Learn Pat Martino - 2003 Showtime Light; Joyous Lake - Starbright

"First Light" is a compilation of the legendary Pat Martino's 2 recordings for Warner Bros., "Starbright"(1976) as well as "Joyous Lake" (1977). They correspond the guitarist's flirtation amongst jazz-rock fusion as well as stimulate got to last taken inwards that context. "Starbright" is the to a greater extent than varied of the two, featuring several lovely duets amongst electrical pianist as well as longtime accompanist Gil Goldstein, as well as an splendid solo acoustic piece, "Prelude." Many of the cuts characteristic funky keyboards as well as rhythms similar to Herbie Hancock as well as Chick Corea's move of the era ("Deeda" begs to last sampled), land others are to a greater extent than pastoral, including the championship track, which pops upward inwards several variations throughout. One of his close rewarding listens. "Joyous Lake" is to a greater extent than strictly a fusion record, amongst a regular band (including the groovy drummer Kenwood Dennard). Synthesizers as well as electronic effects are far to a greater extent than prominent, however Martino's manner (much less rockish than Coryell, McLaughlin or DiMeola)shines through. The championship cutting as well as "Line Games" are the strongest cuts. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 combat dated, yes, precisely a fun listen. These are the final 2 recordings Martino made earlier the encephalon aneurysm that sidelined him for many years as well as forced him to larn to play in ane lawsuit again yesteryear reading his ain literature as well as listening to his ain recordings was discovered. Not the house to start for the curious, precisely worth checking out for a consummate moving-picture demo of ane of the best.

'Joyous Lake' has been out of impress for quite a land now. Thank sky it has been reissued every bit part of 'First Light'. Pat is at the move yesteryear of his game here, precisely at the fourth dimension 'Joyous Lake' was released, the band was the existent news. At that time, Kenwood Dennard (drums) was at Berklee, as well as Delmar Brown (keyboards) was inwards NYC performing amongst cats similar Hiram Bullock, Will Lee, Steve Jordan, The Brecker Brothers, Jaco as well as the residue of the 70's New York fusion jazz monsters. Together amongst Mark Leonard (bass) as well as Pat, Woody as well as Delmar (who had played together quite a combat inwards NYC at that point) broke novel solid soil amongst their unique styles as well as skillful technique. Brown's deep keyboard colorizations as well as Dennard's driving, complex as well as flawless drumming brand this tape genuinely unique, as well as ane of the greatest fusion studio performances ever. Dennard (a onetime pupil of the groovy Elvin Jones) demonstrates his amazing might here. I stimulate got heard people tell that 'Joyous Lake' contains some of the best fusion drumming ever recorded. (Think Weckl, Chambers, White) Kenwood, Delmar as well as Mark were kids at the fourth dimension 'Joyous Lake' was recorded. Hat's off to Pat Martino for recognizing immature talent agency dorsum then. No wonder he had them "play it again" on 'Stone Blue'. If yous similar Pat Martino, fusion or groovy musicianship, as well as then your collection needs to include 'First Light'.

Guitar as well as fusion fans volition sure welcome this splendid 32 Jazz ready featuring all of Joyous Lake as well as Starbright, guitarist Pat Martino's 2 1976 Warner Brothers albums. Martino left Muse Records inwards 1976 amongst the hope of mega-giant Warner's clout to accomplish a wider audience. Usually that spells concession to pop tunes or sellable formulas. And land this music is oft to a greater extent than fusion-oriented than anything Martino had recorded upward to this point, there's no sell out.

Joyous Lake catches Martino amongst keyboardist Delmar Brown as well as Kenwood Dennard, who reunited amongst the guitarist on final year's similar Stone Blue (also featuring Martino's delightful "Joyous Lake," which prefigures the music of Pat Metheny yesteryear nearly a decade). Here, electrical bassist Delmar Brown every bit good helps the quartet deed roughly several flavors of funky fusion that retrieve then-sounds of Magical Shepherd -era Miroslav Vitous as well as Allan Holdsworth amongst nods toward Headhunter funk ("M'Wandishi")and Eleventh House stone ("Song Bird").

Starbright features a larger, all together dissimilar Martino grouping featuring 3 keyboardists (Gil Goldstein, Warren Bernhardt as well as Mike Maneri), 3 percussionists, bass, violin, flute as well as tabla. There are Martino's patented ruminations ("Starbright," reminiscent of Al DiMeola/Return to Forever, as well as "Prelude"), worthy fusion ("Law," "Deeda," "Blue Macaw) as well as 2 of Wayne Shorter's to a greater extent than contemplative ballads from Miles' 1967 opus Nefertiti ("Fall," "Nefertiti").

As always, Martino remains an engaging technical dazzler - every bit opposed to all those forgotten 70s guitar heroes who idea speed as well as audio meant goodness playing. Martino fifty-fifty experiments amongst guitar synthesizers as well as other effects (especially during the Joyous Lake tracks). But the strength of the guitarist's melodic personality, particularly during signature solos, is never inwards question.

This is music that tin last enjoyed good beyond 1977. Over 2 decades later, in that place is heart as well as sustenance to Pat Martino's music as well as First Light is a valuable part of this groovy guitarist's ever-enduring legacy.

Tracklist:

Joyous Lake
1     Line Games     3:55
2     Pyramidal Vision     7:42
3     Mardi Gras     8:56
four     M'Wandishi     5:30
five     Song Bird     7:55
vi     Joyous Lake     7:33

Starbright
vii     Starbright     3:37
8     Eyes     2:36
nine     Law     3:37
10     Fall     2:03
xi     Deeda     3:43
12     Starbright Epilogue     0:30
xiii     Masquerada     2:53
xiv     Nefertiti     2:51
fifteen     Blue Macaw     2:57
xvi     City Lights     0:53
17     Prelude     6:25
eighteen     Epilogue     0:53

Personnel:

On Joyous Lake:

Pat Martino: guitar, EML 101 synthesizer, synthesizer, percussion, flexiglass;
Delmar Brown: Fender Rhodes, EML 500 synthesizer, Oberheim polyphonic synthesizer;
Mark Leonard: electrical bass;
Kenwood Dennard: drums, percussion.

On Starbright:

Pat Martino: guitar, synthesizer;
Gil Goldstein: keyboards;
Warren Bernhardt, Michael Maneri: synthesizers;
Will Lee: bass;
Charles Collins, Michael Carvin: drums;
Alyrio Lima Cova: percussion;
Marty Quinn: tablas;
Al Regni: flute;
Joe D'Onofrio: violin.