Guitarist Joe Pass was known for his forthright, straight-ahead style, gorgeous tone, and melodic concepts. This magnificent five-CD set collects his entire output in 1963 and 1964 as a leader, with additional sessions in which Pass plays in a trio led by Les McCann. Most of the tracks feature a quartet (the five exceptions adding the saxophone or flute of Bill Perkins), with the guitarist virtually always a key voice. Pass recorded three records for Pacific after 1964 with limited jazz content, and they are not included in this collection for that reason. While many of the dozens of selections included here do not measure up to Pass' exemplary work recorded later on Pablo Records (a prime example being his classic Virtuoso LP), there are fine tracks to be found in the instant set that no admirer of either Pass or of the jazz guitar will want to be without. This is particularly true of the Django LP sessions with guitarist John Pisano, originally issued on Pacific, as well as the final CD in the instant collection that was initially issued on the Blue Note label, and on which the individual tracks are noticeably lengthier and more substantial. Elsewhere, some of the repertoire is checkered, mixing movie themes, country & western, soul, and jazz standards. But who can really complain about hearing the great guitarist playing Hank Williams' "Hey, Good Lookin'" or "Cold, Cold Heart"? As with all the Mosaic boxed sets, this one comes in a strictly limited edition with a comprehensive, oversized booklet containing a detailed discography and liner notes, extreme attention to detail, and excellent sound quality.
Disc I
01. Catch Me (Forward Pass) (3:15)
02. Days Of Wine And Roses (2:52)
03. You Stepped Out Of A Dream (3:07)
04. But Beautiful (2:40)
05. Mood Indigo (5:08)
06. It's All Right With Me (3:01)
07. Deep Purple (5:06)
08. Tangerine (3:12)
09. There Will Never Be Another You (5:02)
10. Bags' Groove (3:54)
11. There Is No Greater Love (3:56)
12. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes (3:33)
13. No Cover, No Minimum (5:42)
14. Just Friends (3:38)
15. Walking Up (3:19)
16. Peri's Scope (2:46)
17. Catch Me (3:10)
18. Summertime (6:23)
19. Falling In Love With Love (5:50)
Disc II
01. On Time (4:19)
02. Yours Is My Heart Alone (4:48)
03. This For Doug (5:58)
04. Fondue (5:16)
05. Bernie's Tune (3:05)
06. Maichen (4:38)
07. It Could Happen To You (5:04)
08. You're Driving Me Crazy (4:59)
09. So What (3:04)
10. The Other Way (4:50)
11. Free At Pass...Thank God Almighty... Free At Pass (5:02)
12. These Foolish Things (5:21)
13. Joe's Tune (Samba) (2:26)
14. Stragler (4:05)
15. Siman Potter (5:21)
16. Catch Up (Forward Pass) (2:55)
Disc III
01. Back At The Chicken Shack (4:18)
02. Sack O' Woe (3:06)
03. Groove Yard (3:20)
04. Groove Yard (alt tk) (4:11)
05. Sonnymoon For Two (2:44)
06. Shiny Stockings (3:58)
07. Sermonette (2:34)
08. Bags' Groove (3:09)
09. Sister Sadie (4:16)
10. Li'l Darlin' (3:43)
11. Work Song (4:14)
12. Blue 'N Boogie (3:12)
13. Charade (2:28)
14. Call Me Irresponsible (2:30)
15. How The West Was Won (3:03)
16. Wives And Lovers (3:06)
17. Sunday In New York (2:55)
18. Love With The Proper Stranger (1:55)
19. Love Theme Of Tom Jones (2:59)
20. Manha De Carnaval (3:30)
21. Lawrence Of Arabia (3:03)
22. Fall Of Love (3:10)
23. It Had Beter Be Tonight (2:36)
24. More (3:01)
Disc IV
01. I Believe In You (3:15)
02. It's A Wonderful World (4:37)
03. Hello Dolly (3:14)
04. Summer Night (5:15)
05. The Sweetest Sounds (2:54)
06. Jambalaya (2:39)
07. Cold Cold Heart (3:19)
08. You Win Again (2:36)
09. Hey Good Lookin' (2:29)
10. Django (3:23)
11. Rosetta (3:09)
12. Nuages (2:36)
13. For Django (3:01)
14. Night And Day (3:49)
15. Fleur D'Ennui (3:00)
16. Insensiblement (3:15)
17. Cavalerie (4:27)
18. Django's Castle (Manoir De Mes Reves) (3:51)
19. Limehouse Blues (2:17)
20. Georgia On My Mind (3:23)
21. Rosetta (alt) (3:15)
22. Limehouse Blues (alt) (1:43)
Disc V
01. Joy Spring (8:46)
02. Some Time Ago (6:44)
03. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes (7:15)
04. Relaxin' At Camarillo (10:40)
05. There Is No Greater Love (9:14)
06. Bags' Groove (9:01)
07. Some Time Ago (alt) (5:38)
08. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes (alt) (6:05)
09. There Is No Greater Love (alt) (6:35)