El Hombre [Rudy Van Gelder edition]

Guitarist Pat Martino’s debut as a leader finds the 22-year-old showing off his roots in soul-jazz organ groups while looking ahead at the same time. Joined by organist Trudy Pitts, flutist Danny Turner, drummer Mitch Fine, and both Abdu Johnson and Vance Anderson on percussion, Martino primarily plays a straight-ahead set (five of his originals, “Just Friends,” and “Once I Loved”), but already displays a fairly distinctive sound. This CD reissue brings back Martino’s impressive start to what would be a productive solo career. [A Rudy Van Gelder remaster appeared in 2007.] – Scott Yanow