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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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Pat Martino: A Celebration of His Life and Legacy @ Jazz at the Point Festival
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 ...
Continue ReadingJoe Donofrio: Remembering Pat Martino
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, ...
Continue ReadingPat, We Hardly Knew You
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 ...
Continue ReadingPat Martino Top Ten Albums: More Than Meets The Eye
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, ...
Continue ReadingPat Martino: In Memoriam - Some Recollections of a Legend and Beloved Friend
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 ...
Continue ReadingTribute to Pat Martino, plus new releases from Android trio, Phonic Nomads, and German Band Fazer
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 ...
Continue ReadingPat Martino: Creative Force
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 ...
Continue ReadingSouth 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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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 ...
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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 ...
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Concert: Pat Martino Trio, 2014
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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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Pat Martino (1944-2021)
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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 ...
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Pat Martino: Young Guns
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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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Music Education Monday: Guitar lessons from Pat Martino
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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 ...
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Jazz this week: Pat Martino, Snarky Puppy, a tribute to Mae Wheeler, and more
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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 ...
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StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Guitar grooves with Pat Martino
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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 ...
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Jazzfest Bonn Off to a Fine Start
Source:
Phillip Woolever
The city of Bonn is already well known as a stronghold of musical tradition, and since 2010 Jazzfest Bonn has added to that cultural foundation with an event that has quickly become a well-attended attraction. For this year’s 6th edition of the consistently blossoming festival, scheduled for May 7th – 16th, organizers continued to schedule events at a wide variety of lush locations that highlight further artistic perspective throughout the central Bonn area. Inspiring venues include the Beethoven House, Telekom ...
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