Joe Pass
Virtuoso 3

How long can a second last?
And more than anything, how many notes can old Joe fit into it? And the beauty is that they sound right, they swing and feel blue just right. The well-tempered Gibson archtop indeed.

The "Virtuso" series showcases all pieces arranged for solo guitar, technically what they call "chord melody." And he is the Grand Master Supreme Dispenser of secrets in this noble art. In fact, I've only listened to the first and third of the series. Both are fabulous, while the first features arrangements of standards, the third consists of compositions by Joe Pass himself. And I confess to preferring the third, despite what the critics say, for example on www. allmusic. com. It seems even more spontaneous and raw.
Simple melodies, but in my opinion, they are quite captivating. And on our hero's guitar, there's an entire orchestra, the bassist, the rhythm guitarist, and the lead guitarist, all within the same (six) strings and the same (two) hands.

It's not a noisy record, it's something to savor on a quiet summer evening, window open, starry sky and mosquito repellent because indeed where I am, it's full of mosquitoes. Possibly a nice fresh white wine, perhaps a vernaccia. And now for the tracks:
1) Offbeat - A delightful call-and-response blues, it's neither rough nor glossy, it's measured, with classical composure.
2) Trinidad - Simple melody, but there are improvisations on it that sparkle, with low tones and soloists discussing the greater schemes.
3) Nina's blues - Baroque trimmings marked by an unbearable melancholic lightness.
4) Sevenths and 5) Nineths - Essentially the same melody, the improvisation changes, based in both aforementioned cases on two different and complementary types of blue notes.
6) Dissonance 1 and 12) Dissonance 2 - But how much can you elaborate on a dissonance? A thousand raindrops shatter in the puddle and create ephemeral storms
7) Minor Detail - Sometimes minor details are the ones that strike the most and are remembered well, they are essentially the most important things despite the name (for example, I distinctly remember the line of the thong peeking out from the skirt of a girl I crossed paths with last night).
8) Paco de Lucia - A homage to the world of flamenco, but it's impressive how easily old Joe assimilates musical influences that were initially foreign to him.
9) Sultry - A slow and melancholic piece like an April rain, almost a Chopin prelude.
10) Passanova - A brilliantly fake bossanova, makes me think of "Blue Bossa".
11) Pasta Blues - Indeed, when we have to eat overcooked pasta, we feel very sad and sing a blues over it.

I hope my rambling conversations about the album have made you want to listen to it, because it's really worth it.