Pat Martino (1944-2021)

Pat Martino, a hard-swinging jazz guitarist whose singular soul-jazz feel elevated his visibility in 1970s only to suffer a health crisis that forced him to relearn the instrument with miraculous results, died on Nov. 1. He was 77.

Martino's recording career began in 1963 under his real name, Pat Azzara. He started as a sideman on Willis Jackson's Gravy album. Recording for Prestige, Martino was swept up into the label's distinct soul-jazz sound that would distinguish its recordings into the 1970s. As a result, in the 1960s, Martino recorded as a sideman on albums led by artists such as Eric Kloss, Don Patterson, Brother Jack McDuff, Richard “Groove" Holmes, John Handy and Trudy Pitts. His first leadership session was El Hombre in 1967, which showcased his wide-ranging ability and technique.

By the late 1960s, the volume of his sideman dates increased, but he managed to record as a leader as well. Desperado was followed by The Visit, Live!, Consciousness, We'll Be Together Again and more. Anyone who came to jazz in the late 1960s or early '70s was keenly aware of Martino, since he often was on the grooviest Prestige recordings and typically was the straw that swung the drink.

In 1980 Martino suffered a hemorrhaged arteriovenous malformation, causing a “near-fatal seizure." Following surgery, he was left with amnesia and no recollection of his career or how to play the guitar. Rather than struggle to recall the past, he focused on relearning to play the guitar. By 1987, Martino was back in the studio as a leader on The Return.

Here are 10 of my favorites by Martino:

Here's One for Rose, from El Hombre (1967), with Danny Turner (fl), Trudy Pitts (org), Pat Martino (g), Mitch Fine (d), Abdu Johnson (cga) and Vance Anderson (bgo,perc)...



Here's Lazy Bird, from East! (1968), with Sanifu Eddie Green (p), Pat Martino (g), Tyrone Brown (b), Lennie McBrowne (d) and Ben Tucker (tamb)...



Here's Oleo, from Desperado (1970), with Sanifu Eddie Green (el-p), Pat Martino (12-string-g), Tyrone Brown (b) and Sherman Ferguson (d)...



Here's the greatest Sunny cover, from Live! in 1972, clocking in at 10 minutes and change with Ron Thomas (el-p), Pat Martino (g), Tyrone Brown (b) and Sherman Ferguson (d)...



Here's These Are Soulful Days (1973), with Jimmy Heath (ts), Don Patterson (org), Pat Martino (g) and Albert “Tootie" Heath (d)...



Here's Dreamsville, from We'll Be Together Again (1976), with Pat Martino (g) and Gil Goldstein (el-p)...



Here's Do You Have a Name, from The Return (1987), with Pat Martino (g), Steve LaSpina (b) and Joey Baron (d)...



Here's Naima, from Nexus (1994), with Jim Ridl (keyboards) and Pat Martino (g)...



Here's Side Effect, from Undeniable—Live at Blues Alley (2009), with Eric Alexander (ts), Tony Monaco (org), Pat Martino (g) and Jeff “Tain" Watts (d)...



And here's On the Stairs, from Formidable (2017), with Alex Norris (tp), Adam Niewood (ts), Pat Bianchi (org), Pat Martino (g) and Carmen Intorre, Jr. (d)...



Bonus: Here's Pat Martino live with organist Tony Monaco and drummer Harvey Mason in 2008...