Pat Martino el Hombre cd

Legendary six-string master Pat Martino's debut album, "El Hombre", finds the then-22-year-old flashing his distinctive soul-jazz chops in first date as a leader. Accompanied by organist Trudy Pitts, flutist Danny Turner, drummer Mitch Fine, and both Abdu Johnson and Vance Anderson on percussion, Martino's runs alternatingly dance over Latin-tinged rhythms and groove in the pocket with classic, soulful flavor. Recorded May 1, 1967 by Rudy Van Gelder at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, El Hombre stands the test of time as an absolute best-of-genre, guitar soul-jazz workout.

The title "Formidable" and the striking cover photo of Pat Martino in profile in front of a statue of a lion suggests that the great guitarist is going to unleash awesome powers. However, the proper meaning of formidable in this context is more to be taken as the presence of the master. Here and now, in late career, the lion is content. He displays his supremacy in a group setting. He leads the players in a moveable feast that recapitulates his work of the past while adding a contemporary touch.