This first set of legendary Pat Martino's yearly two night Thanksgiving engagement at Chris' Jazz Café celebrated the release of his Quintet's CD Formidable (HighNote, 2017). The guys were really prepared for some hefty music-making, deserving the word "formidable," which on the CD cover, with Martino standing beside a statue of a lion, connoted the presence of the master with his pride. Here, in live performance, Martino's guitar was amped up and he played with leonine intensity, in contrast with the album's more reserved approach.
As in the album, the music had more than hints of the 1960s group that birthed Martino, the Willis "Gator" Jackson Quintet, with its soul music emphasis. Pat Bianchi's organ and Carmen Intorre, Jr.'s drums kept the group rolling relentlessly through five extended numbers, without a ballad to break up the momentum. The result was Martino and the group delivering their full ammunition from beginning to end. Two of the songs, "Hipsippy Blues" and "El Nino" are on the album, and the others,John Coltrane's "Impressions," Wes Montgomery's "Full House," and Sonny Rollins' "Oleo" are Martino staples. The group delivered one of the steamiest performances this reviewer has ever heard.
Straight from the start, with a fast-paced version of "Impressions," the group was "in the zone" with tight coordination and solid improvising. Erudite solos by Martino, trumpeter Alex Norris, Jr., and tenor saxophonist Adam Niewood were followed by all three trading fours with drummer Intorre. "Hipsippy Blues" is a perfect foil for soul music, and was delivered with intensity of the Willard Jackson group in which Martino made his mark during his Harlem days.
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