This Musician STUNNED Me...Pat Martino a Guitar Giant

Pat Martino was a huge influence on me as a musician. He passed away yesterday at the age of 77. His story is amazing!

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[paulbroks]

Rick, that's a wonderful tribute to Pat. Thank you. I'm the neuropsychologist who co-scripted and presented the Martino Unstrung documentary you talk about so generously. Pat and I established a great bond. He is beyond doubt one of the most remarkable people I have ever met. The musical genius was just a part of it.

[inthebeast]

My stroke, thirteen years ago, was ischemic, a blood clot, as opposed to a brain bleed. You're less likely to get back any function from the damage of a clot stroke than you are from a bleed stroke, because the tissue just dies. My doctors were sort of confused as to why I could move my left hand at all at first, and when I told them that I was a guitar player, they told my friend to go get one of my guitars and bring it right now. They told me that the neural connections I had built up with my left hand in thirty years of guitar playing were a major factor in how quickly and to what extent I regained function. Long story short, after the stroke I never played at the level I played at before it, but the very fact that I did play helped with my recovery. I was thinking of Pat Martino the whole time.

[RobertCharlesMann]

After I graduated from GIT in 1980, I took over running the studio at the school and got to know all the faculty really well including Pat when he was around. One day Howard Roberts and Pat Hicks, the founders of GIT, approached me to ask if I would drive Pat Martino from his apartment to the hospital and from that day we started an amazing friendship. I took every chance to drive him around whenever he needed a ride. Those years 1980, 81 + 82 were tough times for him. I'll never forget those precious moments. He never wasted time. He seemed to always be in the deepest of thoughts and never held back to voice them. Rest in peace Pat.

[billyboba]

I met Pat Martino while sitting next to him on a plane due to go from Jersey City to Amsterdam back in 2012. He was heading to Switzerland for a jazz event. He was very interesting to talk to and I mentioned that I also played guitar. When he showed me his signature series Gibson on his phone, I realised that I was talking to someone in a completely different league and just listened to him as we spoke. He was a very interesting man and listened carefully when you spoke. He had some profound ideas about music that I would have to describe as spiritual. We were stuck on that Delta flight that wouldn’t take off due to technical issues, and eventually disembarked near midnight, never having taken off. I started listening to his music on the return to South Africa, and indecently that next-day rerouted flight was also when I discovered Michael Kiwanuka in the on-flight music library.
What a profound experience that was. I think I emailed him once and he replied. I was sad to hear of his passing recently, but glad I had the chance of meeting him and being introduced to his music.

[Guitargate]

To this day, his masterclass I had the privilege to attend at GIT was the most inspiring lecture or speech I ever experienced. He did it twice. And his approach to visualizing the instrument is truly otherworldly. I remember him explaining how he realized (while relearning from himself) that everything is either a triangle w 3 connection points (augmented) or a square with 4 connection points (diminished). Still trying to figure it out :) RIP Pat.

[lawrencekenchen]

I studied with Pat Martino, years ago. I would take the Amtrak down to Philly, from NYC.
My daughter Caridad was a baby/toddler, and she and my wife; would sit in the parlor with Pat's Mom and Dad. Pat's Mom and Dad, played with my daughter, the entire time we were there.
He and his family were welcoming, and kind.
Pat and I would talk about where our families were from originally. He always said he was an Arab, if my recollection is still serving me correctly.
I liked the man, his family; and his music.
I always will.
Simply,
Larry

[avielkharrat]

I've been playing the guitar since i was 11 (now i'm 45). And i mean to say that i'm a die hard Rock fan.
Anyway, back in the days when i started playing the guitar, when i was 11, i took lessons with the only guitar teacher in my neighborhood back then, which was a Jazz teacher.
When i asked him who was the best guitariste in the World, he said hands down: Pat Martino.
So i went off and bought a Pat Martino album. This was the first album that i bought as a guitar player, that i listened to as a guitar player. And although i can't remember the name of this album just now, its first notes are still ringing in my brain, and always will.
RIP Pat Martino

[aleksfiljak]

I remember casually landing on studio jams video in early YouTube (2010 maybe) and there was this cats jaming on OLEO and there was Pat and Bela Fleck furiously ripping of those great beebop lines....
I was shocked!
That was my introduction on Pat Martino...and after your
MAN!!!! HE BECOMES A TRUE LEGEND TO ME AND I WANT TO LEARN ALL ABOUT HIS CATALOGUE!!!

thank you Rick

[rabukan]

My father was an orchestral percussionist and jazz drummer who had played a few gigs with Pat in the 70s in NYC and Atlantic City. Pat came out to our house in Long Island and I got to hear them jam, which was pretty incredible. Pat took some time to teach me a flat 5 flat 9 chord and showed me how it worked in a blues progression as I was more into blues rock than jazz at the age of 12. But that was probably my first real lesson in theory, and he was very generous with me. RIP.

[lunastrat]

One of my all time hero's. Living in LA, I went to see him one night at a club in Hollywood. It was filled with a small but appreciative crowd. During a break, he was sitting alone at the bar. I walked over, sat next to him and we had a brief chat. I was mindful that perhaps he wanted to be alone, so I kept it short Yes, I did that thing crush thing. I brought along my Pat Martino instruction book and and asked him to sign it...just like a kid. He opened it and signed it. I watched in amazement as he sculpted his signature in a perfectly balanced, symmetrical fashion that I can only describe as highly stylized calligraphy. We sat and chatted for a few more minutes. I thanked him and returned to my seat, thrilled, like a little kid.

[trafyknits]

Back in 1977 I asked a guitarist friend who he liked on guitar...he said "Pat Metheny" but I thought he said "Pat Martino", so I accidently got a Martino record and have been grateful ever since. Of course, I finally got Metheny's records and was also stunned. Both players are from planets other than Earth.

[Bkellyusa]

Boy, the title to this video says a lot to me. I remember years and years ago driving around in my car late one night when Pat Martino's live version of "Sunny" came on the local jazz station. To say I was stunned is an understatement. I was so amazed I went and bought the record two days later and listened to it over and over and over again.

After Pat had his brain surgery he said that he couldn't remember his playing but liked listening to his records. However, what caught my attention was that he said he just couldn't imagine what had ever possessed him to learn to play that well. That's a serious thing for any of us to consider. I don't know if there is a real answer to that or perhaps each person's answer is personal but when you are Pat Martino and you are considering teaching yourself to play like you had played earlier in life and having to ponder why you ever played like that in the first place that is true ground zero for a creative artist like Martino.

I'll stop here but Pat Martino was one of the all-time greats for me. He was every bit as mind-blowing on the guitar as some of the greatest musicians of all-time on any instrument. He rest the standard for jazz guitar.

[kaloyanangelov]

Rick you should make series called "guitar legends that everybody should know" or something like that where you will make a complete breakdown of guitarist's life carrier, why he stands out etc.
I am new in this world of legendary guitar masters and whenever i hear a new name like martino, everyone around me goes "a yes he was a walking legend, this is my favourite record ever"
I think it will be really helpful for all of us, the uncultured sweins, to learn more a out these individuals from another world.

[micktully]

Pat was a musical genius, an intellectual and a true gentleman. He was beautiful in every way.

[JamesSeaberry]

Not only did he not know how to play the guitar, he didn't even recognize his parents. I was lucky enough to attend a seminar of his a while back at Roosevelt University, and he was the most articulate, thought-provoking, humorous teacher; very slight, totally professorial-looking, you'd never guess he quit school at 15!

[nataliagrgas]

Mr. Martino was/is in my humble opinion in the top ten greatest jazz fusion/jazz guitarists of all time. He was a genius. RIP - Mr. Martino. Rich Beato great job as usual.

[davidhamu]

I'm not a professional player, but I played guitar well, until I had a nminor stroke in 2014. I had to relearn to play guitar. I became a better player after my stroke. So, I profoundly understand what you are sharing about Pat Martino.

[bobpaul]

Wonderful Tribute to Pat! He grew up in my So. Philly Neighborhood! Pat was about 10 yrs older than me. I first heard him on the Great Old Barry Miles album titled White Heat. NEVER heard Anyone play like him....and was blown away to here that he grew up only about 10 city blocks from me. He has been my #1 Guitar Hero since I was 16yrs. old. I had all of Pat's albums, that Rick just displayed. As a teen....Pat's album The Visit helped me Fall in Love with Jazz, and Jazz Guitar! God sometimes works in mysterious (wonderful) ways. Only a few yrs. before he passed, I saw him at Chris's Jazz Cafe in Center City Philly. As he came out of the dressing room, I called to him. Pat just grabbed my hand....and let me talk to him for a bit. He gave me a Firm Handshake and Big Smile and gave me the opportunity to tell him how much he meant to me as a a Person! This Italian kid (like you Rick) will Never Forget the great Pat Martino!!❤❤

[bluenotesharp]

I am so sad that Pat succumbed to his lasting illness of this past year. I’m incredibly fortunate to have had lessons from two amazing teachers. Dennis Sandole and then Pat Martino in the 90’s.
Although I never followed up with my lessons with Pat, he took a liking to me and we shared many a wonderful sushi dinner at Sakura on 2nd near South Street in Philadephia. He was always joined by his charming Japanese wife . My dear friend Steve Beskarone played Bass for him back then which was quite surprise to me when I found out. Steve is an extraordinary bassist who can literally play any style with genuine feeling.
Pat was humble above all else and charming and funny and overall one of best humans ever….. And then there was his playing and teaching. He slowed everything down for me in the the beginning matching my finger dexterity to my playing level. He never raised his voice and had the patience of a saint it seemed to me. I spoke with him about his miraculous recovery and his take on it was his hand muscles knew what to do before his brain did and by practicing it reconnected most of his damaged neurons by a kind of feedback. Made sense to me. I’m paraphrasing of course. What an absolute lovely and loving man. The worlds a little bit dimmer now that Pat has left the building. How lucky I am to have these memories and how sad I am to hear he is gone. But he struggled to hang on for a while and part of me is relieved knowing his pain and struggles are over.
I’m praying for the joyful and peaceful repose of Pat’s soul. 🙏 May those who were close to him find grace and strength during this difficult time.
Davide (Martella) Simpson

[JaydubyaX]

I grew up listening to jazz, gospel, soul, blues. My mom played piano boogie woogie...lots of music in the house. I didn't know of Pat until 2000, and I was blown away. When I read about his history it completely blew me away. Once again im late to find out he passed away. Incredible story, amazing guitarist. Great tribute.