Songs for Ellen
Joe Pass was a classic jazz guitarist whose technical control of his instrument, even-handed tone, and ability to deconstruct standard melodies for improvisational purposes was unsurpassed. His mainstream style encompassed swing and bop, making him the perfect house guitarist for Norman Granz at Pablo records. The 1992 setSongs for Ellenis a departure from the rest of Pass's work for Pablo in that it is his only all-acoustic solo guitar album. Keyed by the beautiful ballad, "For Ellen," the recording shows Pass completely at home playing such standards as "The Shadow of Your Smile," "I Only Have Eyes for You," "That Old Feeling," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "How Deep in the Ocean," and "Stormy Weather."--John Swenson