Joe Pass:Virtuoso (2025 24bit/192kHz Remaster)

 

'Joe Pass: Virtuoso' was released in December 1973, on Norman Granz's recently founded, Pablo label.  It was jazz guitarist Joe Pass' 10th album, and the first of three 'Virtuoso' recordings.  The album is widely considered his best, and a landmark of Jazz guitar.

The album was recorded on August 28, 1973, at MGM Recording Studios, in LosAngeles, CA, it was produced by Norman Granz, and the recording engineer was Val Valentin.

One track on 'Virtuoso' ("Here's That Rainy Day") sounds electric, while the rest sound of the songs sound acoustic, which was due to an amplifier malfunction.  Joe plays his Gibson ES-175 electric archtop guitar on all tracks. I've heard two stories regarding the malfunction, both from reliable sources.

• One is that, Joe's Polytone amp amplifier stopped working, and rather than stopping the session, Norman Granz kept the tapes rolling, deciding to capture Joe's performance with only a microphone placed in front of his unamplified guitar.
• Another version is that the amp and the guitar were separately miked, and the amplified track was lost, except for "Here's That Rainy Day" which was the first track recorded.

Regardless of whether the amp physically broke or the tracks were lost, the result was the same: the album showcases Joe's incredible skill and improvisational creativity in a stripped-down, acoustic-flavored setting that was not the initial intent.

Joe plays with the complexity of a pianist, making it sound like multiple guitars are being played at once.  Many times, I've played this album, for people unfamiliar with Joe, and they almost always ask, "Who's on the other guitar?".

'Virtuoso' wasn’t just a breakthrough for Joe; it was a game-changer for jazz guitar as a whole.  Before its release, solo jazz guitar albums were rare, and those that did exist often leaned on classical influences or heavily arranged material.  Joe proved that a guitarist could improvise an entire album with the depth and spontaneity of a full band.  This album remains a touchstone for generations of guitarists. 

When released, ‘Virtuoso’ had a crisp and clean sound.  It’s one of those albums that makes you feel like you’re sitting in the room with the artist. Kevin Gray’s 2025 remaster, with 24-bit/192kHz sonics, only enhances this feeling.

For the freeload, tell us about the last thing that malfunctioned on you.