It was Norman Granz, the iconic producer of Jazz at the Philharmonic and the founder of Verve Records, who, upon hearing Pass in 1970, immediately recognised the "new talent" and signed him to Granz's new Pablo Records label (named for Granz's friend Pablo Picasso).
In 1974, Pass released his landmark solo album "Virtuoso" on Pablo Records. Also in 1974, Pablo Records released the album "The Trio" featuring Pass, Oscar Peterson, and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. "The Trio" won a Grammy award for best jazz performance. As part of the Pablo Records "stable," Pass also recorded with Benny Carter, Robert Conti, Milt Jackson, Herb Ellis, Zoot Sims, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan and others.
Pass is known for his brilliant chord melody work where he simultaneously plays walking bass and chord melodies.
Méditation
Joe Pass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No amor, no sorriso, na flor
Então sonhou, sonhou
E perdeu a paz
O amor, o sorriso e a flor
Se transformam depressa demais
Quem, no coração
Abrigou a tristeza de ver
E, na solidão
Procurou um caminho e seguiu
Já descrente de um dia feliz
Quem chorou, chorou
E tanto que seu pranto já secou
Quem depois voltou
Ao amor, ao sorriso e à flor
Então tudo encontrou
Pois a própria dor
Revelou o caminho do amor
E a tristeza acabou
The lyrics of Joe Pass's song "Meditation" convey themes of disillusionment, loss, and eventual reconciliation with love and happiness. The first verse speaks of those who believed in love, smiles, and beauty, and how they dreamt and lost their peace. Love, smiles, and beauty are transitory and fleeting, and the second verse speaks of those who held sadness in their hearts as they saw these things disappear, and who sought out a path in their loneliness, resigned to a future without happiness. The third verse speaks of those who cried so much that they dried their tears, but who eventually returned to love, smiles, and beauty, and found everything they sought. It is the pain of loss that ultimately guides them towards the path of love.
The song suggests that the loss of love and beauty can be a painful but ultimately illuminating experience, revealing the way to a happier life. The theme of disillusionment leading to eventual resolution is a common one in literature and music alike, as the idea of absences making the heart grow fonder speaks to the human experience of longing and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Quem acreditou
Whoever believed
No amor, no sorriso, na flor
In love, in smile, in flower
Então sonhou, sonhou
Then dreamt, dreamt
E perdeu a paz
And lost peace
O amor, o sorriso e a flor
Love, smile, and flower
Se transformam depressa demais
Transform too quickly
Quem, no coração
Who, in the heart
Abrigou a tristeza de ver
Held the sadness of seeing
Tudo isto se perder
All of it lost
E, na solidão
And in loneliness
Procurou um caminho e seguiu
Sought a path and followed
Já descrente de um dia feliz
Already disbelieving a happy day
Quem chorou, chorou
Whoever cried, cried
E tanto que seu pranto já secou
So much that their tears have dried
Quem depois voltou
Who later returned
Ao amor, ao sorriso e à flor
To love, to smile, and to flower
Então tudo encontrou
Then found everything
Pois a própria dor
For their own pain
Revelou o caminho do amor
Revealed the path to love
E a tristeza acabou
And sadness ended
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTONIO CARLOS BRASILEIRO DE A JOBIM, NEWTON MENDONCA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Al Just Al
Recorded live between January 30 and February 1, 1992 in Oakland, CA when Joe was 63, two years before his death in 1994. Although he' was playing in a calmer, more sedate style than he did on his fiery solo discs of the early 70's (i.e. Virtuoso), this recording shows that he had lost none of his amazing dexterity or ability to play simultaneous lead and chords. This is one guy playing one six-string guitar in standard tuning with his fingers (no pick)---even though, at times, you almost think you hear two guitars. Joe Pass set a lofty standard of Jazz guitar virtuosity that will be tough for anyone to surpass.
edguitar stanley eisen
Great review
Carlos Fer PVMG
Great Job!
Chris
Wow ! I genuinely thought he was using a pick ! Thanks for the info Al !
Al Just Al
@Chris You can see a video from around the same timeframe as this disc that shows you his fingers/thumb technique here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3htyYmPe9Xc
Thomas Pethic
JOE PASS... l did a phone interview with Joe about 35 years ago. I asked him who he's playing with lately. His response, 'Well. Tuesday l'm playing a gig with Ella at Carnegie Hall." Needless to say, this was the highlight of our interview!
🎙Host of Artistry in Jazz on WGMC since 1982
Griff Jenkins
wow, first name basis with Ella Fitzgerald, appreciate you sharing!
Josimar Agnus Pereira
A excelência da guitarra no jazz-bossa!
Daniel Adjares
Lindo! Demais! Como Joe Pass, ninguém! Jamais!
Stan Aoki
Love Joe's Playing solo guitar. For a brief 2 songs I played along with Joe on my guitar.