I found out about Pat’s passing by way of one of our dear Patrons here, Bojan.

As with many, I am saddened to here of the passing of the Maestro, Pat Martino today. Pat was always gracious and so ridiculously nice to me. Within a couple of weeks of me moving to NYC, I asked him if I could get a lesson from him sometime when he was performing at Birdland. Birdland is a famous jazz club here in NYC. He gave me his card. (Really? Pat Martino gives me a card?)

So a few years later I call him up. He told me his address in Philly and I drove out to his house had a lesson with him for over 2 hours. While there, we talked about Chet Atkins and Lenny Breau. He said, “You know, Lenny was a friend of mine.” And I said, “Yes, I know.” I saw the pics and heard some stories.

After the lesson was over, at his front door I’m thanking him for the lesson. He grabs my hand with both of his hands, shaking up and down with a big grin on his face. “Thank you so much for coming by!” He says. He won’t let go of my hands. I’m thinking, “you’re thanking ME for coming by??” “Whaaa…”

About a year after that, I called him up and kind of sheepishly asked, “If I send you a copy of my newest recording, would you mind terribly if you wrote a blurb for me so I can use it for press, etc?” He said, “Absolutely!” The CD was Out of the Blue, released on Ropeadope, and featured the fantastic trio, Tri-Fi. Within a few days he sent me said quote  via email.

Here is what he wrote:

“The guitar has become one of the most prolific of the instruments. There’s a nexus of individuals standing strong in the field of “Jazz”, and what’s always most exciting is the entrance of a new member of the community. Adam Smale is one of the serious devotees, and is truly welcomed to the family. In the words of Bill Milkowski, “an exciting new voice on the scene”… take notice!” – Pat Martino

I think I actually cried when I first read it.

Pat, thank you for sharing your unique vision and gifts to the world. RIP