Customer Reviews

Head & Heart: Consciousness / Live

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"Head and Heart" puts back into circulation two of Pat Martino's albums he recorded for Muse, "Consciousness" (1974) and "Live" (1972). Both records find Pat in some rather challenging settings that would likely stymie today's "jazz" guitar heroes like Larry Carlton or Lee Ritneour. Martino uses a quartet with an electric piano throughout.

Disc One starts off with "Impressions", a favorite standard of jazz guitarists since Wes Montgomery adapted this Coltrane song in the mid-sixties. Martino fills up all available space with bop lines without wasting a single note. The song "Consciousness" follows, a hypnotic, Bitches Brew-inspired tune that nearly runs out of steam three quarters into it, but not before Pat puts in a thoughtful solo. "Passata On Guitar" reveals Martino's grace on solo electric guitar. "Along Came Betty" is played bossa-nova style and once again Martino is note-perfect, playing with an excellent sense of rhythm and style. The alternate version is not bad, either. Other notable songs include a be-bop original "On the Stairs" (another jaw-slackening solo) and a pretty solo guitar cover "Both Sides Now".

Disc Two ("Live") kicks off with an eighteen minute original "Special Door", which between a brief statement of the theme at the beginning and end of the tune, heads out toward free-jazz territory. It takes real cojones to got out into the wilderness like that and hope to come back intact in a live setting, but Martino and his cohorts prove to be more than up to the task. Everyone takes turns soloing, with bassist Tyrone Brown doing a particularly splendid job. "The Great Stream" contains a nice muscial conversation between Pat and keyboardist Ron Thomas. The old pop tune "Sunny" is probably the highlight of the set, with a four-minute solo that never runs out of ideas and has the club crowd roaring its approval before Pat is done. For some reason, though, the mike doesn't pick up the guitar quite as well as it should, almost spoiling the special moment.

If you're interested in what a legendary jazz guitarist like Pat Martino is capable of, buy this record. It will make you glad that he is back from a long illness and giving us more of the same today.

Both of these CD's are amazing (Concousness & Live) But the Live CD is the best guitar playing I have ever heard in my non-bias opinion. on disc 2 Pat Martino starts it off with a 17-minute "Special Door" which shows his chops and his band's ability to work off each other. After that comes the "Great Stream" which is another great song. But the show stopper is the amazing gut-wrenching version of "Sunny". Martino starts off with the melody right away, with big fat octaves. Then he launches into his solo... Now I could go on & on about this solo, but it can't be described with words. He builds tension then release then tension it just keeps getting better. You get this feeling inside your chest and you realize that Pat Martino is not human, but some greater form of life. His band works with his solo in great ways and contribute the same amount to his solo as Pat does. I could keep talking and saying the word "amazing" but I'm just going to say that this album is a must have!

Disc two of this set is the 'Live!' album and it's an absolute must have of Pats albums. While there's only 3 tunes, they are each long in length and the playing on them is ridiculus and pirceless. It's a good place to start to hear Pat in top form from the old days. As 'Live At Yoshi's' is a good place to start for more recent Pat.

This collection is an absolute steal. Two great 70's Martino discs that feature a whole lot of guitar playing. Pat is one heavy duty dude, he plays with great precision and always, always swings. The Live! collection from 1972 is a particular treat; truly adventurous musicians stretching harmony and rhythm to its limits. Great stuff at a great price!

This two record,two cd set is Pat Martino's finest playing of his entire career.On Live,it is hard to believe that Martino can play at such a high level in a live environment,simply incredible! On Consciousness,Martino's solos are not only uptempo,and I mean UP,they are wonderfully melodic and singable.Certainly one of his best efforts.If you are a Pat Martino fan you probably own this,if you are just getting to know him,this would be one hell of an introduction!

The other reviews are right: Consciousness and Live are great Pat Martino cd's. When I ordered this from Amazon, the cd that came in the mail was called "Impressions" by Camden Deluxe (not the cd called "Impressions" that is separately available from Amazon). Anyway, the version of "Impressions" I got has Consciousness, Live AND EXIT, which is another awesome Pat Martino cd. So order this one and you might get a bonus like I did!!!