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Pat Martino: Formidable

By Victor L. Schermer
November 24, 2017
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The title "Formidable" and the striking cover photo of Pat Martino in profile in front of a statue of a lion suggests that the great guitarist is going to unleash awesome powers. However, the proper meaning of formidable in this context is more to be taken as the presence of the master. Here and now, in late career, the lion is content. He displays his supremacy in a group setting. He leads the players in a moveable feast that recapitulates his work of the past while adding a contemporary touch.

The album includes gems from Martino's legendary career best described in his autobiography, Here and Now (Backbeat Books, 2011), co-authored with Bill Milkowski. The career includes his early days in Harlem and with

Willis "Gator" Jackson

saxophone, tenor
1932 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Willis "Gator" Jackson's quintet, where he proved himself to be a guitar phenomenon; his early maturity during the psychedelic era; his miraculous return to full form after a devastating brain arterio-venous malformation and surgery, from which he rebounded and nailed turn of the century mainstream and post-Coltrane playing with diverse individuals and groups; and during the last few years, grooming his organ trio with

Pat Bianchi

organ, Hammond B3
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat Bianchi on organ and Carmen Intorre, Jr. on drums, touring extensively, and adding Alex Norris, Jr. on trumpet and

Adam Niewood

saxophone
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Niewood on tenor saxophone to form the finely honed ensemble of the current album. This recording is thus a look back, utilizing some iconic Martino originals, hip tunes by Joey Calderazzi,

Hank Mobley

saxophone, tenor
1930 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Hank Mobley, and

Gerry Niewood

saxophone
1943 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Niewood, and standards by

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus,

Dave Brubeck

piano
1920 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Brubeck, and

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington.

Martino's playing is, as always, impeccable and at times stunning, but here he places himself squarely in the context of his quintet, with "equal opportunity" performances by the horns and organ. The result is exceptional work by the whole ensemble, spurred on by the guitarist's panache, beautifully structured arrangements, and Intorre's articulate and adaptable drumming. Martino's guitar volume is attenuated and softened slightly, emphasizing humility and lyricism over shock value. The album thus provides a special glimpse of what Martino can do to shape an ensemble. He has developed genuine rapport with these musicians. Martino shines not so much as the dominant force but by virtue of Mahatma Ghandi's maxim, "I must follow them, for I am their leader."

The first tune is Calderazzi's "El Nino," a favorite of saxophonist

Michael Brecker

saxophone, tenor
1949 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Brecker. Saxophone, trumpet, and guitar state the nifty melody in unison, and then, thanks to Bianchi's impeccable organ comping, the distinct feeling emerges of Willis Jackson's soul music quintet that featured Martino and organist Carl Wilson in the 1960s. That group, which birthed Martino, will be recollected in most of the subsequent tracks.

Mobley's "Hipsippy Blues" provides a perfect soul blues vehicle to continue and elaborate the Willis Jackson tribute. Niewood's saxophone is pure soul blues, but Norris' trumpet solo that precedes it has a modern modal feeling. That interaction between blues and post-bop playing continues throughout the album. Bianchi's organ echoes Wilson on the Willis Jackson with Pat Martino disc (Prestige, 1964).

"Homage," by Niewood's musician-father,

Gerry Niewood

saxophone
1943 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Niewood, consists of a minor third to tonic two note tune, allowing for rich improvising. So Martino gets loose and creative on his solo, Norris and Bianchi take virtuosic solos, and at the end we hear Bianchi having fun doodling expressively in the high register.

In addition to his other achievements, Martino is truly one of the great interpreters of ballads. Here, he does Mingus' "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" thoughtfully, and the volume becomes almost hush-hush. Martino's improvisational lines on this track are memorable.

Martino's classic "El Hombre," is from his debut recording as a leader, the 1967 Prestige album by the same name. In this rendition, it is as fresh as ever, and Martino delivers one of his iconic attention-grabbing solos. By contrast, Brubeck's standard, "In Your Own Sweet Way" is done strictly mainstream without the soul blues emphasis. It swings lightly as Brubeck intended it.

"Nightwings" (Martino) from the 1996 Muse album by the same name, is timelessly symbolic of Martino's return after his recovery from the aneurysm. Niewood's solo is an especially inventive fishing expedition.

On Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood" Martino kills you softly with the Duke's song. Enough said.

The concluding track,"On the Stairs" is another Martino classic, this time from his album, Consciousness (Muse, 1975). Martino's solo from that recording has been transcribed repeatedly for study, and no wonder. Martino was doing groundbreaking work at the time. This is pure "signature" Martino. The tune and his playing seem to span his entire career in technique, style, and texture, and the influence of his hero

Wes Montgomery

guitar
1923 - 1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Wes Montgomery.

To summarize, this album is leonine, not so much as a frontal attack as a work of consummate artistry on the part of Martino and his group. It recapitulates what has gone before but with a sense of a new dawn. "The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it arose."

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Track Listing

El Nino (J. Calderazzi); Hipsippy Blues (H. Mobley); Homage (G. Niewood); Duke Ellington��s Sound of Love (Mingus); El Hombre (Martino); In Your Own Sweet Way (Brubeck); Nightwings (Martino); In a Sentimental Mood (Ellington); On the Stairs (Martino).

Personnel

Pat Martino

guitar

Pat Martino: guitar and leader; Pat Bianchi: organ; Carmen Intorre, Jr.: drums; Adam Niewood: tenor saxophone (tracks 1,2,3,5,7,9); Alex Norris: trumpet (tracks 1,3,5,7,9; flugelhorn, track 2).

Album information

Title: Formidable | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: HighNote Records

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