Hybrid Jazz From Trish Hennessey - with PAT MARTINO!

Yes, of course yours truly can be objective - even though we're talking about a PHILADELPHIA Legend.  Oops - there go those caps again!  And he deserves every one of them.  Are you aware of Pat Martino's story?  It's strong.  And glorious.  And miraculous.  I've never been more serious.

Childhood: Dad sang locally and studied guitar for a while under the great Eddie Lang.  Young Pat Azzara was introduced to the night spots around Philly where he met heavy weights in Jazz.  Including Wes Montgomery.  Pat was smitten with the sound of the Montgomery Brothers during his formative years.  And pursued that vibe when he made the move to Harlem.  I'm getting way ahead of the organic flow of this journey, though - it must be said that Pat shared a music teacher, Dennis Sandole, with another City of Brotherly Love Legend, John Coltrane.  That our young guitarist hung out with Trane during that period is overwhelming to contemplate :)

Pat was a fixture in the Pop scene back home - Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Darin - they all respected Pat Martino.  First road gig: Charles Earland, a high school buddy.   And Pat's gigging gained momentum.  Can we drop names here?  Slide Hampton, Red Holloway, Sonny Still, Chick Corea, Richard Groove Holmes, and - check this out: Barry White and Joe Pesci!  (Yes, he certainly did have a musical career).

Our guest has over three dozen albums to his name as bandleader.  He has an equal if not more number of recordings as side man.  At one point, the world wondered whether we'd ever hear from him again because he had a brain aneurysm in 1980 and lost ALL memory.  Which he regained, piece by piece, by listening (in part) to his old records.  There is more to say about this genius and mentor.  The whole story?  10/25 at three p.m. :)