Following a minute in which the theme is played out, Martino launches into his solo, carefully building intensity over the next four minutes and forty-five seconds. Through it all, he is always locked into the groove. His tone is soft and, while his guitar is a tad undermiked, you can still hear every note because he plucks his notes clearly. In his trademark style, Martino makes judicious use of repeating lines and peppering his fluid climbs up and down the scales much like Charlie Parker did with his sax. Tyrone Brown always seem to be listening to what the leader is doing as his melodic bass lines ebb and flow with the guitar in perfect sync, as well as Ferguson's drums. As he finally reaches the climax of his solo, the audience is clearly appreciating the six string display and he breaks clean to make way for the keyboard solo before returning for another go around with the theme and some more soloing in the coda.
By the way, I actually had two tracks in mind, as "Sunny" barely beat out the 1976 power fusion exercise "Line Games" for today's topic, but I'll throw in that track anyway so you can hear Pat sounding like Grant Green on steroids. Yup, it's yet another head shaker.
Listen: Pat Martino - "Line Games"
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Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
that solo on "Sunny" is a perfect example of how much Martino "hears" in a chord structure. amazing how he can go so far out on such a simple progression.
2 - duane
Line Games contains the solo with the magic lick, 2:33 into the song.
I got to meet Martino a few months ago after a show at Yoshi's in Oakland, where he played all of Remember. I told him about the time that I tried to get my guitar teacher to teach me that lick. Teacher just looked at me. I asked if he could even explain what he's doing. I asked, "What do you call that?" Teacher said, "That's called chops."
After relating this brief anecdote, Martino said, "Oh, I wouldn't touch that one now," and I had to wonder exactly what he meant by that, given his recovery story and all.
3 - Pico
Mark: amen, brotha.
duane: That magic lick is among my all time favorites, it gets me air guitaring every time. I'm not sure exactly what Pat means, either. He sounds as good as he ever did. At least he did at Yoshi's when they taped it for his most recent live record. I'm sure you caught a helluva show.
-P
4 - JR
Duane: After relating this brief anecdote, Martino said, "Oh, I wouldn't touch that one now," and I had to wonder exactly what he meant by that, given his recovery story and all.
The obvious interpretation is that he just doesn't think he can play it anymore.
Or, he doesn't like it anymore, or doesn't consider it consistent with his current style.
In a broader sense, though, jazz musicians aren't in the business of re-enacting past moments of inspiration. To throw a lick into a solo just because people remember it would be contrived. It just isn't Zen.
5 - Mark Saleski
i can't imagine that he can't play it anymore. i mean, it's fast but it sounds to me like a series of swept arpeggios.
not that I could play it!
shoot, now i really wonder what he meant!