Blues for Fred

Joe Pass | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 14, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Pablo
• ASIN: B000000XKI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #331,878 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Cheek to Cheek

2. By Myself

3. Night And Day

4. They Can't Take That Away From Me

5. Blues For Fred/They All Laughed

6. Dancing In The Dark

7. Oh, Lady Be Good

8. I Concentrate On You

9. A Foggy Day

10. The Way You Look Tonight

11. Tap Blues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fred Astaire is in awe of this elegant, understated tribute, March 1, 2002

By 

Alan Hutchins (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blues for Fred (Audio CD)

Joe Pass had done solo guitar discs before this one, most noteably the series of Virtuoso discs. In fact, some of the titles on "Blues for Fred" had been recorded by him as solo pieces before the late 80's session that yielded this disc. Susequent to Fred Astaire's death, Joe got the idea of paying tribute by way of a solo set of most of the best known songs from many of Fred's classic films and plays, often the ones written by Cole Porter.

Joe's earliest solo work often contained frenetic pacing and relied almost too heavily on numerous flights of fancy and note-crammed tangents shoved randomly into the song structures, particularly on the first of the "Virtuoso" discs.
On "Blues for Fred", and older, wiser and much more calm Joe Pass is evident. He had aged well to this point in his career; his choices in this set of standards reflects time and again the wisdom of letting fewer notes tell the story, of allowing the melody to shine through without heavy embellishment, of pacing the entire set at more of a trot than a sprint.

There is no question that Joe's virtuosity and mastery of his instrument is still evident. This is not as abrasive sounding as the first Virtuoso disc, but Joe still manages to display jaw-dropping inventiveness and prowess in how he negotiates keeping up with the simultaneous rhythm and lead guitar chores throughout. There is an overall mellow vibe to this set that makes it quite appropriate for accompanyment to a fine meal or time by the fire late at night, but this is not exactly easy listening music, either.

Anyone with a deep appreciation of fine songcraft performed and interpreted with excellence in a solo guitar setting is strongly encouraged to add this essential disc to their collection. You'd have to be a stone-hearted, tin-eared geek not to recognize the fine artistry and amazing depth of the performances on this disc. The world is a poorer place with both Fred's and Joe's departure from it. Someone needs to do a "Blues for Joe" disc to pay tribute the rich legacy of this underappreciated guitar master.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If Segovia Played Jazz, April 14, 2006

By 

David K. Bell (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blues for Fred (Audio CD)

I like to think that if Segovia played jazz, he would have sounded a lot like this album. The virtuosity, tone and playful mastery of Pass's playing is as unsurpassed among jazz guitarists as Segovia's was in the classical realm.

This is Joe Pass solo, and it is simply jaw dropping. If you are an avid jazz listener, you will be amazed and delighted. If like me, you try to play jazz guitar yourself, you will be stupified.

Yes, the brilliant, flawless technique is here, but it isn't showy or forced. The tracks were recorded in 1988, late in Pass's career, and his restraint, taste and maturity reflect it.

The tune selection is a delight. Who could argue with any of them? And Joe's chord voicings, harmonic choices and rhythmic scamperings bring out the playful best in each. They are all played in the chord/melody style that I think no one does better than Joe Pass.

Fun for everyone and an eat-your-heart-out must for all guitar players.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pass at his Very Finest, July 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Blues for Fred (Audio CD)

If you could own just one Joe Pass album, this would be the one. It's all solo guitar, with Joe working through classics such as Night and Day, Cheek to Cheek and The Way You look Tonight. There is an astonishing level of melodic and harmonic inventiveness here, and the music swings, too.