Jazz guitarist Pat Martino, a virtuoso twice over, dies at 77

Down Beat ^ | 11/02/2021 | SHAUN BRADY

[Kid Shelleen]

Pat Martino, a jazz guitarist revered for the fluid precision and blistering speed of his playing — both before and after he was forced to relearn the instrument following a mid-career brain aneurysm — died on Monday. He was 77 years old.

His death was announced on Facebook by his longtime manager, Joseph Donofrio. Martino, born Patrick Azzara, died after a long illness in the South Philadelphia row home formerly owned by his parents, where he moved in 1980 after undergoing neurosurgery that saved his life — at the near-total cost of his memory. The guitarist had been suffering from a chronic respiratory disorder since 2018, breathing with oxygen support and unable to play since a tour of Italy that November. He is survived by his wife, Ayako.

[Kid Shelleen]

Even if you never heard of Pat Martino or don't like jazz you should be able to appreciate these guitar licks.

10 PAT MARTINO JAZZ GUITAR LICKS

[Jim W N]

He died twice?

[dfwgator]

Rick Beato’s Tribute to Pat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUfLZjIQigQ

[dfwgator]

He died twice?

In a way, yes. Suffered a stroke, and he had to totally relearn how to play the guitar.

[1Old Pro]

My Guitar teacher in the late 60’s must have been a big fan. I think Sunny was one of the first songs he taught me.

[Kid Shelleen]

I mixed up stories. I meant to post the NPR link. The title was from NPR but the story link was DownBeat. The NPR story link is below and a little more detailed.

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/02/1051419471/jazz-guitarist-pat-martino-a-virtuoso-twice-over-dies-at-77

[1Old Pro]

My first guitar that I learned to play Sunny on, never should have sold it :( https://reverb.com/p/gibson-melody-maker-3-slash-4-1959-1960

[glennaro]

KS, many for the link. Great stuff there! Cheers!

[windsorknot]

Rick Beato’s Tribute to Pat

Love his videos.

[Kid Shelleen]

The Rick Beato tribute was awesome. I am definitely going to watch the documentary Martino Unstrung.
Thanks !!

[jurroppi1]

Oh now, one of my fav’s.

The Pat Martino Trio version of Sunny with John Scofield (Joey DeFrancesco and Byron Landham - Umbria Jazz 2002) is just really cool.

https://youtu.be/8q742ZgZC28

[1Old Pro]

The original version of Sunny https://vimeo.com/106611896 1966

[jurroppi1]

Yes, the original is great also, no doubt. The version I posted is what really got me into Pat Martino.

[Kid Shelleen]

Joey D is one of my favs. It’s fun to watch a big guy play keyboard and vibes with such grace.

[jurroppi1]

The bass comps are insane, it’s like there’s someone behind the curtain just going nuts on bass, but it’s all Joey.

There’s a good Danny Gatton album with Joey on it.

[Carriage Hill]

Here’s some of the best jazz ever recorded:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3BzAKHCEvo

[minnesota_bound]

He was good in Happy Days and as the guy in the movie who trains the kid in chop suey.... : )

[WhoisAlanGreenspan?]

Thanks for posting this. I hadn’t heard any of the Pat Martino story until now. As a kid I used to read about different guitar players in Guitar Player magazine. Somewhere along the line I bought his 1976 Joyous Lake album. It’s good!

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[indthkr]

Great player

Nice guy.