Biography
Pat Martino (born Patrick Carmen Azzara; August 25, 1944 – November 1, 2021) was an American jazz guitarist and composer who emerged as one of the most dominant and innovative voices in jazz guitar history.[2][6] Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Martino was first exposed to jazz through his father, Carmen "Mickey" Azzara, who sang in local clubs. He began his professional career at just 15 years old, studying with renowned jazz teacher Dennis Sandole in Philadelphia, where he had the formative experience of meeting and learning alongside John Coltrane, James Moody, and McCoy Tyner.[2][3] By his late teens, Martino had relocated to New York City, where he became a fixture at legendary jazz clubs including Smalls Paradise in Harlem and Club Harlem in Atlantic City, New Jersey, establishing himself as a virtuoso guitarist known for laser-sharp precision, tasteful speed, relentless swing, and pure fire.[1][3]
Martino's recording career began in earnest when he signed with Prestige Records on his 18th birthday, the same label that had signed Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Sonny Rollins.[4] His 1967 debut album as a leader, El Hombre, recorded with organist Trudy Pitts, announced his arrival as a major force in jazz, and subsequent albums like East! showcased his sophisticated harmonic approach and compositional abilities.[3][5] Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Martino played as a sideman with organ-saxophone groups and developed a distinctive style that built upon Wes Montgomery's influence while forging an unmistakably personal sound characterized by aggressive yet thoughtful playing.[5]
Martino's life took a dramatic turn in 1976 when he suffered a catastrophic brain aneurysm that resulted in complete amnesia—he awoke from surgery with no memory of his past life, his family, or how to play guitar.[4][6] Against extraordinary odds, he undertook a remarkable comeback, painstakingly relearning his instrument and eventually returning to performing and recording.[1][3] His resilience and determination led to a resurgence in the 1990s and 2000s, including a recording contract with Blue Note Records, a Gibson guitar endorsement, and numerous Grammy nominations.[2][7] Beyond his playing, Martino became a dedicated educator and theorist, teaching at the college level, holding master classes, and writing books documenting his harmonic approach to the guitar.[4] He was honored as Guitar Player of the Year by DownBeat magazine in 2004 and received numerous accolades throughout his career, cementing his legacy as one of jazz's most essential and influential guitarists until his death on November 1, 2021.[2]
Fun Facts
- Martino's 1967 debut album El Hombre is considered the first jazz album to embrace psychedelia, demonstrating his willingness to push jazz boundaries beyond traditional purism.[4]
- After suffering a brain aneurysm in 1976 that left him with complete amnesia, Martino described waking up feeling "dropped cold, empty, neutral, cleansed...naked," yet he painstakingly relearned guitar and made a complete comeback to become even more celebrated in the 1990s and 2000s.[4]
- Martino had the rare privilege of studying with Dennis Sandole in Philadelphia alongside jazz legends John Coltrane, James Moody, and McCoy Tyner, creating an extraordinary convergence of future jazz titans in one teacher's studio.[2][3]
- Despite his aggressive and fastest playing style in jazz, Martino maintained a calm, patient, and service-oriented demeanor throughout his life, dedicating himself to teaching, writing educational materials, and preserving jazz culture.[4]
Associated Acts
- Pat Martino Trio - guitar
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Dennis Sandole - Renowned jazz teacher who provided Martino's foundational musical education in Philadelphia and introduced him to other jazz luminaries (Private instruction and studio sessions) [Late 1950s-early 1960s]
- John Coltrane - Jazz saxophone legend who took Martino under his wing during his studies with Sandole, serving as both mentor and inspiration (Direct mentorship and musical guidance) [Late 1950s-early 1960s]
- Les Paul - Guitar pioneer with whom Martino lived for a period in New York City, providing direct mentorship and influence (Residential mentorship in New York) [Late 1950s]
- Wes Montgomery - Primary stylistic influence on Martino's guitar approach; they spent late-night sessions together at Smalls Paradise (Informal collaboration and stylistic influence) [Late 1950s-early 1960s]
Key Collaborators
- Trudy Pitts - Philadelphia organist with whom Martino recorded his debut album as a leader (El Hombre (1967)) [1967]
- Jack McDuff - Organ-saxophone group leader with whom Martino played as a sideman during the 1960s (Various organ-saxophone group recordings) [1960s]
- Don Patterson - Organist with whom Martino collaborated as a sideman during the 1960s (Organ-saxophone group recordings) [1960s]
- Eddie Green - Philadelphia pianist who collaborated with Martino on compositions and performances (East! album) [1960s]
- Tyrone Brown - Philadelphia bassist who collaborated with Martino on the East! album (East! album) [1960s]
Artists Influenced
- Pat Metheny - Modern jazz guitarist who has acknowledged Martino's essential influence on contemporary jazz guitar vocabulary and technique (General stylistic and technical influence on modern jazz guitar) [1970s-present]
- Carlos Santana - Rock-fusion guitarist who admired Martino's work and contributed testimony to his autobiography (Testimonial in Here and Now autobiography) [1970s-present]
- George Benson - Jazz-fusion guitarist who admired Martino's virtuosity and contributed to his autobiography (Testimonial in Here and Now autobiography) [1970s-present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cream | 1997-10-21 | Album |
| We'll Be Together Again | 1976-01-01 | Album |
| Footprints | 1975-01-01 | Album |
| El Hombre | 1990-01-01 | Album |
| 6 String Theory | 2010-01-01 | Album |
| Consciousness / Live! | 2009-07-15 | Album |
| Live At Yoshi's | 2001-01-01 | Album |
| Formidable | 2017-10-20 | Album |
| Remember -Tribute To Wes Montgomery | 2006-01-01 | Album |
| All Sides Now | 1997-01-01 | Album |
| Comin' And Goin' | 1999-06-13 | Album |
| Joyous Lake | 1977 | Album |
| Starbright | 2005-02-08 | Album |
| Stone Blue | 1998-01-01 | Album |
| Cream | 2009-07-15 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Both Sides Now (Cream)
- Lament (We'll Be Together Again)
- Sunny (Cream)
- Send In The Clowns (We'll Be Together Again)
- You Don't Know What Love Is (We'll Be Together Again)
- How Insensitive (Footprints)
- Dreamsville (We'll Be Together Again)
- Impressions (Cream)
- Passata On Guitar (Consciousness / Live!)
- Blue Bossa (Cream)
External Links
Tags: #hard-bop, #jazz, #post-bop
References
Heard on WWOZ
Pat Martino has been played 3 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2026 | 08:16 | Road Songfrom Footprints | The Morning Setw/ Breaux Bridges | |
| Dec 10, 2025 | 07:52 | Road Songfrom Footprints | The Morning Setw/ Breaux Bridges | |
| Dec 3, 2025 | 08:21 | Road Songfrom Footprints | The Morning Setw/ Breaux Bridges |