst the swinging drummer Kenny Clare came from England and played in the Clarke-Boland big band, amongst others. Classic big band titles like “Stomping at the Savoy”, Brazilian Bossa nova (A.C. Jobim’s “Meditation”) and American jazz standards appear on the programme. The lyrically swinging self-composition “Joe’s Blues” is to be highlighted.

Despite his exciting multiformity, “Intercontinental” remains a pleasantly accessible album. In association with the analogue AAA restoration, it has become audiophile delectation that captivates above all thanks to his warm analogue sound.

Label: MPS