Urban Pulse on Strings
Pat Martino swings between bop, funk, and pop on this self-assured collection of originals.
Stone Blue was recorded in 1998 and released on Blue Note, with Pat Martino leading a band built around James Genus on double bass, Kenwood Dennard on drums, Eric Alexander on tenor saxophone, and Delmar Brown on keyboards. The session brings together a working group rather than a supergroup, and that lived-in quality shows in the way the tunes move. Martino wrote the material himself, and the arrangements lean on steady, deliberate grooves that give the soloists room to stretch.
The album mixes bop, funk, and a fair amount of pop sensibility. Alexander's tenor adds a warm, muscular voice against Martino's guitar, and Brown's keyboards add color that keeps the textures from getting too spare. Martino's own playing is the centerpiece, moving from tight, quick runs to more relaxed, melodic phrasing. AllMusic reviewer Stacia Proefrock described the set as a very listenable album with plenty of character, which is a fair summary: it is not a reinvention, but it is a confident, enjoyable record.
For listeners coming to Martino, this is not the place to start with his most celebrated work. It sits comfortably within his later catalog as a showcase of an experienced player in good form, rather than a turning point. It rewards anyone who likes straightforward, groove-driven jazz guitar and wants to hear Martino working in a modern context.
Who's playing
James Genusdouble bass
Pat Martinoguitar
Eric Alexandertenor saxophone
Kenwood Dennarddrums
Delmar Brownkeyboard
