Pasquale Grasso

**Cunamara** · 01-04-2026, 11:58 AM

Is it just me, or would PG be well served by opening up the tone knob just a smidge? I always think his tone is rather dead sounding in contrast to his playing. By the way, his first solo is some of the best stuff I have heard from him- more swinging in the lines and his comping is superb. He really has a nice propulsive feel here rather than just blazing away.

The whole band is tight and virtuosic. Wowsa!

And jazz clarinet! My favorite reed instrument, I like it so much more than the sax. The whole family of clarinets have such a beautiful sound, but usually clarinetists seem to play prebop styles. This was cool to hear, thanks for posting! I didn't know of Stefano Doglioni before today.

**David B** · 03-25-2026, 10:10 AM

For forum members on the West Coast. Just spotted on Instagram.

Pasquale Grasso-img_6865-jpeg

**pkirk** · 04-19-2026, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

Is it just me, or would PG be well served by opening up the tone knob just a smidge? I always think his tone is rather dead sounding in contrast to his playing.

Sometimes I have to hear someone in the right context to "finally" understand some player's tone. I dig "chick singers" with guitar
and on this P. Grasso / Samara Joy recording his tone is exactly perfect complement to her relaxed voice. This is pretty special accompaniment to my ears, like watching dancers.

And that's the same tone I hear on most of his recordings and youtube performances. After listening to his work with her,
I now dig his tone in all settings I hear him.

**David B** · 07-11-2026, 06:03 AM

From a June 2026 performance at Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia.

**Cunamara** · 07-12-2026, 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by pkirk

Sometimes I have to hear someone in the right context to "finally" understand some player's tone. I dig "chick singers" with guitar and on this P. Grasso / Samara Joy recording his tone is exactly perfect complement to her relaxed voice

Glad you dig it. I don't. I like Samara's voice a lot and her phrasing is outstanding (much better to my ears than the video in the next post, which to me is stiff and un-swinging like she's not hearing the groove from the band very well). I'm not exactly sure how to put it, Samara to me is like Ella Fitzgerald and many of the other great vocalists: as if singing is not something she's doing, it is her essence.

Pasquale has that remarkable quality, too, but I just don't like his tone. It doesn't sing. Petty on my part, perhaps, but there it is.

**jbromusic** · 07-12-2026, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

Glad you dig it. I don't. I like Samara's voice a lot and her phrasing is outstanding (much better to my ears than the video in the next post, which to me is stiff and un-swinging like she's not hearing the groove from the band very well). I'm not exactly sure how to put it, Samara to me is like Ella Fitzgerald and many of the other great vocalists: as if singing is not something she's doing, it is her essence.

Pasquale has that remarkable quality, too, but I just don't like his tone. It doesn't sing. Petty on my part, perhaps, but there it is.

I would have to agree here especially when you compare the full range of frequencies in Samara's voice to the tone of the guitar. The playing OTOH is absolutely brilliant. I feel the same way about Ben Monder sometimes especially when he kicks things into high gear. The tone is so muddy that you can't even hear the notes at that point. Again, he's also one of the greatest living guitar players.

**Cunamara** · 07-12-2026, 10:41 AM

Pasquale plays outrageous stuff all the time and never looks tense or ruffled. A pinnacle of technique and intention. I think the best tone I've heard from him is when he's playing the ES-175CC, there's a Guitar Night performance with that instrument that also sounds better tone-wise. His playing is always brilliant no matter what instrument.

Also, is it just me or does he kinda look like Barney Kessel (with better suits)?

**Christian Miller** · 07-13-2026, 04:57 AM

Originally Posted by jbromusic

I would have to agree here especially when you compare the full range of frequencies in Samara's voice to the tone of the guitar. The playing OTOH is absolutely brilliant. I feel the same way about Ben Monder sometimes especially when he kicks things into high gear. The tone is so muddy that you can't even hear the notes at that point. Again, he's also one of the greatest living guitar players.

Ben does have a tendency to disappear into the mix. Especially when he kicks on the drive because then it compresses everything as well. Especially noticeable on Blackstar when the mixes are more dense, it’s actually quite hard to hear what he’s playing.

In the case of the PG, not so much of a problem and actually his sound works very well live where you can hear him clearly despite him being quite a lot quieter than most other guitarists.

Some guitarists are better than others for listening to in the car lol.

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**AllanAllen** · 07-13-2026, 11:28 AM

Does Monder play ALL the guitar on Blackstar? Some of it sounds more like Earl Slick than Monder. But, maybe he understood the assignment.

I really love that album.

**Christian Miller** · 07-13-2026, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by AllanAllen

Does Monder play ALL the guitar on Blackstar? Some of it sounds more like Earl Slick than Monder. But, maybe he understood the assignment.

I really love that album.

The only other guitarist credited Afaik is Bowie himself on Lazarus

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**David B** · 07-21-2026, 04:34 AM

A performance and workshop just shared by Berklee College of Music.

**David B** · 07-21-2026, 06:01 AM

**James W** · 07-21-2026, 07:57 AM

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, David. I have sent him an email!

edit - thanks for the youtube clinic video too, which I just shared on this post before noticing you'd already shared it...