El Hombre

Pat Martino | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B000000YAX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,150 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Pat Martino has certainly had more than his share of ups and downs: after establishing himself as one of jazz's outstanding guitarists and a major influence on such younger players as Pat Metheny, he suffered a brain tumor that forced him to relearn the instrument. Now that he has come all the way back, it's even more interesting to see where he started with El Hombre, his 1967 debut as a leader. A Philadelphian, Martino worked steadily in the organ combos so popular in the region's jazz clubs, earning his bones as a sideman for Jack McDuff, Richard "Groove" Holmes and Don Patterson, and this date reflects that background, with organist Trudy Pitts serving as Martino's primary foil. As its title suggests, El Hombre has a decidedly Latin tinge, employing flute, conga, and bongo for a soulful bossa sound that, while currently out of vogue, proves remarkably winning. From the opening "Waltz for Geri," Martino establishes himself as a confidently swinging yet breezily relaxed player, and turns in some of his best performances on the title cut and the extended "A Blues for Mickey-O." For guitar fans unfamiliar with Martino's work, El Hombre is a revelation. --Fred Goodman

Product Description

Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This album rocks!, June 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: El Hombre (Audio CD)

I concur explicitly with the review above calling this album a "revelation" for those unfamiliar. I find this music extremely hip to my ear, an ear raised on classic rock and folk/blues, but also trained in and very fond of the jazz idiom. What Pat sets up for me with this album is a feeling for how to overlay your own groove on top of everyone else's. "Waltz for Geri" and "Once I loved" are classics; Pat definitely makes Once I Loved his own. Mixed in with only a very few mediocre moments are a good number of moments that are pure gold. Get hip to Pat's sound! (He got it all back again too.) Incorporate his musical notions into your own voice and you won't be sorry.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best jazz guitar tone ever, awesome groove, December 19, 2005

By 

Jeffrey T. Newell (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: El Hombre (Audio CD)

The music, and particularly the organ sound, may take getting used to for some, but this is a great jazz guitar album. The tone is perfect to my ears, and it comes not only from choice of amp, strings, guitar, and recording-technique, but from a mastery of the instrument that gives an effortless quality to the playing. The lines are cool with the occasional flair of fire. The fire is pretty incredible, more so because it is done with such ease.

The compositions and arrangements are great, especially if you have a love of latin jazz. You get the latin rhythm section and flute...such a beautiful sound.

The album has such power because it is delivered with so much groove and finesse; and it just sounds really, really good. Probably my fav of the discography.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great jazz guitar CD!!!, February 18, 2006

By 

Jeffrey M. Bailey "jmb23233" (Richmond, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: El Hombre (Audio CD)

I love discovering new and amazing things. Pat Martino has been to me, until last week when I bought this CD, a name I'd run across occasionally as I read Amazon reviews of other guitarists in the "People who bought this also bought..." section. I decided to give this a try, and boy am I glad I did.

I have rarely heard a guitarist play with such assurance. It's as if he knows exactly where he is going, what notes he is going to play, and how to build a solo to a perfect climax well in advance. Impeccable technique - every note is clean, even in the fastest passages. And the ensemble is on fire! The organ playing exciting, the percussion section right on. Even the flutist (one of my least favorite instruments outside of a classical context) adds alot to the sound with some great solos and duets with the guitar. The only problem I have now is saving money for the next Martino CD.

A gotta-have for any guitarist, jazz lover or not.
Thanks