Joe walked in during my bass lesson with my teacher. He picks up a big fat Gibson and we 3 jammed back in 1968.

In the 70s, Joe was one of my top guitarist & musician. I haven't lost any admiration for his musicality and humility.

I met Joe Pass in the late 70s in Santa Monica. He played for Synanon and AA members. I met him again several times in the 90s at Elarios in La Jolla. Joe was a genius, in my opinion.

".....I don’t play the same tune the same way twice. . . I never know where I’m gonna start, or where I’m gonna end.”-Joe Pass

Let me know what you think about this type of video since it is a different format 🙂

Dear Jens, the first time I heard Joe Pass was through this record (Intercontinental). This recording was the one that caused me to "abandon" rock and turn completely to Jazz (this was 46 years ago). Of course I listened to this record and all of Pass hundreds of times. That's why I really appreciate you "push" your audience and students to listen to this record. I also thank you for everything you do to improve the study of Jazz in general. I send you a big hug from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I'll see this solo and raise you Wes' The Thumb as THE perfect jazz-blues solo! This is fantastic though for sure. Wes and Joe still my two fave jazzers.

As a blues guitarist, that went to school for jazz and struggled, and a decade later recently decided I wanted to get back into jazz, this video came at a perfect time for me! Thank you so much!

Joe Pass sound and phrasing always crystal clear and impecable.Also i really like Kenny Burrel's take on jazz/blues

I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE Joe Pass. Love him. absolutely love him.

I’ve been listening to “Intercontinental” for over 40yrs, and love the “Joe’s Blues” track. Thank you for acknowledging this great piece, and spelling out his approach.

Intercontinental is a great record all around. One of Joe's best. And you're right - nobody talks about it.

When I was 15, I played the accordion, was getting into jazz, and thus was interested in Art Van Damm's records. I had a couple but one in particular, which I think was called Blue World, featured an amazing guitarist that I'd never heard of. This was the mid-70s and I couldn't believe the latter wasn't famous because I thought he was head and shoulders better than everybody else in a lot of ways. Ok, I was 15. But a year later that guitarist teamed up with Oscar Peterson and then everybody suddenly knew his name. It's great to see his renaissance on youtube. I didn't listen to him for years and became seduced by other guitarists. I've found myself returning to him, and listening to him with older ears, he really was something else.

Saw Joe Pass live at McCabe’s in Santa Monica when I was just a kid in the 70’s. My parents took me and I requested Satin Doll and he played it. Really a very nice man and an incredible talent. His work with Ella is classic.

I real like the way you have structured this lesson. So important to actually hear what was played and then you demonstrate. Please do a few more of these Jens.

listening to johnny smith and joe pass about 30 years ago, made me wanting to play jazz.

I was lucky enough to see Joe perform solo at Yoshi's in Oakland, CA in the late 80s. What a performance! Not just his amazing playing, but his banter with the audience kept us engaged through the whole show. As a guitarist, of course I was watching his fingers, but got lost many times. He was a consummate professional but most people only know him from his guest appearances with the Oscar Peterson Trio.

A wonderful lesson. Jazz + Blues is unbeatable and Joe also. Thank you.

Intercontinental is one of my favorite jazz albums. Joe's tone to me is perfect.

Thanks, just paused, listened to the whole album while making pizzas for the kids! Back now, love these break downs with tab videos! Started watching your channel aspirationally a few years ago, but now getting the more technical aspects, rewatching and learning new things each watch. New watchers, keep revisiting as you progress! This is a gold mine, thanks Jens, will take lessons soon!

I saw Joe Pass in '84 at North Sea Jazz in The Hague. He was so great. Thank you Jens for this contribution. Very usefull to me strugglin' over 6 strings.

Jens, I can't tell you enough how much I love and appreciate your tutorials, As a blues guitarist wanting to understand jazz Your videos have helped me put more of that flavor in my playing, Thank You!

He used a Benson amp at Dant'es in North Hollywood Ca on guitar nights(Monday night - usually a 'dark' night). It was a 2 pickup 175 exclusively, although a single pickup version showed up a couple of times. The polytone did become the "jazz amp" as benson were somewhat unreliable for regular gigging. I saw him many, many times there in 70 and 71 as all the players went to learn. Donald Bailey on drums, often Terry Trotter on piano ('71). Bass players varied but were the legends you'd expect. One labor day a canadian guy came in to listen - in a tuxedo! Then he sat in. The legendary Oscar Peterson. almost no one was there . . . they laughed through the last sets.

I looooove this song for soooo many time and I too, always found out that people ignore the better jazz blues solo of the history. It has every little thing that you need in a great solo. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS SONG TO THE LIGHTSPOT!!!!!

First Album I ever bought - got me into jazz guitar - Joe Pass was the best ;)

Lars, most of us never got further than playing some pentatonic scales! Jazz is a mystery to me, despite having been a gigging guitarist since the early 80s. I can play convincing rock & roll, country, funk, pop etc., but there's something about jazz that is on another level that my brain can't comprehend. Can't play slide, either!

The "archtop + hat" graphic cracked me up, even though it hits a little too close to home.

I got into a lot of amazing guitar players in college. For some reason Joe Pass fell under the radar but is easily a remarkable musician that commands attention. I blame it on BMG music! hahaha!!! Glad to see how much influence he has to today's players.

Oh yes, I've listened to this one many times, and transcribed some of it. That line towards the beginning that made you smile sounds like an altered version of the Honeysuckle Rose phrase. I agree about his tone on this album. Great analysis!

Jens: I was given a polytone amp by Tommy Gumina in 1972 when I was the guitarist with Dizzy Gillespie. I know they were in business for a few years at that time.

Joe Pass imo, is the greatest Jazz Guitar player of all time.

One thing I have always noticed when people play bebop lines on a jazz blues, is in bar 7, when it goes back to the 1 chord, they play the 1 chord as if it was a major 7, not a dominant, I have not really heard anybody talk about that,, but whenever I comp on a blues behind a bebop player, I always play the 1 chord as a major 7 and it sounds pretty good.

Been a minute since I watched one of your videos. They’ve gotten so good. Musicians these days don’t know how good they have it!!

I stopped using a pick when I was twenty . I got some classical guitar books and trained my right hand to play all the finger patterns . I continued to use my index nail as a pick for attack and sometimes , I had to glue on a false plastic nail for the gig . I played blues , rock , and some pop . Any notes played by the thumb will be nice and sweet without any attack . Think Wes Montgomery . A rest stroke with the thumb will produce a strong attack . Using all the fingers on the right hand gives you a full chord sound with all the variations like a piano player . Now I find myself playing passages with harmonic staccato by muting the string with my thumb as I pick with my index . I have never played better . The work pays off . I just turned seventy-five in Dec. Music and playing an instrument will keep you young at heart .

I will go and buy the CD now :-) As Joe as said Blues up your Jazz..:-) I would think his guitar at that time was a Gibson 175 or one with a single pick model . A tube amp for sure , you can hear it , properly a music man amp ,as you can hear and feel the dark sound... Beautiful... Thank you Jens...:-) be well..and safe..:-)

When I was at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood Joe Pass was under-appreciated we all wanted to learn from Paul Gilbert and Scott Henderson etc...(we were just kids wanting to be Rock Stars) I took a couple of Masterclasses from Joe and his depth was ocean deep, I wish I wasn't the young inexperienced guitarist I was back then. Joe Pass was one of the most humble and nice people at M.I. and I am talking about 1986-87. Now I know he was a Guinness and when I listen to his chord melody I am always speechless. Thank You, Jens You are really valuable to all guitar players!

Joe Pass has been one of my favorites since I discovered him in 1977. He would switch between a pick and his fingers (a soft tone from not having long finger nails). I have an older jazz guitarist friend that got to hang around with Joe Pass for a while. He said he didn’t think much of it at the time. That surprised me. I think it was because Joe was very modest and humble.

I got turned on to Joe Pass as a teenager by my guitar teacher as well. I actually still have the record that my teacher gave me in the mid 70's. And you're right. Nobody talks about this album. If you really want to learn technique , chord structures and improvising this is a great place to start.

Joe Pass was one of those that was an “open channel” receiving direct signals from the spiritual plane. Like SRV, Jimi Hendrix, Bird, Coltrane, Dizzy, Sun Ra. Thank you Jens Larsen, you da man!!!

SRV has the sound I always coveted.. Pride and Joy is so powerful and positive - and he had a lot of positive vibe songs, not just whiskey smelling "My baby just left me" blues :D It brings good mood, not rude mood. RIP.

This song on an all-around incredible album is one of my most-listened-to tracks according to my Spotify account. It ain't lyin'. "Joe's Blues" is just so, so beautiful and fun. And, of course, Jens' discussion and analysis of it is superbly delivered. Thank you, Jens, as always for a great lesson!

Great video. Thanks for encouraging more people to appreciate Joe Pass….he’s always the best in my book… 👍🍷

Just what I needed to cure my boring solos, Dr Jens!

I saw Joe Pass at the Long Beach City college many years ago, it was great. Unfortunately I started to cough, I wasn't sick, I tried to suppress it his whole set but to no avail. Months later someone told me that Joe had recorded and released an album of his performance that evening, no one in the audience was aware of this. And yes, you could hear me cough through the whole performance. So I was recorded with Joe that evening, memorialized forever with my favorite guitar player and I will live forever in infamy.

Great video, love Joe Pass. I think he’s overlooked these days. Nocturne is my favorite Julian Lage tune, the whole Arclight album is amazing.

A great lesson on one of my all-time favorite Joe Pass tunes. "Intercontinental" has been my favorite Pass album since I first heard it back in the seventies. Fantastic explanation of what he's doing - your love for this one really comes through.

I saw Joe Pass play in relatively small club. At the time, my guitar background was mainly in Classical Guitar, but I enjoyed all forms of guitars and styles. I loved his playing and was impressed with his tone. As far as I could tell, he did not use any fingernails, and that was an important part of his full, round tone, and his expressive playing. I have an old single pickup Herb Ellis ES175 that nails that Jazz tone. I use different picks for different styles and results: plectrum for fast legato sounding alternate picking, finger picks for contrapuntal music, no picks or nails on Jazz, thumb pick on acoustic guitar, and all the various combinations as it suits my desire.

Joe Pass is always phenomenal. He and the great Oscar Peterson, two guys out of this world. 🎉❤❤❤

Only 6 strings and yet all that complexity results.

Intercontinental is a SMOKIN’ album. RIP JP. Truly a guitar GOAT.🇨🇦

About 30 years ago I saw Joe Pass play in Melbourne Australia. I collected picks at the time and during the set break he kindly swapped one with me. He said he only used a pick rarely, mainly for playing very fast. The pick he handed over was a thin white fender teardrop that he had trimmed down. It also had some teeth marks. I agree that he is playing with fingers on the recording.

I think this might just be my gateway to jazz I've been waiting for.

Totally brilliant record. Definitely one of my faves! Thanks for covering this Jens. Joe’s playing is so tasty on this and a real master class in jazz guitar.

I like this song analysis because, it actually shows real life songs and how to relate your musical skills to it.

Joe remains the best genius on jazz guitar!

"Intercontinental" is one of the greatest jazz guitar albums I've ever heard. And "Joe's Blues" is just tremendous. Thanks for this insightful discussion - top drawer as usual!

Joe Pass is a master. That he finger-picks his solos and played nothing but Epiphone. I highly recommend "I Remember Charlie Parker" and--really--everything he's ever done. Play on!

Wow.....when you played those first two notes with your fingers, you could have gone right into " Apache" ! HA......yes I can hear the difference and I think you're right about finger tone vs the pick.

I liked the way(s) you did this video Jens. A couple of my old teachers (many years ago) would play recorded examples, play examples on guitar and talk about them. That was fun - so is this. This felt like I was having a lesson with one of my old teachers. A nice and relaxed vibe about it. Cheers Jens.

I wouldn't consider changing from swing to straight 8's for a phrase, that's something to learn indeed.

Great video!! It seems like every time a guitar magazine features a joe pass lesson, it’s mostly only about his comping. Thanks for highlighting his melodic talents!

One of my favourite joe pass albums ….Intercontinental.Thanks Jens for your insight and inspiration.

I think Joe got a really great sound on that particular recording.....with maybe just a touch too much reverb. Another favorite JP album that I like is one called Better Days....not quite as well recorded but his playing was a little bit different from what I have come to expect him to sound like.

Joe did a video where they asked him about his playing in G all the time, he told them he didn't want people falling asleep while he was playing, its attention getting and he created a groove with it.

Hey Jens! I really dig this-- all the detail about a legendary player mixed with the lesson is great. And you seem more relaxed . It's nice to see your enthussiam for Joe Pass! And a slightly more casual delivery, like just talkin. I took screen shots of the music and will begin my journey to learn this one! Thanks so much for all the great videos!!! You are teaching me jazz! It's working!! ♡

I think one of my favorite parts about watching your videos is discovering that I know exactly what you're talking about... but I have "improper" terminology. Thanks for helping with the more studied verbage! Time to go listen to some Uncle Joe

Joe liked playing the blues in G. Long live the king.

My intro to jazz was via embryo…. My DAD💔 was a jazz nut; my Mum too, but not as much. They met via my DADS💔 jazz club. & l heard jazz & classical since they met! Sometimes l think you need to be brought up on this brilliant music to really understand & appreciate it. Just my opinion. The first live gig l heard was DAVE BRUBECK when l was 3yrs old; & l remember quite a bit of it, sitting on my DADS 💔lap. We went backstage after. Apparently Mr. BRUBECK taught me how to play chopsticks! And l did without a mistake l’ve been told! My claim to fame! 😆Eugene Wright was my GODFATHER. My DAD💔 & Uncle Eugene went ‘home’ in 2020. I’ve been lost without my DAD💔. I’m just so THANKFUL l became a professional pianist & guitarist. You need the BEST RHYTHM musos , so you as the ‘main player’ don’t have to worry about them. So great to find your site! Thank you! I always appreciate picking other top Muso’s explanations; now & then you still get the 💡 moment, no matter how long you’ve been playing. You never stop learning. Thanks for this. Great stuff! 🎸🎹🌟👊🏾

DUH !!!!!!!!!!!! Joe Pass Has Been The Finest Jazz Guitar Player for 50 years !!!!! nuff said. I started listening to him in the late 1950's..got a late start..lol..but he is what the guitar jazz genere is.

I first heard Joe Pass 40 years ago. I took up guitar a couple of years ago when I moved into a condo and my tenor sax became untenable, and turned straight to Joe Pass. He was a miracle worker - every good thing as a guitarist.

Excellent point about the beginning of the solo using finger instead of pick. IMO it's part of the signature sound (dynamics) of Joe Pass. I've seen a number of clips where he's alternating between pick in mouth, finger and combination of using pick + fingers. As for his amp and the reverb, it doesn't sound like my Fender Deluxe 85 (strong reverb/not very warm) + I'd guess it was the one in the studio...OK not much of answer, but this quote is interesting: "In 1970 I visited to come over to do a couple of albums with Art Van Damme. And they said I could do one of my own if they had the time, which they did. I'd never been here, and it had been one of my dreams. Like 'If I could only go to Europe and just see what it's like.' Because I'm not only interested in the music, but in the food and the buildings, the general culture, you know. So when they asked me, I said ' Right. What time do we leave ?' And when I got here I had such a good experience. I was only here four days: three days in Germany and the fourth in Paris, then right back. " (from "Melody Maker" April 19, '75)

Yeah, this is one of the best solos ever

I transcribed just the bass part that Pass played while doing his usual incredible stuff at the same time. It was an amazing bass performance!

That's a perfect solo in great jazz guitar trio recording.

Fascinating analysis! Your contributions to the understanding of Jazz are invaluable 🎶🎸🎶

Name a Jazz Guitar Solo that was important for you! Check out another AMAZING guitarist while you wait 🙂: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m7p_h7JlqK3Wqqc.html

I could be wrong but the opening phrase sounds like a reference to Smokestack Lightning

Eberhard Weber was one of my favorite bassplayers 🇩🇪

Joe got me on acoustic tune "unforgettable"................................................ amazing!

Great video. Thank you. Intercontinental is my favorite of all the Joe Pass records.

Hello Jens, I always like your lessons but this one is so wonderful ! You`re absolutely right with your spoken comment to this lesson! Thank you very much !

Two great chaps...

Whoa this is crazy! I was JUST listening to this song and thinking I should learn it. Then you dropped this video!

btw, my fav Joe Pass album, I've been listening to it since the early 70's. His version of "I Love You" just smokes...one of the best jazz guitar albums ever. Love his sound on this album as well!!

Jens I am just starting out in jazz after playing rock for many years and I found this video incredibly helpful. The one thing if I may is that when you show how Pass brilliantly uses the harmonies just following the blues riff at about 6:45, perhaps you could go thru those chord changes a bit more slowly after you introduce them. They are wonderful but difficult for those of us just starting out.

2:39 Find yourself a partner that looks at you the way Jens looks at this Joe Pass line

Joe was incredible. So much soul. And yeah, I agree picked with his fingers. Great video.

This is an incredible lesson. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Just wanted to say how well your videos have really improved with great clips of the greats in action or stills and humorous add ons to entertain and make us smile. Your analysis of stylings are tops and bring into focus the idiosyncrasies of the legends of jazz guitarists over the years. Warm appreciation for all you provide as a conscientious teacher.❤️

Thank you so much, Jens, for opening up Joe's playing further with this analysis and album; such a great recommendation for me to check out. I've only recently been listening to more of Joe's work as part of a trio, especially on the album After Hours with André Previn on piano and Ray Brown on bass. Magnificent, if anyone hasn't heard it. Looking forward to hearing all the tracks on Intercontinental. Thank you again!

such amazing melodic structure. so many beautiful notes

Sounds like his ES 175; not sure about the amp though. Oscar Peterson said that Joe was a genius....and he knew what he was talking about!

Great! Julian Lage is amazing... That song but also the new ones (wonderful videos too) are really worth checking out. Fantastic player.

I am listening to the Intercontinental album for the first time. Very nice. Thanks Jen for pointing it out!

I agree that it sounds like the laminate top 175 and has that sweet top end of a polytone amp.

Jens, you described Joe Pass doing something in Batu, and for a long moment I wondered if this was a polynesian mode or some other exotic musical term I'd never heard of, and then I realized, oh yeah: bar two. :)

I follow the soul you put in your explanations, music 🎶 is about that ! 👌

Your videos stand out -- in one particular way -- the excellent, spicy, humorous editing. In addition to the music tips, of course.

I agree; I think he is playing with his fingers. Your videos are wonderful. I am changing from being a fan of blues to jazz and your videos are perfect for doing that. You sound like my son-in-law so I’ll close by saying “tak”.

Always my favorite solo. Is very accurately transcribed in The Joe Pass Guitar Method