Classic Album: Joe Pass For Django

Joe Pass

 

Where to start with Joe Pass? It's hard to find a guitarist who isn't blown away by Joe's "virtuoso."  Joe's playing is a revelation to just about anyone who hears him. I first got into him through watching YouTube clips of him playing with Oscar Peterson; I was absolutely floored by his fluidity and musicality. He's undeniably “the guy” for chord melody. His skills are well-suited for duets with singers like Ella Fitzgerald, of which he did many. But, what I always seem to come back to is some of his earlier recordings, especially those with Pacific after finishing his stint in rehab (in fact he cut his first album while still in the program) - three in particular, Catch Me, For Django and Intercontinental (actually on MPS).  His single note playing is a masterclass in bebop guitar.  

Joseph Anthony Jacobi Passalqua was born January 13th 1929. He got his first guitar at nine years old after falling in love with the instrument visive Gene Autry's singing cowboy from Ride, Tenderfoot Ride. By 14 he was playing gigs, including with his band "the gentleman of rhythm" apparently based on Django's "Hot Club of France."

Pass' biggest guitar influences were Charlie Christian and of course Django. But, his playing was also heavily informed by horn players like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, apparently in part because the more popular horn records were easier to buy in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

In his late teens, he was already building an impressive resume including a stint in 1947 with the Charlie Barnet big band.

In 1949 he moved to New York at 20 years old. But, his career was quickly hampered by drug use. At that point it was "drugs first, then music, then girls."

Throughout the 50's in Vegas, he was in and out of rehab. He was at the U.S Public Health Service Hospital at Fort Worth for 4 years from 1954.

He was then arrested for selling pawn tickets on instruments he'd stolen and hocked. He then joined the somewhat controversial Synanon Foundation. Initially separated from the guitar because of the worry of him drawing on it for dependence, he would eventually join the institution's band, recording Sounds of Synanon in 1960 on a jazzmaster of all things! Though he'd later be gifted a Gibson es175 which he would use on Catch Me and later For Django. He left Synanon in 1963 a very changed man.

For Django

Apparently Joe's first band as a teen was modelled after Django's own "hot club", with him as the principal soloist.  It's hard to picture Joe with a Selmer pumping out "la pompe", but this isn't the case here. This is Joe doing a tribute in his own style. The songs here are a collection of tunes written, played or inspired by Django, including one penned by Joe Pass, the title track for Django. And man do they cook.

Stand out Tracks:

Rosetta

Earl Hines' 'Rosetta' was written in 1933 and Django would do his first of many recordings of 'Rosetta' just 2 years later. 

Rosetta, my Rosetta,
In my heart, dear, there’s no one but you.
You made my whole life a dream,
and I pray you’ll make it come true

'Rosetta' is a love song and Pass' interpretation of the melody really seems to just have this love-drunk, whimsical bounce to it. This really swings, and he has plenty of subtlety in his playing too. We are treated to some fantastic bebop swing and plenty of Joe's trademarks. Lots of fun melodic minor and augmented sounds throughout that just sound so hip.

Nuages

'Nuages' is perhaps Django's most famous composition and a very important one for the French. Originally recorded just months after the Nazi occupation, it was adopted by some as a defacto national anthem at a time when the propagandastaffel had banned Les Marseilles. It's a wistful nostalgic tune that Pass treats with great respect and one he would keep coming back to over the years.

We are treated to a lovely chord solo effort for the intro before a light accompaniment joins, giving him a chance to show off his delicate and expressive single-note capabilities. For someone who can play with fire, he really can tone it down and play with soft emotions.

Django

Composed shortly after Django Reindheart's death on May 16th 1953, it is John Lewis' lament for a friend; it's a very somber tone, in contrast with the music and personality of Django. But, beautiful all the same.

You really should check out the original recording with the Modern Jazz Quartet; it's great! Joe Pass takes a more straight swing approach and nails it.

It starts with some of that somber chord melody with a touch of soft cymbals and snare to give it a little warmth before they kick in with some killer swing for the solo. Joe just plays with such relaxed ease here; as the solo develops he adds more double time lines and some diminished pattern that are super hip.

Food Recommendation : Raclette

If there ever was a food to gawk over, to gush over, to fall to the floor convulsing and foaming at the mouth for it is the cheesy goodness that is raclette.  I mean just look at that gif.  Raclette is a gourmand's dream- rich, full of fat and has just enough barnyard funk on the nose to make it interesting.  One doesn't even need to purchase wheels of the stuff either.  The home raclette machine is maybe not as much a showstopper but facilitates all your cheese-laden hedonistic fantasies.  Uncharacteristically, I usually recommend one on the smaller side.  Raclette for me is a long gathering of good friends with good wine, good food and good music; and we can't go feeding everyone too quickly now can we?    

Raclette cheese is available in many grocery stores, as well as gruyere, gouda, emmental, and really any cheese you'd care to melt. As for accoutrement, boiled potatoes are more than enough as a vessel for the cheesy goodness.  But, why not some good pickles, you need some acidity to cut that richness, sausage for good measure, and a good baguette because it's an easy addition.  

Most home raclette machines come topped with a grill which is great for some small thin slices of meat or some ham. I tend to go to a Korean grocer for some Chadolbaegi 차돌박이, thin sliced brisket or daepae samgyeopsal thin cut pork belly because the price and quality are usually good.  But Chinese grocery stores are great too, and more often stock thin cut lamb.  Fair warning, you could just skip the grilled meat if you want; it's a little messy and the grill portion on some raclette models are an afterthought with no grease trap.  Besides, cheese and potatoes are the stars here.

Sitting around drinking and eating rich foods, can you think of anything more French? (yeah, I know Raclette is Swiss, but the French adore raclette) If we and Joe are doing a tribute to the founder of the Quintette du Hot Club de France, I can think of nothing better. 

A concert Joe Pass was rumoured to have attended demonstrates the relaxed attitude attributed to both Django and raclette parties.  Django, running on "gypsy" time, when asked by Duke Ellington why he was 2 hours late said that he had run into fellow countryman and spouse of Edith Piaf Marcel Cerdan and retired to a cafe!

Book Recommendation: Captain Corelli's Mandolin

Set on the Greek island of Cephalonia during World War II, Captain Corelli's Mandolin follows the love story of Pelagia, a local woman, and Captain Corelli, an Italian officer stationed there.  Pelagia, though initially resenting the presence of an occupying force, grows close to Corelli through their shared love of music and humanity. The nature of war’s brutality leaves its scars on the island, its people and their relationship.

Though today's recommendations are more from the French speaking part of Europe today than Bernieres luscious descriptions of Greek Food.  (You'll probably want to go out for some kleftiko octopus and Saganaki after though!)

It's a beautiful book, in both its story and setting.  The island's idyllic descriptions imbue it with a sense of anemoia.  When I'm listening to For Django, I'm transported away in much the same way.  Joe's care free swing, transports me to a simpler time and place that, best shared with good friends and good food.  

Drink Recommendation: Delirium Tremens

Though some may find it uncouth to recommend a beer named for hallucinations caused by alcohol withdrawal in connection to a former heroin addict, I feel I can justify it. In interviews and recordings he always has a huge smile and loved to kid around.  I'm not saying he'd appreciate the dark humour of the connection but merely enjoy the fun pink elephant and parading lizards adorning the bottle. With that disclaimer out of the way, Delirium is a perfect introduction to Belgian beer.  Fruity and floral with a nice spice. Quite an easy drinker for something so high in alcohol. If I'm sitting on the couch spinning Joe Pass, this is what I'm reaching for. You could reach and make a European Intercontinental connection, but then you might also reach more appropriately for a German beer (MPS being a German record company).

and speaking of which....

Honourable mention: Stompin at the Savoy

Stompin at the Savoy

Yes, this is from a different record that requires it's own treatise, but it's from that era, albeit a different record company. The savoy was named after the London hotel that Escoffier worked at, so maybe if one can afford the fois gras required for one of the dishes invented there, suprêmes de volailles Jeannett, you could really impress your guests. (Does sound a touch fancier then a pile of melted cheese doesn't it?)

His take on the standard is hardly that fancy however; Joe plays with a super relaxed groovy feel on this one even when he slips occasionally into a double time line. It's tasteful, it's classy and damn it's cool.

Honorable mention 2: Relaxin at The Camerillo

And if we are branching out to other records....26 years after releasing For Django, in 1990 he would return with the same band to record Apassionato. 'Relaxin' at the Camerillo' is a perfect book end as it's a Charlie Parker tune written about, what would you know, a stint in a hospital. Asides from the thematic appropriateness, it showcases some excellent bouncy fun blues lines with some classic Joe Passisms.