If featuring guitarists at consecutive concerts seems repetitive, think again. Or rather, think Pat Martino and John Scofield, who headline the first two shows in the spring 2006 Athenaeum Jazz at The Neurosciences Institute series. When it comes to repertoire and approach, the two renowned guitarists have little in common besides dedication to excellence and remarkably nimble fingers. Once again, Athenaeum Jazz proves how varied and inclusive jazz can be, even when it comes to the same instrument.
Martino, who plays here next Monday, is enjoying the second half of a long, successful career. A Philadelphia native, he began in the 1960s, playing soul-infused jazz with top-notch organists, then branched out as a solo artist, establishing himself as a premier guitarist with a style all his own. In 1980, after a few years of severe headaches, he was struck by a brain aneurysm. The resulting surgery caused a loss of memory that left him unable to play.
Re-learning guitar from his own recordings, Martino slowly mastered his instrument for the second time. Since 1994, he has recorded more than a dozen CDs as leader or co-leader and toured extensively. His collaborators included Joey DeFrancesco, Randy Brecker and fellow Philadelphians Uri Caine and Christian McBride. Martino has earned Grammy nominations and awards such as the 2004 Guitar Player of the Year in Downbeat Magazine’s readers’ poll.
Scofield, who started his career in the 1970s, is also an award-winning guitarist. He has played with a vast variety of musicians, from Charles Mingus and Miles Davis to Pat Metheny and the popular young trio Medeski, Martin and Wood. Having released an album paying homage to the music of Ray Charles last year, Scofield is currently touring in several configurations, including the straight-ahead jazz quartet performing at the Neurosciences Institute on April 17.
Dan Atkinson, the Athenaeum’s jazz program coordinator, is looking forward to the one-two punch of Martino and Scofield launching this series, which is rounded out by bebop saxophonist Phil Woods in May.
“I am excited to have the chance to present two of the top guitarists to emerge in the last three decades of jazz,” Atkinson said. “And, in particular, Pat Martino, since this may be his first performance ever in San Diego.”
While it isn’t his first ever, it’s close: his last performance here was almost 30 years ago, when he performed in a guitar duo with Bobby Rose at San Diego State University’s Back Door.
Currently, Martino is touring to support his upcoming album on Blue Note, “Remember: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery,” one of his greatest influences. Scott Allan Robinson, a drummer who often plays with Martino and appeared on the album, joins the tour, as do Rick Germanson on piano and David Robaire on bass.
Scofield is also bringing stellar musicians: Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Dennis Irwin on bass and Bill Stewart on drums. Henderson’s appearance marks one of the few times Scofield has played with a trumpeter since his three-year stint with Miles Davis in the early 1980s. Well-versed in rock, blues and funk, Scofield has confounded more than a few critics with his category-defying brand of jazz.
“Both of these players have enlarged the vocabulary of the jazz guitar but in very different ways, and each is also a consummate technician,” Atkinson said. “I am sure that there will be a lot of guitarists in the audience at both dates and that they will be taking notes furiously!”
Pat Martino performs this Monday, April 3; John Scofield on Monday, April 17 at the spring 2006 Athenaeum Jazz at The Neurosciences Institute series. The Neurosciences Institute is located at 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive; all concerts begin at 8 p.m. Tickets for the series of three range from $57 to $72; individual concerts from $21 to $26.
For tickets and information, call (858) 454-5872.