Pat Martino. A guitarist's guitarist. A musician's musician. Jazz legend. Open Road is a documentary of Pat Martino. It is the story of the difficult road back from a brain aneurysm that nearly killed and left him without memory or the ability to play his guitar. Les Paul remarked upon hearing the 11 year old Martino, "that he was tempted to ask Pat for lessons." George Benson upon first arriving in New York and hearing Pat at Small's Paradise said, "they came to a break in the music, and this guitar leaped out of nowhere, playing some of the most incredible lines I had ever heard. It had everything in it: great tone, great articulation and the whole crowd - it was a black audience - they went crazy. And I said to myself, 'If this (playing) is a sample of what New York is like, I'm getting out of here.'" The road takes us to exciting performances at Ethel's Place and to Pat's comeback gig at New York's Bottom Line. Martino is captured giving a guitar lesson; working in the studio recording new music; philosophizing about music and life; providing an in-depth glimpse into the creative genius of this jazz guitar legend. Open Road covers the whole road: The complete Martino. Also included is a bonus guitar lesson with the master and additional interviews with George Benson, Steve Khan and the late Michael Hedges and Emily Remler. NTSC all region, 120 minutes.
In guitar history, no one single figure stands as tall as jazzman Charlie Christian. He helpd not only to introduce electric guitar to the world, but also popularized single string solos, moving the instrument from background rhythm to the forefront of popular music. And like so many important jazz players, he made enormous contributions on the span of an all-too-short life dying at the age of 26 from tuberculosis.
Taking it's title from Herb Ellis' most famous composition, Detour Ahead chronicles the life and music of the famed jazz guitarist. From his birth in Farmersville, Texas and his early days playing rhythm in the big bands of Jimmy Dorsey and Glen Gray to his innovative work with groups like the Soft Winds, Detour Ahead covers every major step of the guitarist's life. Muh attention is given to his groundbreaking work with the Oscar Peterson Trio of the 1950s, his days with Ella Fitzgerald, his work with the Great Guitars, and his many friends in jazz. On-camera interviews include Ray Brown, Charlie Byrd, Benny Golson, Benny Green, Al Grey, Lionel Hampton, Gene Harris, Jon Hendricks and Hank Jones. Along with modern interviews, Detour Ahead features never-before-seen home movies from jazz's golden age of Herb on tour with Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald and others. Running time: 60 minutes.
This DVD captures almost 30 years of rare performances from 1962 to 1991. Barney is seen playing in a trio setting, solo and with his friends - jazz guitarists Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd. These performances capture the unique artistry of this great American musician.
