"Pat Martino, the jazz guitar giant who overcame a mid-career brain aneurysm and relearned to play the instrument, has died at the age of 77.
The guitarist’s manager, Joseph Donofrio, confirmed his passing, telling the Philadelphia Inquirer that Martino passed away in the same Philadelphia row house he grew up in.
Martino was suffering from chronic respiratory disorder since 2018 and was living with oxygen support; he had been unable to play guitar since that same year.
A prodigious player who studied with guitarist Dennis Sandole, Martino is best known for his modern, high-speed phrasing and crosspicking talents. Across his career, he cut 27 albums as bandleader and was a sideman on countless more.
In the late 1970s, Martino suffered a brain aneurysm which effectively wiped his knowledge of the guitar. Starting over on the instrument – and studying his own past recordings – he was able to relearn his methods, releasing the 1987 live album The Return to mark his comeback..." Jazz Journal.
Extraordinary life, extraordinary musician, RIP.
The guitarist’s manager, Joseph Donofrio, confirmed his passing, telling the Philadelphia Inquirer that Martino passed away in the same Philadelphia row house he grew up in.
Martino was suffering from chronic respiratory disorder since 2018 and was living with oxygen support; he had been unable to play guitar since that same year.
A prodigious player who studied with guitarist Dennis Sandole, Martino is best known for his modern, high-speed phrasing and crosspicking talents. Across his career, he cut 27 albums as bandleader and was a sideman on countless more.
In the late 1970s, Martino suffered a brain aneurysm which effectively wiped his knowledge of the guitar. Starting over on the instrument – and studying his own past recordings – he was able to relearn his methods, releasing the 1987 live album The Return to mark his comeback..." Jazz Journal.
Extraordinary life, extraordinary musician, RIP.
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