Steve Masakowski: For Joe

By

DAVID ADLER,

David Adler

Columnist - Since 1999

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Published: July 1, 2000

Guitarist Steve Masakowski pays tribute to the late Joe Pass with this beautiful trio record. In addition to Pass’s own "For Django" and "I’ll Know," Masakowski presents "Waltz" by Rick Margitza, "Peace" by Horace Silver, the standards "Falling In Love with Love," "Poinciana," and "In Your Own Sweet Way," and five originals. Of Masakowski’s tunes, "I’ll Pass" and "Tino’s Blues" are particularly tasty.

Bassist Bill Huntington and drummer Johnny Vidacovich provide picture-perfect accompaniment for the clean, concise guitarist, who displays harmonic savvy, chops, and lyricism at every turn. Nothing revolutionary going on here, although Masakowski’s choice of a 7-string guitar, in both acoustic and electric varieties, is fairly unusual.

Tracks: 1. Falling In Love With Love 2. For Django 3. Poinciana 4. Pass Presence 5. The Big Easy 6. In Your Own Sweet Way 7. Peace 8. I'll Pass 9. Waltz 10. Tino's Blues 11. Voluntary Simplicity 12. I'll Know

Personnel:

Steve Masakowski, 7-string electric and acoustic guitars; Bill Huntington, acoustic bass; Johnny Vidacovich, drums

Record Label: Compass Records | Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream