Recorded during 1968-69 at that hub of jazz, Louisville Kentucky, this hour plus of music finds a young and dapper Pat Martino (who is now OLD and dapper) with teammates Gene Ludwig/B3 and Randy Gelispie as they cruise like Buick V8 through jazz standards such as “Watch What Happens” and “Close Your Eyes” with bluesy aplomb. A take of John Coltrane’s “Mr. PC” is a cooker, with Martino’s lovely linear musings sounding wonderfully buoyant. The band stretches out for each song, so there’s lots of room for Martino to create sonic landscapes and allow Ludwig to kick out the jams on the smoky B3. A 50 year too late debut of Martino’s own composition “Colossus” is a piece that begs for revisitation. Relaxed, casual and inspired these guys sound like they’re out to change the world; you can’t do wrong with this blast from the past.
High Note Records