by Scott Yanow
Joe Pass recorded at least a dozen sets of unaccompanied guitar for the Pablo label, and although one can have a very viable jazz collection without owning all of them, none of them are throwaways. This fairly late effort finds Pass paying tribute to the magic of Fred Astaire on his &Blues for Fred& (which is played in a medley with &They All Laughed&) and a variety of top standards from the 1930s. As usual, Pass interprets the music with taste, solid swing, and constant creativity within the bop tradition. His versions of &Cheek to Cheek,& &Night and Day,& &Lady Be Good& and &The Way You Look Tonight& in particular are quite enjoyable and make one appreciate the uniqueness of this classic guitarist.