Pat Martino – Alone Together (with Bobby Rose) – High Note Records

Pat Martino – Alone Together (with Bobby Rose) – High Note Records HC7242 55:33 ****:
(Pat Martino and Bobby Rose – guitars)
Pat Martino is a venerated guitarist whose origins stretch back to those B-3 organ-led jazz groups of the sixties and extends into the present day post-bop discoveries. In this duo session Alone Together—a reissued recording from the late 1970s with fellow guitarist Bobby Rose—Martino puts on a different hat but one that fits him effortlessly.
These tracks have been culled from Pat Martino’s private collection and reflect the personal and professional relationship between him and Bobby Rose. Wes Montgomery, who was an influence on Martino’s style, composed the leadoff tune “Four On Six” and the duo romp through the tune with abandon. The Montgomery impact is also evident on “Alone Together” where the Wes-like octaves and single note runs are prevalent.
Johnny Smith was another guitarist who had a readily identifiable style with voicing chords and moving effortlessly from one to the next, but also showcased defined technique and expression. Martino picked up on some of these stylistic idiosyncrasies, and while they were not in any way imitated, they crept into Martino’s playing as evidenced on the ballad “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?” and the bouncy “Sunny”.   Throughout all these tracks Martino’s inventiveness never faltered, supported by the buoyant comping of Rose, both of which are in full evidence on an extended version of “One For My Baby”.
For those Martino fans, this is an interesting project that captures the guitarist at the top of his game. [Don’t miss this amazing film on Martino’s brain surgery and its effect on him…Ed.]
TrackList: Four On Six; Alone Together; What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? ; Sunny; Left…Or Right; The Visit; One For My Baby; Israfel
—Pierre Giroux