Desperado (Pat Martino album)

Desperado is a 1970 post-bop jazz album by Pat Martino.

Desperado
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 1970
RecordedMarch 9, 1970
GenreJazz
Length35:53
LabelPrestige
ProducerBob Porter
Pat Martino chronology
Baiyina (The Clear Evidence)
(1968)
Desperado
(1970)
The Visit!
(1972)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[2]

“A key album in the shift in Pat Martino's sound at the end of the 60s -- with one foot in the soul jazz camp in which he got his start, and the other in the freer, open-minded style he used a lot in the 70s!”[3]

Reception

edit

Jazz critic Scott Yanow described the album as “funky in spots, electric, and swinging when called for” and extols Martino's performance as “consistently inventive"[4]

The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings wrote: "Desperado is a little-known stab at fusion: Martino plays electric 12-string against rumbling electric piano and bass, and the results are akin to a tighter, less violent Lifetime. 'Express' and 'Desperado' hit a particularly compelling movement."[2]

In an article for All About Jazz, Ian Patterson wrote: "Martino's inventiveness... seems inexhaustible... Though Martino's soloing has the energy of rock, the language is unmistakably jazz, with a clear melodic logic. There is also a gentler side to his playing, as witnessed on the caressing ballad 'A Portrait of Diana.' 'Express' caps an excellent album on a thrilling note."[5]

“Even this difficult instrument doesn’t dampen his proficiency.”[6]

Background

edit

Recorded at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder studios, Mr. Martino chose a 12 string guitar to define his interpretations of his own compositions and "Oleo" by Sonny Rollins.[6]

Track listing

edit
  1. "Blackjack" (Martino) – 7:45
  2. "Dearborn Walk" (Martino)– 3:50
  3. "Oleo" (Sonny Rollins) – 4:53
  4. "Desperado" (Martino, Green) – 7:55
  5. "A Portrait of Diana" (Martino) – 4:30
  6. ”Express” (Martino) – 6:43

CD Reissue

edit

Remastered versions of the album (one being from 1989) do not include any bonus tracks and are stereo versions of the original stereo recording.

Personnel

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 957. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  3. ^ "Home". dustygroove.com.
  4. ^ All Music Guide to Jazz –ISBN 0-87930-530-4
  5. ^ Patterson, Ian (December 27, 2021). "Pat Martino Top Ten Albums: More Than Meets The Eye". All About Jazz. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Desperado LP-7795 liner notes by Les Paul