A guitar player friend of mine used to call me and play me these clips of incredible guitar hotness on the phone for a few seconds and then hang up. It was running joke. I finally had enough... I retaliated heavy by calling him and laying the first thirty seconds of Donna Lee from Pass/NHOP 'chops' album. Nuked him.
Playing with Joe Pass appears to be one of those rare occasions where NHØP took off his wrist watch. From what I have heard, he only did that when things got busy...
A good musician knows when NOT to play! You can see this so perfectly at those two godlike artists. They give each other the space they need, though they have this incredible amount of technical ability. 10 of 5 stars
The MELODY of "Donna Lee" was written over the changes of "Indiana", a ubiquitous pop tune of that era. Music lovers had heard it so many times they were sick of it. (Mostly quarter notes.) Bird wrote a new, more interesting and challenging melody and called it "Donna Lee". Any bebop player knows it, not all can play it at tempo. You can also sing the words and melody of "Indiana" over every chorus of "Donna Lee". This might help you comprehend and appreciate bebop, if you don't already.
I’ve heard some suggest the melody was rewritten because the musicians enjoyed soloing over the changes but the melody was copyrighted so Charlie would have to pay the original writers royalties. As for the Charlie or Miles debate, I doubt we will ever the answer though it’s fun to speculate. Miles’s writing style was vastly influenced by Parker at the time as he was only starting to find his own voice in composition. This does make speculation harder. I suspect that the melody might be a joint effort but the song was credited to Charlie since he had the bigger name at the time. Parts of the melody certainly feel very Parker esc but Miles also comes to mind a lot.
This is one of the greatest duos of all time! Joe Pass just seemed to have an unlimited amount of fantasy; incredible! He always manage to make music out of "accidents", and they will occure when a true improviser is at work. He always took chances in his playing and left a legacy for mannkind to enjoy, admire, study and draw inspiration from for eternity: Thank You Joe and Thank You NHØP!
As you can see at the beginning this video is from 1979 (23.07.1979), whereas Jaco's recording is from 1976. But on upright it's nevertheless a different thing, you're right...
NHÖP betveen 1970-80 is so amazing. When he changed his bass and developed the fifth finger.. He is so happy everytime then when he discover what he can do that nobodyelse done befoere. And, it was with deep feeling, artistery, rythm and everything! One of jazz-musics 10 time greatest.
Two musicians at the very top of their game. Talent that is completely off the scale and the fact that 99% of the population dosen't get it is just fine by me. My Dad (who played Jazz guitar all his life) took me to see JP at Blues Alley long ago. Probably my closest friend accompanied us and it was, and will be the finest night of my life. I'm so happy to have TH-cam to relive that experience. Thanks Joe-RIP
i got to see joe pass twice-1st at the berkeley guitar explosion in 1973 and the 2nd at the great american music hall the following year. i was amazed not only at his tehcnical brilliance and his mastery of swing but also his great use of altered dominant 7th phrases and other modernistic harmonic devices."the prez of bebop guitar!!"
i love joes single lines at any time,but when he is getting it on with another musician of the likes of this giant,it becomes truly inspirational for me!
I too wanted to sell the bass as a teenager after the first real encounter with NHØP. Funny to read in the comments that it is also similar to many today. But: Don't be discouraged, be spurred on - it makes more sense.
INCREDIBLE....!! playing fast is not the point as you see.... they can play fast..the mastery is to think fast..to make sense..not just going up and down the scale...these cats have it all.
guitarists are the happiest jazz players. ...because they have the hardest struggle to controll their instrument..... Theyre just happy that they did it....
I am from the same country as Niels Henning Ørsted Peddersen! Haleluja! Hes the best Bassist on the planet!!! Unfortuneately he died from a heartattack a few years ago, why god, why?
joe pass has once again changed my life, and nhop...wow, watching these two really knocks one down a few pegs and forces one to look at thier own talent and skil, way to go for this upload!
@benkit49 This was the second to last tune that NHOP and Joe Pass played on this night. Oscar Peterson was the frontman of this performance in Paris and took a break on this one so Pass and Pedersen could show off a little. NHOP and Pass played this beautifully. I don't see why anyone would disregard this recording because of tempo increase.
NOHP was the Oscar Peterson of the Bass. Joe is in a category by himself. Soloing pick style is only one aspect. His chord melody solo guitar work is not to be surpassed. How he can think that fast and respond instantly is amazing. He had BIG ears, He could hear it and play it instantly. I love how he leaves space for the dialog with the bass. Such inventive ideas. Musical statements instead of just playing fast to show off.
i cant believe how good NHOP is, they play that tune faster than ive ever heard it and neither of them even blink, that is scary, and his pitch, wow!!! Dave
Somebody earlier seemed to think these guys were just running scales- WRONG! They are actually composing melodies as they solo, incorporating just about every scale and mode that exists. That is true jazz improvisation, and with a fluidity and sense of meter that makes it look (almost) easy! And the fact that they're doing this without a drummer (or click track) makes it even more impressive!
Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen? Why have I never heard of this person before!? That bass-playing is truly prodigious. What an incredible recording. Stunning.
Thanks for sharing this Vic. Niels' trading is insane. It is burning and still grooving and in the pocket. Chops is one of my favorite CDs of all time. RIP Niels & Joe.
do'nt kid yourself! He was a theory guy! He was experianced enough to know how to use it. He knew music theory inside out, upside down, and sideways. In every key you could dream up! He did his homework long before you ever heard him play!
Man, NHOP is just unbelievable. If someone snapped their fingers at 235 and told me a bass player could player could play Donna Lee at that tempo I would tell em to get lost.
when nhop died the world lost a part of it's soul ! :-) if you guys want to hear so more of those 2 is good quality especialyy for the bas download chop by bmol joe pass and nhoo its crazy ive never seen such groove an solo
@DiatonicSoul I totally agree with you, many metal guitar players said that one of the things that made megadeth so great was that they added kind of a jazzy style. I think that studying jazz is good for every guitar player cause it is such a fine art that you can learn a lot and never stop learning. and I also love metal and jazz, as much as blues and classical.
I feel like its a race or competition to see who can hit the head the fastest. I play it quick but with some swing to let the melody be heard. Still totally amazing what those guys do... -Cole Alanson B-3
@FunkySkunk90 The Oscar Peterson album "The Paris Concert" features another rendition of this classic. If you like this you ought to check out "Chops". A whole album with these two masters.
This is an amazing piece. And, just for everybody's information, Joe Pass read very well, that's one of the things he stressed with his students, that reading is one of the most fundamental and most important skills to have. Even in most of the books he wrote he stressed being able to sight-read well. Not attacking anybody. I just thought I would share that.
When Jaco played "Donna Lee", it was at a considerably slower tempo; and on electric bass, too! (And he took liberties w/the phrasing.) NHOP continues to blow me away; I didn't think this was humanly possible. And swingin' hard, too, as always. PS- Miles was a teenager when DL was written, but he may have contributed a few notes. I think he was just starting to play with Bird at the time. That's when he still had the chops to play bop! (And before he revolutionized jazz!- and rock, too.)
@Uunster it is classified as "bebop jazz" due to the fast tempo, on the fly improvisation, which actually is more difficult then you would think. like @badbassjd had mentioned before with the use of all scales and modes, they are actually playing in whatever key the chord is at that time. there may be 2 chords per measure and they will play 2 different keys in that measure to emphasize chord changes. the central theme is to signify chord changes with the melody.
@uponaburningman- They are always playing in a single key, but there are scales that work for each chord, and there are modes that can be played over several chords in a row. This song doesn't even have a bridge- it only consists of a 16 bar "A" and a 16 bar "B" section, so the form is ABABAB....etc. The first 4 bars of each are almost identical, and then they differ slightly, but there are no "modulations" (key changes.
Please tell me this is fast forwarded so I can feel better haha. If not then Joe's chops here are fucking incredible. I have it good enough improvising through the tune on the standard tempo but this is just insane. Mad respect to the man
![[DRIP] ‘CLIK CLAK’ PREVIEW](/img/n.gif)
So powerful they blew the color right off the film
A guitar player friend of mine used to call me and play me these clips of incredible guitar hotness on the phone for a few seconds and then hang up. It was running joke. I finally had enough... I retaliated heavy by calling him and laying the first thirty seconds of Donna Lee from Pass/NHOP 'chops' album. Nuked him.
Playing with Joe Pass appears to be one of those rare occasions where NHØP took off his wrist watch.
From what I have heard, he only did that when things got busy...
Well I am not surprised, because if this isn't 'busy' then I'd like to see what is.
Yeah, haha! Might be true. I saw Niels stretching (together with Joe)
out before a concert in Montmartre in '82.
0:28-0:30 NHOP's response(the harmonic) to Joe's lick. Just beautiful interaction.
A good musician knows when NOT to play!
You can see this so perfectly at those two godlike artists.
They give each other the space they need, though they have this incredible amount of technical ability.
10 of 5 stars
The MELODY of "Donna Lee" was written over the changes of "Indiana", a ubiquitous pop tune of that era. Music lovers had heard it so many times they were sick of it. (Mostly quarter notes.) Bird wrote a new, more interesting and challenging melody and called it "Donna Lee". Any bebop player knows it, not all can play it at tempo. You can also sing the words and melody of "Indiana" over every chorus of "Donna Lee". This might help you comprehend and appreciate bebop, if you don't already.
Jonathan Drechsler Miles claimed that he wrote it but it's probably bullshit too high
Miles Davis did write it...I've researched it.
I’ve heard some suggest the melody was rewritten because the musicians enjoyed soloing over the changes but the melody was copyrighted so Charlie would have to pay the original writers royalties.
As for the Charlie or Miles debate, I doubt we will ever the answer though it’s fun to speculate. Miles’s writing style was vastly influenced by Parker at the time as he was only starting to find his own voice in composition. This does make speculation harder. I suspect that the melody might be a joint effort but the song was credited to Charlie since he had the bigger name at the time. Parts of the melody certainly feel very Parker esc but Miles also comes to mind a lot.
He is playing that bass so damn fast, it almost looks fake... perfect :)
+rockplay100 Its NHOP.
This is one of the greatest duos of all time! Joe Pass just seemed to have an unlimited amount of fantasy; incredible! He always manage to make music out of "accidents", and they will occure when a true improviser is at work. He always took chances in his playing and left a legacy for mannkind to enjoy, admire, study and draw inspiration from for eternity: Thank You Joe and Thank You NHØP!
Wow. I thought Jaco was the first to attempt Donna Lee's head on bass. For NHOP to do it first, and on upright, wow!
As you can see at the beginning this video is from 1979 (23.07.1979), whereas Jaco's recording is from 1976. But on upright it's nevertheless a different thing, you're right...
Joe Pass just topped my list of greatest guitarists that have ever lived.
NHØP fingers are in-fucking-sane
NHÖP betveen 1970-80 is so amazing. When he changed his bass and developed the fifth finger.. He is so happy everytime then when he discover what he can do that nobodyelse done befoere. And, it was with deep feeling, artistery, rythm and everything! One of jazz-musics 10 time greatest.
There will NEVER be another bassist like him.... RIP
Wow! Amazing! I had no idea Niels was such an amazing player. These two don't even begin to break a sweat. One for my favorites.
NHØP got mad skillz. one of the great bass players of oure time. definetly when it comes to jazz
Two musicians at the very top of their game. Talent that is completely off the scale and the fact that 99% of the population dosen't get it is just fine by me. My Dad (who played Jazz guitar all his life) took me to see JP at Blues Alley long ago. Probably my closest friend accompanied us and it was, and will be the finest night of my life. I'm so happy to have TH-cam to relive that experience. Thanks Joe-RIP
i got to see joe pass twice-1st at the berkeley guitar explosion in 1973 and the 2nd at the great american music hall the following year. i was amazed not only at his tehcnical brilliance and his mastery of swing but also his great use of altered dominant 7th phrases and other modernistic harmonic devices."the prez of bebop guitar!!"
Gotta be one of the best versions of Donna Lee I've heard ! Love it!
i love joes single lines at any time,but when he is getting it on with another musician of the likes of this
giant,it becomes truly inspirational for me!
I've watched this video so many times and what can i say. More impossible bass play from NHØP.
Joe Passalacqua, Mariano Passalacqua's son, from Sicily, Italy. Great! :)
Oh my God, that bassplayer is from another planet! Jesus!!
I too wanted to sell the bass as a teenager after the first real encounter with NHØP. Funny to read in the comments that it is also similar to many today.
But: Don't be discouraged, be spurred on - it makes more sense.
Two monster players. Mind blowing all the way. NHOP though!!
people that don't like this are still wrapping there heads around Don't Get Around Much Anymore.
INCREDIBLE....!! playing fast is not the point as you see.... they can play fast..the mastery is to think fast..to make sense..not just going up and down the scale...these cats have it all.
I thought Stanley was the king of the double bass....until I saw this. NHOP was an amazing musician, so was Joe.........
guitarists are the happiest jazz players.
...because they have the hardest struggle to controll their instrument.....
Theyre just happy that they did it....
Amazing unisono.....!! RIP you both. Thanx for showing what real artistry on an instrument means...Hope ya doin´well over there!
I am from the same country as Niels Henning Ørsted Peddersen! Haleluja! Hes the best Bassist on the planet!!! Unfortuneately he died from a heartattack a few years ago, why god, why?
joe pass has once again changed my life, and nhop...wow, watching these two really knocks one down a few pegs and forces one to look at thier own talent and skil, way to go for this upload!
Jazz---Music of the Gods.
Fast and musical at the same time. Amazing.
I never get tired of watching this
Its fascinating how beautiful and melodic an upright tempo version of Donna Lee can sound.
that was a jaw dropper!. God and Jesus didn't resign, they were well pleased!
why is this video on fast-forward? lol
it is almost ridiculous how good these guys are... literally :)
Unbelievable.
Thank You so much for posting
this gem.
@benkit49 This was the second to last tune that NHOP and Joe Pass played on this night. Oscar Peterson was the frontman of this performance in Paris and took a break on this one so Pass and Pedersen could show off a little. NHOP and Pass played this beautifully. I don't see why anyone would disregard this recording because of tempo increase.
Amazing what we can share, nowadays on youtube! NHOP at such a young age and fabodizzylicious already!
I really enjoy the freedom these guys possess
Awesome playing from both... it's unbelivable !!!
NOHP was the Oscar Peterson of the Bass.
Joe is in a category by himself.
Soloing pick style is only one aspect.
His chord melody solo guitar work is not to be surpassed. How he can think that fast and
respond instantly is amazing. He had BIG ears,
He could hear it and play it instantly. I love how he leaves space for the dialog with the bass. Such inventive ideas. Musical statements instead of just playing fast to show off.
I was lucky enough to see Joe in cincinnati in about '89. Hands down, the greatest I've ever seen, and I've seen a LOT. Very entertaining concert
i had a longplay(old records) of "joe pass: portraits of duke ellington" but i never knew that he was incredible like in this video. Amazing.
Thank you for posting this..amazing playing by these two legends
back in the days where talented people where the ones recognized.
Best duet of the world!
i cant believe how good NHOP is, they play that tune faster than ive ever heard it and neither of them even blink, that is scary, and his pitch, wow!!!
Dave
いつ観てもスゴイ…
Somebody earlier seemed to think these guys were just running scales- WRONG! They are actually composing melodies as they solo, incorporating just about every scale and mode that exists. That is true jazz improvisation, and with a fluidity and sense of meter that makes it look (almost) easy! And the fact that they're doing this without a drummer (or click track) makes it even more impressive!
couldnt get a fast enough drummer
there are chromatic-ish bits jazzing up the place everywhere, but it just resolves melodically in ways you`re not used to... but there is flow.
Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen? Why have I never heard of this person before!? That bass-playing is truly prodigious. What an incredible recording. Stunning.
Thanks for sharing this Vic. Niels' trading is insane. It is burning and still grooving and in the pocket. Chops is one of my favorite CDs of all time. RIP Niels & Joe.
I saw these two -- with Oscar Peterson! -- in Dearborn, Michigan in 1979! I still haven't calmed down!
thank you, what a great clip of Joe and NHOP thanks for uploading this!
do'nt kid yourself! He was a theory guy! He was experianced enough to know how to use it. He knew music theory inside out, upside down, and sideways. In every key you could dream up! He did his homework long before you ever heard him play!
Man, NHOP is just unbelievable. If someone snapped their fingers at 235 and told me a bass player could player could play Donna Lee at that tempo I would tell em to get lost.
man NHOP rest in peace..... very few can do it like these two....
man if you liked this video you would love their duo album "CHOPS"
when nhop died the world lost a part of it's soul ! :-) if you guys want to hear so more of those 2 is good quality especialyy for the bas download chop by bmol joe pass and nhoo
its crazy ive never seen such groove an solo
Impressionante e fantastico. I grandi del jazz . Tecnica e gusto nel fraseggio abbinati insieme. Viva la grande improvvisazione jazz !!!!
@DiatonicSoul I totally agree with you, many metal guitar players said that one of the things that made megadeth so great was that they added kind of a jazzy style. I think that studying jazz is good for every guitar player cause it is such a fine art that you can learn a lot and never stop learning. and I also love metal and jazz, as much as blues and classical.
ペデルセン先生、あなたは凄すぎます！
もうホントこの人にとってウッド・ベースはギターやホーン感覚で自由自在に弾けちゃうモノなんだなと、同じ楽器演奏している者として
orz...
I feel like its a race or competition to see who can hit the head the fastest. I play it quick but with some swing to let the melody be heard. Still totally amazing what those guys do...
-Cole Alanson B-3
Joe is GREAT. He swings like no other on guitar.
Thank you for posting this jewel!!
@FunkySkunk90 The Oscar Peterson album "The Paris Concert" features another rendition of this classic. If you like this you ought to check out "Chops". A whole album with these two masters.
this is just too awesome.
holy crap thats awesome, man i wish i could play jazz like that!
amazing!
i hope their souls keep grooving...
No words... Grate!
This is an amazing piece. And, just for everybody's information, Joe Pass read very well, that's one of the things he stressed with his students, that reading is one of the most fundamental and most important skills to have. Even in most of the books he wrote he stressed being able to sight-read well. Not attacking anybody. I just thought I would share that.
Fantastic! Joe was just the greatest!
Quel swing, quel thème!!! Ca fait parfois de revenir à ses premiers amours!
Those 2 cats are simply.... WHOA!
The genious of the guitar and the genious of the bass
a true master of music
Huh mikä duo - kerran roudasin NHOP Kulttuuritalolla ja oli myös komeeta soitantaa!
When Jaco played "Donna Lee", it was at a considerably slower tempo; and on electric bass, too! (And he took liberties w/the phrasing.) NHOP continues to blow me away; I didn't think this was humanly possible. And swingin' hard, too, as always. PS- Miles was a teenager when DL was written, but he may have contributed a few notes. I think he was just starting to play with Bird at the time. That's when he still had the chops to play bop! (And before he revolutionized jazz!- and rock, too.)
Il grande Oscar Peterson diceva di Niels Pedersen: "Lui non suona il basso, lui è il basso!"
Unbeliavable !!
@Uunster it is classified as "bebop jazz" due to the fast tempo, on the fly improvisation, which actually is more difficult then you would think. like @badbassjd had mentioned before with the use of all scales and modes, they are actually playing in whatever key the chord is at that time. there may be 2 chords per measure and they will play 2 different keys in that measure to emphasize chord changes. the central theme is to signify chord changes with the melody.
It's just pouring out of them
Au5
Magistral !
cleanest upright playing ever
Uno de los mejoreees guitarristas cielo santoooooo
The 32 dislikes for this vid are going to make me lose sleep tonight. INSANITY!
It's 43 now. Have a scotch and relax, you can take a horse to water...
UNTOUCHABLE!
I have never in my life seen two guys smoking like that... Honeyed smoke even! RIP, Gents--miss ya.
I just died on the inside. Of awe.
Daaaaamn!!!! That was smokin!!!!
that's what I say EVERY TIME I watch them... :)
Amazing playing! I covered it on my guitar recently 😂
@TheJacoArmy I'll always love Jaco too-but it's hard to argue with you about Niels!
Increíble, fueras de serie, maravilloso, impresionante
@uponaburningman- They are always playing in a single key, but there are scales that work for each chord, and there are modes that can be played over several chords in a row. This song doesn't even have a bridge- it only consists of a 16 bar "A" and a 16 bar "B" section, so the form is ABABAB....etc. The first 4 bars of each are almost identical, and then they differ slightly, but there are no "modulations" (key changes.
Impressive work
Please tell me this is fast forwarded so I can feel better haha. If not then Joe's chops here are fucking incredible. I have it good enough improvising through the tune on the standard tempo but this is just insane. Mad respect to the man