Songs for Ellen


Songs for Ellen is an album by jazz guitarist Joe Pass that was recorded in 1992 and released posthumously in 1994.

History

All tracks on this album are performed on acoustic guitar, are from the same 1992 session that produced Unforgettable. Those two recordings were the only Pass records where he played a nylon-string guitar exclusively. "We had talked about an all-acoustic album for years," Eric Miller explains. "I wanted to do the equivalent of what Norman had done with Art Tatum and Joe. We ran tape all of the time, something I had learned to do with him anyway. It was very satisfying."
The title song is a ballad written for his wife.

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Ken Dryden wrote of the album "Most of the works of Joe Pass tended to be improvised blues, so the title track is an exception — a simple yet elegant ballad written for his wife... The good news is that there are several more unreleased sessions by Joe Pass that will follow this superb collection."

Track listing

  1. "The Shadow of Your Smile" – 2:43
  2. "Song for Ellen" – 2:55
  3. "I Only Have Eyes for You" – 2:52
  4. "Stars Fell on Alabama" – 4:07
  5. "That Old Feeling" – 2:53
  6. "Star Eyes" – 2:40
  7. "Robbins Nest" – 2:42
  8. "Someone to Watch over Me" – 3:00
  9. "Blues for Angel" – 3:36
  10. "There's a Small Hotel" – 2:53
  11. "How Deep Is the Ocean?" – 2:25
  12. "Stormy Weather" – 3:16
  13. "Just Friends" – 3:21
  14. "Blue Moon" – 3:29
  15. "Satellite Village" – 2:34

Personnel

  • Joe Pass – acoustic guitar
Production