Pat Martino Quintet in Paris

[Tom Storer]

Just back from seeing Pat Martino at the New Morning in Paris. Hot, hot, hot!

The personnel: Pat Martino, guitar; Michael Pedicin, tenor sax; Frank LoCrasto, piano; Jeff Pedraz, bass; Scott Robinson, drums.

Rather than the usual hour-long set, half-hour break, hour-long set, Martino skipped the break and played for two-and-a-half hours straight. The concert was well-scripted, as the band jumped from one number to the next with no need for discussion and no time to rest between tunes. "Talk to us, Pat," muttered my companion at one point, but Martino had no time for chat until he introduced the band and thanked the audience before the closing number. Despite or perhaps because of the Spartan discipline, their high level of energy and concentration had them soaring.

I wondered what we were in for when the band took the stage, for the pianist and bassist looked like they shouldn't be out late, it being a school night. But despite their tender age, they took care of business with no problem, especially the pianist, who demonstrated impressive chops and impressive musicality. He played with remarkable confidence for one so young. The bassist looked and played sort of like a younger, pale Ray Drummond, anchoring the band with force and determination. He took a quick-fingered solo near the end just to prove he could do it, and he could! The drummer had a busy style with plentiful cymbal splashes, not usually my favorite flavor, but he was right on top of things, listening carefully and hooking up with the soloists, and playing creative rhythms. The rhythm section provided a colorful bed of energy for the guitar and sax.

And the guitar and sax were smoking. I wore out my copies of "Consciousness" and "Impressions" when I was in high school, and when I learned that Martino had forgotten how to play the guitar after a stroke and had to learn it all over again, I was skeptical that he would ever reach those heights again. But there he was, sounding just like he did in 1975 and with just as much drive and invention, which is saying a great deal. I don't know what kind of phrase-generating algorithm is at work deep in his musical brain, but it's mighty powerful. Those popping, eighth-note lines swing so ferociously, and those melodies just flow out in such clear, ever-changing, mesmerizing patterns... whether it's a long solo, a one- or two-bar break tucked into the exposition of a theme, or fours or eights traded with the drummer, Martino just turns on the tap of inspired improvisation and lets it roll on out. The excitement this generates is subtle but strong, and he took the listeners with him into that zone of unusual awareness.

Michael Pedicin - has anyone heard of Michael Pedicin? With his head shaved he resembled Lex Luthor, making it hard to judge his age, but I would guess he was around 50. In any case he played like a veteran, with a full and gutsy tenor sound; this is a man with lung power. And he was just wailing--soloing after Pat Martino in full flight didn't phase him, and the crowd was eager to hear him when his turn came, so passionate and intense was he. And not only that, he was devoid of cliché and mannerism, an authentic player of his own shit. Highest praise to this guy. I'm amazed I've never heard of him. Maybe he's a Philadelphia home-town hero? Look out for him, anyway.

The music played was a mix of burning, boppish swingers and intense, Coltrane/Sanders style modal stuff including Coltrane's "Impressions," another Coltrane tune that may have been "Africa" but I'm not sure of the title, and a third one in the same vein ("Keep your eye on the Pharoah," quipped my companion). It's good to hear Martino's diamond-hard, diamond-bright lines dancing through that kind of thing. For good measure there were a couple of ballads, "Blue in Green" from KOB and another one, with Martino as the only soloist, and they were just beautiful.

So just to belabor the obvious, this is a band that sounds like a real band and is playing superbly, and if they come to a club or concert hall near you, you would be a fool to miss them.

[yardbird]

Thanks for a thorough and interesting review. It gets even more interesting if you also read Sholto Byrnes' review of Martino's concert at Ronnie Scotts (the day before?),
see http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/reviews/

One of the fascinating aspects of jazz is how two individuals can have so fundamentally differing experiences from the same band - or maybe it was one off-night and one on-night?

[Tom Storer]

It sounds to me like the author's boat is simply not floated by what floats mine. He missed the fact that the saxophonist is a good generation older than the rhythm section, and I would strongly disagree that he (the saxophonist, Michael Pedicin) is merely fashionable.

Frankly I think the journalist should wash out his ears, since how he could fail to hear the inventiveness and fire in Martino's and Pedicin's playing is beyond me. But then, he would no doubt say the same thing in reverse about me.

[jazzy mary]

Tom, Jimmy Scott and his group are coming to Paris this month. Hold on, I'll find out the exact date--ok, the 30th and the 31st. They will be at "New Morning". All you Parisians, you must not miss them!!!!

Tom, if you go, say hi to Hill (his bass player) and Cook (his drummer) and tell them Mary sent you. Say hi to Jimmy too!! I can't wait to see Jimmy again at the JS here in Feb. Seeing Jimmy live is just an extraordinary experience---not to be missed.

[Paul B]

Interesting review from the Independent. Something tells me it's not a matter of on-night, off-night, though...

Bye-ya.

[Tom Storer]

I agree with Paul. Clearly the guy from the Independent is wrong and I am right.

[SinginSumo]

Tom - Just wanted to mention that I have grooved to Pat Martino for some time. In addition to the albums that you mentioned, I also really dug "The Visit" (same album was later released with a different title, "Footprints") and, among others, the newer "Live At Yoshi's"!

RE: Mike Pedicin, Jr...He used to be on the faculty of Temple University. Some of his OOP albums can be purchased VERY inexpensively as used at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/se...641173-5426302

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Saw Martino and group in Philly in October. Saw him again last night in NYC with another great group which included Joe Lovano on tenor, James Genus on bass, Lenny White on drums, and Dave Kikoski on piano. Took my breath away once again.............

[Peterdubya]

Kikoski was spectacular, no?
I thought he came really close to stealing the show... really close.
It was a good show, but I had just come from seeing Charlie Haden and Bill Frisell so it was kind of a shock.
Martino and co played more notes in 3 minutes than Charlie and Bill played in the whole night.

[BlueMiles]

I would not mind hearing Frisell and Haden together--they are two of my favorite musicans. But they can get awfully mellow. They might need a kick-ass drummer behind them--someone like Joey Baron.

I'm intrigued by Martino's latest offering in the studio, though reviews don't seem to be very strong.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Originally posted by Peterdubya
Kikoski was spectacular, no?

He was indeed impressive although I'm guessing his style may be a little too percussive for some. He has a very intense approach both on and off the stage. Quite a character. The contrast between him and Martino, Martino being very laid back, was interesting to witness..............

[BlueMiles]

I've got the album now, and I'd kind of like to say that the naysayers are nuts. Pat is in sensational form, and the all-star cast plays like a group. I have never heard all that much Gonzalo Rubalcabo, but he knocks me out here. Lewis Nash offers one of the great drum peformances on record--ever! The Coltrane and Coltrane-like pieces (Africa and Think Tank) are mighty fine, and I really dig the ballad pieces--one featuring just Pat and Gonzalo.

First-rate stuff!