Intercontinental

Guitarist Joe Pass is famous for accompanying Ella Fitzgerald and for his solo guitar efforts, but his long career included other settings as well. On this 1970 set with a subtle-sounding trio (noted Europeans Eberhard Weber on bass and Kenny Clare on drums), Pass flourishes as his dazzling single-note runs, crystal-clear tone, and swinging sense of melody are deftly captured by MPS, a German label famous for its top-notch recording technique of top-tier talent. A fine interpreter of bossa nova, Pass tackles Jobim’s “Meditation.” Equally adept at bop and pop, swing and standards, Pass offers fine takes of “I Cover the Waterfront” and “Ode to Billie Joe,” as well as “Stompin’ at the Savoy” and “Lil’ Darlin’.” But his finest moment just might be “Joe’s Blues,” an expansive original that’s as beautiful a vehicle as the guitarist has ever had. Now remastered for iTunes and available for the first time in the digital format, this overlooked album gets the second life it richly deserves.