Joe Pass

Quite possibly the funkiest record ever made by guitarist Joe Pass -- a real surprise from an artist we mostly know for his mellower and straight ahead work!

The style here is tight electric funk, almost in a Groove Merchant sort of way -- and given Joe's heavy use of hollow-body guitar on the record, and the warm chromatic hues in his tone, the style's a fair bit like O'Donel Levy on his 70s classics from the same era. Bassist Carol Kaye had a hand in putting together the record, and there's a similar feel here to her own best grooves -- tight, studio-oriented work -- but never slick or too commercial! Other players include Joe Sample on keyboards, Paul Humphrey on drums, Tom Scott on sax and flute, and JJ Johnson on trombone -- and despite the presence of these heavyweights, the record has a nicely soulful sound that's more indie grit than major label funk!

PERSONNEL:

• Joe Pass - (guitar)
• Ray Brown - (bass)
• Carol Kaye - (electric bass)
• Paul Humphrey or Earl Palmer - (drums)
• Milt Holland - (percussion)
• Conte Candoli - (flugelhorn, trumpet)
• Tom Scott - (tenor sax, flute)
• J.J. Johnson - (trombone)

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. Better Days
• A2. Free Sample
• A3. After School
• A4. Balloons
• A5. Burning Spear

• SIDE B
• B1. Head Start
• B2. It's Too Late
• B3. Gotcha!
• B4. Alison
• B5. We'll Be Together Again