Blues for Fred

by Scott YanowJoe Pass recorded at least a dozen sets of unaccompanied guitar for the Pablo label, and although one can have a very viable jazz collection without owning all of them, none of them are throwaways. This fairly late effort finds Pass paying tribute to the magic of Fred Astaire on his "Blues for Fred" (which is played in a medley with "They All Laughed") and a variety of top standards from the 1930s. As usual, Pass interprets the music with taste, solid swing, and constant creativity within the bop tradition. His versions of "Cheek to Cheek," "Night and Day," "Lady Be Good" and "The Way You Look Tonight" in particular are quite enjoyable and make one appreciate the uniqueness of this classic guitarist.