Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 04/04/2006
Pat Martino and
Wes Montgomery were two of the most famous guitarists to emerge out of the '60s
jazz scene, an era that saw the guitar raised to the status of saxophones and trumpets.
Martino and
Montgomery's styles, however, were quite different, one rapid-fire
post-bop, the other
blues-based
hard bop. This doesn't mean, however, that
Martino wasn't -- like everyone else -- influenced by
Montgomery.
Martino's
Remember: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery, then, isn't so much an album that seeks to mimic the style of another guitarist, but a loving tribute that reflects without copying
Montgomery's style. Yes,
Martino does pull gems from the
Montgomery catalog like
"Four on Six" and
"West Coast Blues," and he even references his use of octaves more than once, but this is more reflective than stylistic.
Martino is joined on this outing by pianist
David Kikoski, bassist
John Patitucci, and percussionists
Scott Allan Robinson and
Daniel Sadownick for solid takes on
Montgomery's
"Road Song," Carl Perkins'
"Groove Yard," and
Sam Jones'
"Unit Seven." While it might be revealing to compare these and other sides to
Montgomery's recordings, it's probably more fun for listeners to just allow these reinterpreted recordings to wash over them. For
Martino and
Montgomery fans, and for anyone who loves good guitar music,
Remember is a well-conceived and executed album.
~Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide
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