#music, Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass on Music For The Middle Of The Week!

Today, on this fine Thursday, the middle of the week, I decided to feature magnificent guitarists from different genres and in Jazz, although there are many, Joe Pass is one of the authentic geniuses! And here you can enjoy his guitar work while listening to another fabulous Jazz artist, the incredible Ella Fitzgerald!

Joe Pass was born in New Jersey (US) in 1929. From age 14 he was playing with professional Jazz bands. He travelled from Pennsylvania, where the family had moved, to New York City and quickly became addicted to heroin, and relocated to New Orleans. He later said that he almost lost his head in New Orleans because of doing all sorts of drugs which were readily available. He spent much of the 1950’s in and out of prison for drug crimes. He cleaned himself up at Synanon clinic.

During the 60’s he started recording again, especially towards the end of the decade with Pablo Records. He collaborated with with Benny Carter, Milt Jackson, Herb Ellis, Zoot Sims, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie. Pass was diagnosed with liver cancer in 1992. In 1994 he played his last concert with guitarist John Pisano. He died in Los Angeles at the age of 65.

Cheers…