Customer Reviews

Remember: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a brilliant tribute to the legend Wes Montgomery's very fine works. Given Pat Martino's artistry and history, he is most definitely a legend in his own right! This is a magnificent musical treat!

For those of you who don't know about Pat Martino's unusual background, he began playing guitar at 15. His career took off in the 60's but later there was one huge setback: a brain aneurysm and surgery to remove it in 1980 caused him to lose his memory and he had to learn to play the guitar all over again. Now to tell you the truth, when I hear this music, I think that he was meant to play that guitar, no matter what crisis he faced. After the surgery it took him 4 years to play again with a recording comeback in 1987. Wow, impressive!

Some people have complained about the sound on this cd, BUT, this album, recorded near the end of 2005, went up the jazz charts to #10 in 2006! Whether you are a Pat Martino fan or a Wes Montgomery fan, this will stir you inside out!

It's a shame that Pat doesn't have a wider audience, because guitarists know his playing to be among the best. Here, his tribute to Wes Montgomery is superbly played, with great selections from Wes's substantial repertoire. What's amazing, is he doesn't try to improve on Wes's music, but honors it by staying true to the playing style and tempo of each piece. Thank you Pat!

It is difficult not to give Pat 10 stars, for his playing is always soulful, adventurous and magnificent...earthily transcendent...Pat plays "feeling/thinking" music and here, with the spirit of Wes always present, an elegantly bluesy swing inspires every line. On "Tribute," Pat is, as usual, on fire and groovin' hard, and the group brings a collective spirit that infuses every song with a keen sense of incendiary joy and affective intensity. The mix, however, sometimes allows Pat's soloing to get somewhat lost in the accompaniment. It may be that Pat is going for an even darker and more pensive tone than usual in tribute to Wes, but the mix allows the brightness of the piano and drums to sometimes bury Pat's guitar, and that is occasionally frustrating. Nevertheless, no other guitarist expresses through music a language that speaks the truth as profoundly as Pat Martino. This music swings hard so get ready to be moved, and the deep groove is infectious and impassioned so get ready to smile.

They music and the musicians on this album are amazing. EVERYBODY is speaking on this album. There is no point where the playing is dry or the music isn't fully alive. Pat's soloing on this album is especially strong. He is throwing some serious notes. The reason why this particular version of the album simply can't get 5 stars is because the mix is terrible. At times, as another review stated, Pat is lost in the mix. The bass is incredibly muddy and overbearing in the mix, especially because Pat likes his tone dark and the bass often cancels the guitar out. Amazing playing. I just wish the producers and engineers had actually listened to the recording before they sent it off to press.

This album obviously was a labor of love for Pat Martino. Wes must be smiling down from heaven. I always knew that Wes was a great influence in Pat's playing, but was unaware of how much he worshipped Montgomery.

It's almost hard for me to describe how incredible Pat's playing on this album is. The disc opens with one of Wes' most memorable compositions "Four on Six". Martino and company read the head close to the version on "The Incredible Jazz Guitar" but at a much more uptempo pace. Pat then launches into one of the finest solos he has ever recorded. Without trying to ape Montgomery's distinctive approach, he nonetheless infuses Wes' spirit in every note, both in his single note choruses and the octave lines as well. Other highlights include a spirited "Twisted Blues" with Pat showing as usual that no one can play the blues from a jazz perspective like he can... At least no living guitarist. Pat really turns the heat up on Milt Jackson's S.K.J., each fleet fingered chorus more intense than the previous one. And talk about closing on a high note: Martino and company chose Sam Jones' "Unit 7", another one of Montgomery's most identifiable tunes. It's interesting for me to compare this to the version Pat's friend Jimmy Bruno recorded with Joey DeFrancesco on "Like That". Bruno's recording had the tune taken at a relaxed tempo which contrasted to the red hot soloing that followed. Pat's reading is full throttle from form the beginning to end and is litlerally breath taking.

With this monumental effort, Pat proves straight out, that he is the finest living jazz guitarist, as well as certainly, one of the greatest of all time.

Pat Martino is an amazing guitarist with many great recordings. His playing is remarkable!
Someone dropped the ball on this highly anticipated recording. The sound quality is bad. You can't hear his guitar, even the other instruments are mixed poorly. I'm sure Pat is furious, there is no way a perfectionist such as he would find the mix acceptable.
Something needs to be done before anymore copies are distributed.
You'd think record companies would strive to release perfect sound quality recordings considering the dramatic decrease in CD sales!

Pat Martino is most likely the finest jazz guitarist of our time, as is evidenced by this album. Becoming one of the world's greatest guitarists twice in one lifetime is really something. Remeber conveys all of the energy, all of the love with which Pat Martino plays his instrument. He is an absolute genius, and that is really apparent in his great solos. It sounds just like hearing him at Yoshi's, playing the same set with his incredible rhythm section. There, he seemed like more of a philanthropist than people who label themselves as such. The fact that this album should be heard by all goes without saying.

I didn't notice the sound problems others have complained about, but if you want to hear some Wes Montgomery, then buy some Wes Montgomery. Pat Martino was one of the greats in the 70s. This modern date is fine, but nothing about it seemed terribly compelling. There are an awful lot of notes. I wished for more space between them

Pat's music is like vintage wine, it just keeps getting better and better. The guy must practice all the time - from one release to another, you can see an improvement in expression of ideas and clarity of articulation. This release is no different, his playing is simply the best ever. First off, let me say something to the folks who complain about the sound quality - SSSNORT!!! I hear every note perfectly. Ok, now that's outta the way, on to the review. Pat has always been a great fan of Wes, and it shows in his playing, even more so on this release. He has surpassed Wes on every count, yet Wes' spirit lives on in this music, because Pat has done an incredible job at getting to the heart of things. I think the sound is deliberately kept dark, in order to capture the atmosphere on those 60's records, so you get into that groove easier. It even sounds like a live club gig on some songs. The selection of songs is far better than the cheap greatest hits collections you get these days, so that's another plus. And of course the backing musicians are amazing, the whole group really gets cooking. Don't hesitate buying the album because of some silly review.

Pat Martino is back with a wonderful release celebrating the music of guitar great Wes Montgomery. Pat and the band are in fine form. The music is never boring and is tasteful throughout. The band grooves from song to song. Standouts for me include: Milt Jackon's SKJ, Road Song, and Four on Six. My personal favorite is a burning version of Full House.

(The only slight disappointment I had was with drummer, Scott Allan Robinson's performance on Unit 7. He seems a little bit too loose for me and doesn't really nail it like I think he could have. But that's a bit picky, I suppose because the rest of this disc is fabulous.)

This cd can be treated as one you really "lock in" and listen to, but because the music is so easy to listen to, you can also play it while not strictly concentrating on the music. There's a really good vibe about this disc. I heartily recommend it!!