Joe Pass - Better Days (1971) [2022]

Long-awaited reissue of an interesting and rare masterpiece by jazz guitar virtuoso Joe Pass, who took on jazz funk! (Made in 1971).
This is the first release on Gwyn Records, a minor label in California, and features a very impressive lineup. Paul Humphrey and Earl Palmer on drums, Carol Kaye (label owner) and Ray Brown on bass, J.J. Johnson, Tom Scott, and Conte Candoli on horns, this is truly a historical session that brought together the top musicians of the West Coast at the time. From the cool funk of "Better Days" at the beginning of the session, almost the entire album was a storm of jazz funk. "Free Sample" by Joe Sample, "Burning Spear," with its impressive undulating beat, "Head Start," with its too-subtle bass line, and the boogie shuffle "Gotcha!". The jazz bossa "Balloons" and the weepy medium soul "It's Too Late" also have an outstanding presence. Not only can you enjoy Pass' intelligent soul-jazz guitar playing that hits all the right notes in a single tone, but the groovy, funky rhythm section is the best you'll hear on the West Coast.


Tracks:

01. Better Days (Johnson) - 2:47
02. Free Sample (Sample) - 3:17
03. After School (Rowles) - 3:10
04. Balloons (Pena) - 2:58
05. Burning Spear (Evans) - 2:20
06. Head Start (Scott) - 2:52
07. It's Too Late (King-Stern) - 2:54
08. Gotcha (Huffsteter) - 2:18
09. Alison (Huffsteter) - 2:12
10. We'll Be Together Again (Laine-Fischer) - 2:34
11. The Preacher (Silver) - 2:53
12. Bass Blues (Kaye-Pass) - 2:32
13. Flying Down to Baja (Kaye) - 1:38
14. My Bonnie (Trad.) - 3:51
15. Love Is (Kaye) - 3:36
16. In the City (Kaye) - 2:41
17. Slick Cat (Humphrey) - 3:00
18. Better Days (alternate take) (Johnson) - 2:28

Personnel:

#1-10,18:
Joe Pass - guitar
Joe Sample - keyboards
Ray Brown - bass, electric bass (#2-4,6,9,10)
Carol Kaye - electric bass (#1,5,7,8)
Paul Humphrey (#1,2,5,6), Earl Palmer (3,4,7-10) - drums
Milt Holland - percussion
Conte Candoli - flugelhorn, trumpet
Tom Scott - saxophone, flute
J.J. Johnson - trombone
Recorded in 1971.

#11-17:
Joe Pass - guitar
Carol Kaye - electric bass
Paul Humphrey - drums
Recorded in 1970-1972.