In his notes for “Blues For 2,” Joe Pass wrote that as a young man he had an ideal of what a tenor saxophonist should be: a full sound, a keen sense of harmony, respect for the melody, and a willingness to swing. This makes perfect sense, as Pass was essentially describing his own qualities. When the time came in 1982 for the renowned guitarist to record a duo with Zoot Sims, it was clear after about six bars that this was a perfect artistic match. Pass was an exceptionally natural musician whose solos swung from the very first note. Sims was a master of lyrical expression. He demonstrates this not only in ballads like “Remember”: his relaxed urgency, even in the faster pieces, perfectly complements Pass’s beautiful melodies and brilliant solos.
Pass was a master of lyrical expression. Pass demonstrates this not only in ballads like “Remember”: his relaxed urgency, even in the faster pieces, is the perfect complement to Pass’s beautiful melodies and brilliant solos.
Pass was a master of tenor saxophone playing. Pass … Scott Yanow of AllMusic writes: “Although guitarist Joe Pass has recorded many solo albums without accompaniment, he has relatively rarely performed as part of a duo. This session with tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims works very well, as Sims was a born swinger who didn’t need a full rhythm section to drive him. His playing on the selected pieces (mainly standards such as ‘Dindi,’ ‘Poor Butterfly,’ ‘Pennies From Heaven,’ and ‘I Hadn’t Anyone Till You’) is, as always, passionate and lyrical. Pass also quickly finds his groove and plays many beautiful solos. A highly entertaining set!”
Analogue Productions is proud to present this sonically wonderful reissue of “Blues For 2” on the “Pablo Series Edition”: Pressed on 180-gram vinyl by Quality Record Pressings, the LP was remastered from the original master tapes by Matthew Lutthans (The Mastering Lab), cut at 33 rpm, and features cover art by Stoughton Printing. “Portraits Of Duke Ellington” offers a highly audiophile listening experience and is a valuable addition to any collection, making it a must-have – not just for fans of these two gifted jazz musicians!
