Born in Brooklyn, NY. Guitarist, composer-songwriter-arranger, occasional singer. Discovered jazz in teens. Studied in 20s with Jimmy Raney, Chuck Wayne, Barry Galbraith. Also composed music from early age. Received critical evaluation and encouragement from Raney and Wayne, also played extensively with and was influenced by fellow guitarist Eddie Diehl. Also from early 20s received invaluable instruction from John Foca, a pianist and teacher in Brooklyn........ 1980s: Member of house rhythm section at Barry Harris's Jazz Cultural Theater and gigged and performed with pianists Jaki Byard, Chris Anderson, drummer Vernel Fournier, closely associated with trumpeter Tommy Turrentine and alto saxophone player Clarence C. Sharpe. Gigged with Big Joe Turner (Tramps, 1981). Tenor saxophonist Percy France recommended him to fellow tenor George Kelly for his Jazz Sultans(also including Richard Wyands, Benny Powell, Virgil Jones, others)for a week at the West End Cafe. Also from West End radio airshots over WKCR FM with Kelly, France, others including Ram Ramirez (composer of Lover Man) Basie bassist Jimmy Lewis, drummer Oliver Jackson........ 1990s: Long engagement with singer Hadda Brooks at Michael's Pub. Co-led well-received 2 guitar quartet with Eddie Diehl at Smalls. Compositions and arranging featured on concerts, club gigs, recordings, radio dates (Around NY WNYC FM)..........2000's: Working quartet with tenor Jerry Weldon, organist (the late) Bobby Forrester, drummer Rudy Petschauer. Sitins by invitation with with tenor Bootsie Barnes (Ortlieb's, Philadelphia), Bob Dorough (Iridium, NY). Began producing concert events at Mercy College with colleagues John Eckert; Eddie Locke; John Beal; Richard Wyands; Sean Smith. 2-guitar projects with James Chirillo (produced/performed tribute to Montgomery; Christian; Raney with Chirillo; Eddie Locke, drums; John Beal, bass avail. from artist on DVD) and John Hart; Performed with Hart, Petchauer, organist Don Millitello and appeared on In the Moment (WBAI FM), other gigs. Summer 2004 toured NW Michigan with Petschauer, Eckert, Dutch pianist/organist Bob Wijnen.........2006: Played w/Bob Dorough, Dave Matthews at Cucina de Stagnole, long-running steady Sunday Brunch w/singer Deanna Kirk, bassist Tim Givens, Cucina di Peche. By special request played a special send-off perfrmance for the Rev. Walter C. Barton Jr. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, Harlem USA.....Appeared at Smalls with Planet Jazz and Ari Roland Quartet, Terrace in the Sky w/Kuni Mikami Trio...2007: lived and worked in Den Haag, Netherlands with old friends made living there in 2001...2008: Played with vibist Teddy Charles with Ari Roland's group at Fat Cat; began songwriting performance collaboration with Jimmy Norman (composer of "Time is on My Side".   Moved to Philadelphia, 2018 and led groups at Top Shelf; Heritage; La Rose Jazz; 2017, collaborated with vocalist Michelle Lordi on WFDU FM live broadcast---Michelle sang my originals Not a Bad Novemer and Shelter; 2019, Shelter recorded by vocalist Clare Donahue on her Meloncholy Serenader CD *that's the right spelling!). CDs available for purchase here: Melody Messenger (solo guitar); Joel Fass & Friends Jam for Eddie Diehl (duets with fellow guitarists Sheryl Bailey & Ray Macchiarolla and 1 solo performance---in tribute to a jazz guitar great who was a friend for 40+ years and an early mentor. Book of my compositions, instrumental and with lyrics, due out in 2021. Stay tuned!