Lets talk Pat Martino: STARBRIGHT

     As a young guy learning guitar in Queens, N.Y. I first heard of Pat Martino through Guitar Player magazine. It was some time in 1976, when I picked up a copy of Guitar Player and read an article on Pat Martino and talked about his new album, "StarBright". A little while later I went down to the local record shop which basically carried Rock & Roll records. I was surprised to see that they had the new Pat Martino album, "StarBright" on Warner Bros. I picked it up right away. It was my first "Jazz Buy"!

I listened to this album quite often that after a few years I bought a second copy, because the first was wearing out. Getting that crackly sound that us in the VC end to dislike. Pat's next release was the album "Joyous Lake". But for some reason that escapes me this album became the more popular of the two! So much so that in 1998, Pat recorded the album "Stone Blue" and used the same musicians from the "Joyous Lake" album. Both "StarBright" and "Joyous Lake" were released in 1976, but "Joyous Lake" is the more popular of the two! As I just stated above.

To me "StarBright" is a wonderful album and has a bunch of wonderful musicians on it. Pat of course. On this album Pat is not only playing guitar he is also playing Synthesizer and Percussion for the first time. Gil Goldstein on Keyboards has played sessions for many artists and has won 3 Grammy's. He is currently a Professor at NYU for Jazz Studies. There was also, Warren Bernhardt, Mike Mainieri on Synthesizers. Charles Collins & Michael Carvin on Drums. Alyrio Lima Cova-Percussion. Marty Quinn on Tablas. Al Regni-Flute. Will Lee on Bass, who has done a ton of session work and is currently in the "The Most Dangerous Band In The World"! The Late Night with David Letterman band! Last but not least was Joe D'Onofrio on Violin, who strangely enough is Pat's manager.

Whew!!!! That was exhausting and FUN!!!!! Anybody out there have "STARBRIGHT"? Or at least have heard it once or twice? Please feel free to comment on it. Like it, hate it? what's your viewpoint on this to me great Pat Martino album? This album to me is a masterpiece! It has a very special place not only in my heart but my mind as well and a very special place on my shelf! This album not only has great memories, but new ones at each listen. Not only do I have this album on vinyl, but also CD and iTunes download as well.

This album did not make me play guitar like Pat Martino. But I did learn to acknowledge his skill which is unmatched in many ways! Well oddly enough all this while Pat was playing with a brain tumor and had to get operated on which he did and of course was successful. Pat recovered but when he came out of surgery and a few years after that he didn't remember how to play guitar he had to learn all over again and he is back to burning up the fretboards!!!!!

Well, my friends, post comments and such. Peace be with you and may you always find the hidden track. RB.