Search - Pat Martino :: Maker

Composition and Technique Equal Lyrical Masterpiece

Jim Josselyn | New Jersey | 01/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pat Martino's unbelievably beautiful album, "The Maker", transcends the typical jazz guitar outing where many of todays artists are out to prove they are "the fastest guns in the west" by playing well practiced licks on tunes that the great Wes Montgomery wrote over thirty years ago. That's not what jazz is about and never was. Here, on the other hand, Pat uses his overwhelming knowledge of harmony to create exotic and other-worldly textures to carryout his singular creative vision. These five portraits-in-miniature include changes in time, mood, and feel, and along with the unerring support of the great Jim Ridl and Marc Johnson to give us, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest jazz recordings of our time. This record is an absolute must for the serious jazz fan."

Unbelieveable

Jeff Richards | San Diego, Ca. USA | 10/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I would highly recommend this title to anyone remotely interested in Jazz. This is more that a guitar CD although there is a lot of guitar here. One thing that sets Mr. Martino apart from a lot of Jazz guitarists is that he is more interested in "music" than guitar. The guitar is just a means to an end. He just happens to also be one of the most gifted guitarists on the planet. This CD in particular is different from the rest of his lexicon. The compositions seem to be at anoter level and the performances from the rest of the group are remarkable. The first cut Swings like crazy and the piano solo is astonishiong. I also really like the way the drums recorded, just a big fat sound. Pats playing on ballads is profound, sublime. His intonation with octaves is spot on (something that can be a challenge on the guitar)All in all if you do not like this CD there is probably something wrong with you. I listen to it over and over and I never tire from it. Enjoy!Jeff"

Martino in a contemplative mood

Mary Philipsek | Eden Prairie, MN United States | 06/08/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am a guitarist and have listened to Pat Martino's work for 20 years or so. My favorite Martino discs are Consciousness. El Hombre and most recently, Stone Blue. The Maker, however, is a very unique and quite mellow Martino record. The compositions are more then mere "heads" or vehicles for improvisation. Martino is more reserved than usual on this disc and it shows a side to his creative nature that's more contemplative than previously shown. If you like Pat Martino (and if you know anything about guitar I can't see how you wouldn't like him) you will like this record."