The Philadelphia Experiment (Uri Caine / Ahmir Thompson / Christian McBride with special guest Pat Martino) - The Philadelphia Experiment (April 2021 Ropeadope Records)

At a time of deep reflection on the 21st Century; of our very lives, of our values, and of the art that is of value, Ropeadope takes a step back to the beginning. While the label began in 1999, it is clear that the 600 albums released in the last 20 years mark a reflection of the times; a chronicle of musical evolution from a centralized marketing machine to a wide field of independent artistic creation. The Philadelphia Experiment stands as the definitive Ropeadope album; three titans of the scene in the studio with producer Aaron Levinson making music on the fly, answering only to their muse and the subject; Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Experiment was met with wonder and acclaim, fusing influences with respect for the legacy and an adventurous spirit. Young artists would look to this album as a starting point, a realization of what is possible. And yet it also stands as a historic document that defines a method of independent creation that defines Ropeadope to this day, and inspires musicians to simply create.

It is with this sense of history that Ropeadope celebrates 20 years since the June 2, 2001, release of The Philadelphia Experiment. A limited run of 1000 Double Vinyl LP’s will be pressed (plus 10 test pressings). With original 2 inch tape lost to time, the audio has been gently remastered from digital files for optimal Vinyl sound by G & J Audio. The lacquer will be etched with a blockchain transaction id, and each copy will carry a unique QR code entitling the buyer to a non-fungible token (NFT) specifically minted for the project as a permanent certificate of ownership. This will be the first time that NFT’s are directly linked to physical Vinyl LP’s. 

1. Philadelphia Experiment 04:15

2. Grover 04:57

3. Lesson #4 02:52

4. Call For All Demons 05:26

5. Trouble Man Theme 04:31

6. Ain’t It The Truth 06:10

7. Ile Ife 05:04

8. The Miles Hit 05:45

9. (Re) Moved 02:06

10. Philadelphia Freedom 03:09

11. Mister Magic 03:33

12. Just The Two Of Us 03:58

Uri Caine / Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Steinway Grand Piano and Hammond B-3 Organ

Ahmir Thompson / Drums

Christian McBride / Electric and Acoustic Bass

with

Pat Martino / Electric Guitar on (1) (2) and (4)

Jon Swana / Trumpet on (1) and (5)

Larry Gold / Cello & Arranger on (10)

Aaron Luis Levinson / Handclaps and SFX on (2) and (9)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Andy Blackman Hurwitz

PRODUCED BY: Aaron Luis Levinson

ENGINEERED BY: Jon “Iron Man” Smeltz and Jim Bottari

SECOND ENGINEER: Carlos “Storm” Martinez

ASSISTANT ENGINEERS: Gordon Goss & Jim Bottari

RECORDED & MIXED at The Studio, Philadelphia, PA. from September 25-27, 2000

All songs mixed by Aaron Luis Levinson and Jon Smeltz except: “Philadelphia Experiment” and “Grover” mixed by Uri Caine, Aaron Luis Levinson and Jon Smeltz, and “Philadelphia Freedom” mixed by Jim Bottari

ASSISTANT MIX ENGINEERS: Krystof Zizka and Gordon Goss

This entire jawn was recorded and mixed within the analog universe by the Iron Man. This entire jawn was mastered and tweakified into the digital universe by Mike “The Wizard” Fossenkemper.

REMASTERED BY: G&J Audio, Union City, NJ.

DESIGN: David Bias

PHOTOS: Candice DiCarlo

Ahmir Thompson appears courtesy of MCA Records

Christian McBride appears courtesy of The Verve Music Group

Uri Caine appears courtesy of Winter & Winter Music

Pat Martino appears courtesy of Blue Note Records

Jon Swana appears courtesy of Criss Cross

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ALTERNATIVE GUITAR SUMMIT Online Honoring Pat Martino - 3/20/21 at 8 PM EST

Alternative Guitar Summit, produced by Joel Harrison, streams a live concert to honor one of the greatest names in jazz guitar, Pat Martino.

The legendary Pat Martino is one of the most important jazz guitarists in the history of the instrument. The Alternative Guitar Summit celebrates the life and music of Martino in a concert by 12 extraordinary guitarists who interpret his compositions.

The Alternative Guitar Summit celebrates living composers / players every year. Despite the pandemic they are presenting a live-stream concert featuring a once in a lifetime aggregation of guitarists who will honor jazz guitar legend Pat Martino by playing his compositions. Five sets of guitar duos will play one duet selection and one piece with a rhythm section. Many jazz aficionados know Martino the soloist but few are aware of the depth of his compositions.

Concert information:

• March 20, 2021  --  8pm EST

• Sign up at the Alternative Guitar Summit: Music Festival (Information)

• Registration / “Pay What You Wish”

The concert is presented completely free of charge. However, there is a donation button when you sign up for the show and any contribution will go entirely to the production costs. In addition on 3/20 your contribution will go towards the PatMartino Go Fund Me Campaign.   Donations of any amount and frequency may be made to Pat’s Go Fund Me Campaign

Featured participants:

• Adam Rogers and Peter Bernstein

• Dave Stryker and Paul Bollenback

• Rez Abbasi and Jeff Miles

• Oz Noy and Nir Felder

• Sheryl Bailey and Ed Cherry

• Joel Harrison: solo

• guest Kurt Rosenwinkel: solo and Howard Paul of Benedetto Guitars

 

Rhythm Section: Dezron Douglas (bass) and Allan Mednard (drums)

Chulo Gatewood and Tobias Ralph (guest bass and drums)

There are a mere handful of guitarists that have changed the way we think about the guitar over the past five or six decades. Pat Martino is perhaps one of the greatest and best-known of those icons. This year we honor his enormous contribution to music.  Now at age 76, after a long, hard, incredibly eventful life, Pat is having health issues and faces financial challenges.  Here is your opportunity to help this living legend of jazz.

Pat Bianchi - In The Moment (SAVANT RECORDS November 2018)

Capable of everything from vibrato-laden intimate murmurings to sermonizing at a roaring volume, the jazz organ can sometimes be strangely dispiriting - like being stuck at a bar with a non-stop talker. Pat Bianchi will have none of that, eschewing all the clichés and displaying the instrument's versatility with a set list that ranges from Chick Corea to Patsy Cline to Monk and Billy Eckstine. 

For this, Bianchi's first recording on Savant, the leader has brought along a number of friends and colleagues including Pat Martino, Joe Locke, Carmen Intorre, Jr. the late, lamented Kevin Mahogany and others making for an extra-special debut recording.

Pat Bianchi (organ)

Paul Bollenback (guitar)

Byron Landham (drums)

With special guests:

Peter Bernstein (guitar)

Carmen Intorre Jr (drums)

Joe Locke (vibes)

Kevin Mahogany (vocal)

Pat Martino, (guitar)

1. Humpty Dumpty

2. Blue Gardenia

3. Don't You Worry 'bout A Thing

4. Mr. PM

5. Barracudas (General Assembly)

6. Crazy

7. No Expectations

8. I Want To Talk About You

9. Fall

10. Four In One

Pat Martino - Formidable (HighNote Records 2017)

FORMIDABLE is the title of Pat Martino's first studio recording as a bandleader in 11 years and it is an excellent metaphor for the guitarist's fearless and virtuosic playing. Martino grew up in Philadelphia, PA, a musical melting pot where many jazz greats began their journey, so perhaps it's of little surprise that he emerged as one of the most exciting guitar players in the 1960s, having already developed a mature style by the age of 20. Today, the guitarist still plays his instrument with the same fiery enthusiasm that he had as a young player first making his name, having lost none of his talent for furious, daring improvisations, or hard-swinging grooves. Martino's core trio featuring Pat Bianchi and Carmen Intorre, Jr., is here augmented by the fiery saxophone of Adam Niewood and the forceful trumpet of Alex Norris. Martino's excellent choice of sidemen is made evident by the thoughtful communication and sense of fun shared between Martino and his colleagues.

El Nino (J. Calderazzi)

Hipsippy Blues (H. Mobley)

Homage (G. Niewood)

Duke Ellington’s Sound of Love (Mingus)

El Hombre (Martino)

In Your Own Sweet Way (Brubeck)

Nightwings (Martino)

In a Sentimental Mood (Ellington)

On the Stairs (Martino)

Pat Martino: guitar and leader

Pat Bianchi: organ

Carmen Intorre, Jr.: drums

Adam Niewood: tenor saxophone (tracks 1,2,3,5,7,9)

Alex Norris: trumpet (tracks 1,3,5,7,9; flugelhorn, track 2)