Thursday, November 30, 2017

The Musical Spirit Of Pat Martino

     We are all faced with challenges, and some challenges can shake us to our core. Guitarist Pat Martino has faced those challenges. Pat Martino was born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1944, with the birth name of Pat Azzara. Pat Azzara began playing guitar at age twelve. When Pat Azzara was 14, his father, Carmen "Mickey"Azzara took him to see Wes Montgomery at a Philadelphia club. Pat Azzara was greatly influenced by Wes Montgomery, and as a youth Pat Azzara would memorize Wes Montgomery solos.

     Pat Azzara left school in tenth grade, and his professional career began at age 15, after moving to New York City. Also, Pat Azzara changed his name to his father`s stage name "Martino". While in New York Pat Martino lived with Les Paul, and began playing jazz clubs.

     In addition to jazz, Pat Azzara was also involved in Philadelphia`s early rock scene, but his first road gig was with jazz organist Charles Earland, who was a high school friend. Pat Martino would go on to play with Lloyd Price, Willis Jackson, Eric Kloss, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Jack McDuff, Don Patterson, Trudy Pitts, Jimmy Smith, Gene Ludwig, Bobby Pierce, and Joey DeFrancesco.

     In 1976, Pat Martino began experiencing seizures. Pat Martino suffered a brain aneurysm which caused Pat Martino to loss almost all his memory. However, his comeback was truly amazing. With support from his mother and father, Pat Martino had to listen to his own albums, and he also had to relearn his instrument. After his medical challenges he resumed his career in 1987, with a performance that was recorded on CD called "The Return". After "The Return" Pat Martino would stop performing again when both his parents became ill. Pat Martino began playing again in 1994, after the deaths of his parents, with recordings of "Interchange", and "The Maker".

     During Thanksgiving  Pat Martino was in performance at Chris` Jazz Cafe, in Philadelphia, PA, for his yearly two night Thanksgiving engagement. If you are interested in seeing Pat Martino in performance, he will be performing in New York at Iridium in February, 2018, followed by performances in Germany and Austria.

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