Sounds of Synanon is the debut album by jazz guitarist Joe Pass.
| Sounds of Synanon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | July 1, 1962 | |||
| Studio | Pacific Jazz Studios, Hollywood | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 42:11 | |||
| Label | Pacific Jazz | |||
| Producer | Richard Bock | |||
| Joe Pass chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| DownBeat |   [1] |
| Allmusic | [2] |
Background and recording
editThe album was recorded with patients at the Synanon Drug Center, where Pass was being treated for addiction to heroin.[2] Pass did not own his own guitar at the time of the album's recording, and recorded using a borrowed electric solid-body guitar.[3]
Release
editThe album was reissued in 2022, accompanied by seven bonus tracks.[4]
Reception
editJazz critic Leonard Feather reviewed the album for the July 5, 1962 issue of DownBeat magazine and said,[5] "This album does more than merely present a group of good musicians, it unveils a star. In Joe Pass, Synanon and Pacific Jazz have discovered a major jazz talent..."[1]
Robert Taylor of AllMusic highlighted the tunes "Projections" and "Hang Tough" as some of the tightest and "cleanest" playing of Pass's entire career. Taylor concluded his retrospective review of the album by stating, "his accompanists prove to be adequate, but hardly approach the genius of Pass. A landmark recording in the history of jazz guitar."[6]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "C.E.D." | Joe Pass, Arnold Ross | 3:14 |
| 2. | "Aaron's Song" | Dave Allen | 4:31 |
| 3. | "Stay Loose" | Arnold Ross | 4:22 |
| 4. | "Projections" | Greg Dykes | 5:10 |
| 5. | "Hang Tough" | Pass | 6:30 |
| 6. | "Self-Image" | Dave Allen | 9:06 |
| 7. | "Last Call for Coffee" | Arnold Ross | 4:43 |
| 8. | "Blues" | 4:36 |
Personnel
edit- Joe Pass – electric guitar
- Dave Allen – trumpet
- Greg Dykes – baritone horn
- Arnold Ross – piano
- Ronald Clark – bass
- Bill Crawford – drums[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "Sounds of Synanon". DownBeat. Elmhurst, Illinois. 5 July 1962.
- ^ a b c Taylor, Robert. "Sounds of Synanon". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ^ Taylor, Robert. "Sounds of Synanon Review by Robert Taylor". Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ White, John (2022-05-30). "Joe Pass: Sounds Of Synanon". Jazz Journal. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ Reney, Tom (13 January 2016). "Joe Pass". digital.nepr.net. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ Sounds of Synanon - Joe Pass | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 2024-10-06