Like trio albums are to tenor saxists, solo albums are the ultimate mettle test for a guitarist. Few make it work well, with Joe Pass being the gold standard. Pasquale Grasso comes close on this first of his three-part series on the solo format. The tricky part of any six stringer is to successfully meld the implied or stated pulse on either strums or single pickings to complement the solo excursions, and Grasso does so with style, patient and majestically on “Embraceable You”. He makes two notes state the same theme like strands on a harp on “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” while exuding class and sophistication with lyricism on a laconic “Darn That Dream”. Would love to see a tour of this guy-stop the shutdown and open the clubs for him!