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Pat Martino

When the anesthesia wore off, Pat Martino looked up hazily at his parents and his doctors and tried to piece together any memory of his life. One of the greatest guitarists in jazz. Martino had suffered a severe brain aneurysm and underwent surgery after being told that his condition could be terminal. After his operations he could remember almost nothing. He barely recognized his parents. and had no memory of his guitar or his career. He remembers feeling as if he had been “dropped cold, empty, neutral, cleansed... naked.” In the following months. Martino made a remarkable recovery. Through intensive study of his own historic recordings, and with the help of computer technology, Pat managed to reverse his memory loss and return to form on his instrument. His past recordings eventually became “an old friend, a spiritual experience which remained beautiful and honest.” This recovery fits in perfectly with Pat's illustrious personal history. Since playing his first notes while still in his pre-teenage years, Martino has been recognized as one of the most exciting and virtuosic guitarists in jazz. With a distinctive, fat sound and gut-wrenching performances, he represents the best not just in jazz, but in music. He embodies thoughtful energy and soul. Born Pat Azzara in Philadelphia in 1944, he was first exposed to jazz through his father, Carmen “Mickey” Azzara, who sang in local clubs and briefly studied guitar with Eddie Lang. He took Pat to all the city's hot-spots to hear and meet Wes Montgomery and other musical giants. “I have always admired my father and have wanted to impress him. As a result, it forced me to get serious with my creative powers.” He began playing guitar when he was twelve years old. and left school in tenth grade to devote himself to music. During Visits to his music teacher Dennis Sandole, Pat often ran into another gifted student, John Coltrane, who would treat the youngster to hot chocolate as they talked about music. Besides first-hand encounters with `Trane and Montgomery, whose album Grooveyard had “an enormous influence” on Martino, he also cites Johnny Smith, a Stan Getz associate, as an early inspiration. “He seemed to me, as a child. to understand everything about music,” Pat recalls.

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Live Review

Pat Martino: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy @ Jazz at the Point Festival

Read "Pat Martino: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy @ Jazz at the Point Festival" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer


A Celebration of the Life and the Legacy of Pat Martino 35+ Musicians Jazz@thePoint Festival Gateway Playhouse Somers Point, NJ November 3-5, 2022 NOTE: A complete listing of the Celebration events and musicians provided by the South Jersey Jazz Society can be found here. One of the best puns in jazz history appeared in the title of Shaun Brady's preview of this 3-day set of concerts ...

14
Interview

Joe Donofrio: Remembering Pat Martino

Read "Joe Donofrio: Remembering Pat Martino" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer


Guitarist Pat Martino passed away on November 1, 2021 after an extended bout of respiratory illness. As we approach the first anniversary of his passing, his long-time manager and dear friend Joe Donofrio and the South Jersey Jazz Society are putting together an exciting four days in the New Jersey coastal town of Somers Point, consisting of evening musical performances and other events to honor and remember Martino and his unique contribution to jazz. The dates are Friday through Sunday, ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Pat, We Hardly Knew You

Read "Pat, We Hardly Knew You" reviewed by Patrick Burnette


For our first podcast of 2022 we take a deep dive into the work of recently departed guitarist Pat Martino. From a live burner to an introspective duet to a fusion foray and an all-star showcase, Pat's recordings always delivered quality and kept his unique personality to the fore whatever the context. Mike brings a bonanza to pop matters but Pat has only one little Nightmare. Playlist Discussion of Pat Martino's album Live (Muse) 5:00 Discussion of Pat ...

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Top Ten List

Pat Martino Top Ten Albums: More Than Meets The Eye

Read "Pat Martino Top Ten Albums: More Than Meets The Eye" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Hugely admired by his peers, guitarist Pat Martino never really enjoyed the high profile accorded the likes of John McLaughlin, John Abercrombie, Pat Metheny or John Scofield, though in that esteemed company the Philadelphian guitarist, who passed away in 2021, surely belongs. In a sixty-year career, interrupted for the guts of a decade by a near fatal brain aneurysm--see Ian Knox's documentary Martino Unstrung (Sixteen Films, 2008)--Martino recorded twenty-seven albums as leader for labels such as Prestige, Muse, ...

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Profile

Pat Martino: In Memoriam - Some Recollections of a Legend and Beloved Friend

Read "Pat Martino: In Memoriam - Some Recollections of a Legend and Beloved Friend" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer


Note: This is a personal “memoir" of Pat Martino written soon after his passing. It is not a commentary on his music. There are many resources of that kind on All About Jazz (here), across the web and on Pat's website. I first met Pat Martino after he gave a stunning performance at the then new location of Zanzibar Blue at the Bellevue Hotel on South Broad Street in jny: Philadelphia. That was around 2002. It was the ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Tribute to Pat Martino, plus new releases from Android trio, Phonic Nomads, and German Band Fazer

Read "Tribute to Pat Martino, plus new releases from Android trio, Phonic Nomads, and German Band Fazer" reviewed by Len Davis


We pay tribute to Pat Martino who recently passed. Also, new releases from Android Trio, German Band Fazer and from France, Phonic Nomads. Playlist Pat Martino “Mac Tough" from Stone Blue (Blue Note) 00:00 Pat Martino “Joyous Lake" from Joyous Lake (Warner) 06:29 Pat Martino “Dozen Down" from Think Tank (Blue Note) 12:56 Niko Schauble “Southern Nights" from Night Music (Origin) 19:25 Android Trio “Concentric Lines" from Other Worlds (Cuneiform) 25:48 Jack Gardiner and Owane “Intergalactic Drive-By" from ...

5
Interview

Pat Martino: Creative Force

Read "Pat Martino: Creative Force" reviewed by Mike Brannon


This article was first published at All About Jazz in June 2000. Pat Martino. A name that strikes anything from fear to sheer awe and reverence in musicians who know who this is. And what he's done and been through. And continues to go through. The name resonates a bridge between the true Jazz swing era throughout the organ trio groove and into the modern era and its (digital and electronic) resources of today. A musical ...

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Event

South Jersey Jazz Society Announces Lineup for the Pat Martino Celebration of Life Experience Set for November 3-6 in Somers Point, NJ

South Jersey Jazz Society Announces Lineup for the Pat Martino Celebration of Life Experience Set for November 3-6 in Somers Point, NJ

Source: DL Media

South Jersey Jazz Society presents a Celebration of Life and Legacy of the great jazz guitarist Pat Martino at this year’s Jazz @ the Point Festival, which runs from November 3 through 6 at Gateway Playhouse and Gregory's Restaurant in Somers Point, New Jersey. Artists performing at the festival include influential musicians and jazz icons who have interacted with Martino throughout the guitarist’s illustrious career that spanned more than five decades before he passed away in 2021. The four-day event ...

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Event

South Jersey Jazz Society Announces Dates for the Pat Martino Celebration of Life Experience

South Jersey Jazz Society Announces Dates for the Pat Martino Celebration of Life Experience

Source: DL Media

Complete Lineup Will be Announced in the Near Future South Jersey Jazz Society presents a Celebration of Life and Legacy of the great jazz guitarist Pat Martino at this year’s Jazz @ the Point Festival, which runs from November 3 through 6 at various venues in Somers Point, New Jersey. Artists performing at the festival include influential musicians and jazz icons who have interacted with Martino throughout the guitarist’s illustrious career that spanned more than five decades before he passed ...

1

Performance / Tour

The Django Kick-Starts The New Year With Pat Martino Tribute, CD Release Concerts, A French Jazz Festival, And More

The Django Kick-Starts The New Year With Pat Martino Tribute, CD Release Concerts, A French Jazz Festival, And More

Source: AMT Public Relations

The Django, downtown Manhattan’s premier jazz club, begins 2022 by opening its doors another day—now, patrons can enjoy jazz in the cellar six days a week Monday-Saturday. On January 6th, The Django stage humbly hosts an evening dedicated to the great guitarist Pat Martino comprising a documentary screening, and tribute concerts by Rick Germanson, four all-star guitarists Peter Bernstein, Dave Stryker, Paul Bollenback and Mark Whitfield, and special guests. The Django plays host to two CD release concerts: drummer Evan ...

1

Video / DVD

Concert: Pat Martino Trio, 2014

Concert: Pat Martino Trio, 2014

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

In 2014, the Pat Martino Trio performed at the Lotos Jazz Festival in Poland. Martino's playing—backed by Pat Bianchi on organ and Carmen Intorre on drums—is spectacular. So good, in fact, that you can just let the concert play in the background while you work. Or even better, watch it. The tracks are Catch, Full House, Inside Out, Lean Years, Blue In Green, All Blues, Mac Tough and Sunny. The ever-lovely and marvelous jazz vocalist Tessa Souter sent the link ...

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Obituary

Pat Martino (1944-2021)

Pat Martino (1944-2021)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

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 ...

1

Recording

Pat Martino: Young Guns

Pat Martino: Young Guns

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Guitarist Pat Martino cooks in clubs. He's probably best known for his version of Sunny, recorded at New York's Folk City on his Live! album in 1972. Back in 2014, High Tone Records came into possession of previously unreleased live recordings made between 1968 and '69 at Club 118 in Louisville, Ky. Entitled Young Guns, the album featured Gene Ludwig (org), Pat Martino (g) and Randy Gelispie (d). Back in the '60s and beyond, Martino was fully versed in the ...

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Event

Jazz Bridge to Present Concert Series Featuring Legendary Jazz Musicians Pat Martino, Monnette Sudler, Jimmy Heath and More in Celebration of "Philadelphia Real Book" Launch

Jazz Bridge to Present Concert Series Featuring Legendary Jazz Musicians Pat Martino, Monnette Sudler, Jimmy Heath and More in Celebration of "Philadelphia Real Book" Launch

Source: All About Jazz

Concerts held December 3, 2016; February 25, 2017; March 4, 2017; April 26, 2017 with concerts starting at 7:00 pm. Jazz Bridge will celebrate the publication of the first Philadelphia Real Book, comprised of original musical compositions of jazz and blues musicians in the Greater Philadelphia area, with an extraordinary concert series spotlighting some of Philly’s finest jazz artists. The Philadelphia Real Book concerts will take place at the University of the Arts’ Terra Hall on December 3, 2016; February ...

1

Education

Music Education Monday: Guitar lessons from Pat Martino

Music Education Monday: Guitar lessons from Pat Martino

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

If you had a chance to hear guitarist Pat Martino when he performed in St. Louis a couple of weeks ago, you may have wondered how he does what he does. Today for Music Education Monday, you may get at least a partial answer to that question, as you can see Martino (pictured) explaining some of his concepts and musical ideas via a series of video lessons. Excerpted from an “interactive video master class" called The Nature of Guitar, the ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Pat Martino, Snarky Puppy, a tribute to Mae Wheeler, and more

Jazz this week: Pat Martino, Snarky Puppy, a tribute to Mae Wheeler, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week's notable jazz and creative music shows in St. Louis include return appearances from a top guitarist and one of the hottest young bands in jazz, plus a rare visit from some prog-rock veterans and a tribute to a fondly remembered local vocalist and mentor. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, May 11 Guitarist Pat Martino returns to St. Louis for the first of four nights continuing through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. Martino's guitar/organ/drums trio continues to ...

Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Guitar grooves with Pat Martino

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Guitar grooves with Pat Martino

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Today, let's get reacquainted via video with guitarist Pat Martino, who returns to St. Louis next week to play Wednesday, May 11 through Saturday, May 14 at Jazz at the Bistro. Martino has been a fairly regular visitor to St. Louis in recent years, last performing here in December 2013 at the Bistro. That visit was preceded by a Saturday video post spotlighting the guitarist, as were previous gigs here in 2010 and 2009. Martino's bio was summarized in a ...

Bob Roetker
guitar, electric
Dan Baraszu
guitar
Ron Jackson
guitar
Dan Andersen
guitar, electric
Ryan Fourt
guitar
Lew Woodall
guitar
Dave Howard
guitar, electric
Seth Okrend
guitar and vocals
Paul Colombo
guitar, electric
Ron Carlson
guitar
Myles Brown
guitar
Christian de Mesones
bass, electric
Jorge Garcia
guitar, electric
Phil Wilkinson
organ, Hammond B3
Don Price
guitar, acoustic
Eric Zolan
guitar, electric
Gregg Fine
guitar
Jay Reed
guitar
J.Cordes
guitar, acoustic
Kamil Abt
guitar
Rodrigo Simoes
guitar, electric
Jerry Tabor
guitar
Beat Baumli
guitar
Fil Pate
multi-instrumentalist
Zock Organ Trio
band / ensemble / orchestra
Ron Bosse
guitar
Matt Jardim
guitar
J. Garza
guitar
Nastazio Gkoumas
guitar, electric

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Recorded Live At The...

Essential Jazz Classics
2022

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The Christmas...

Craft Recordings
2018

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Formidable

HighNote Records
2017

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Nexus

HighNote Records
2016

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Present Night Of Jazz...

home.Fi records
2016

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Young Guns

HighNote Records
2014

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