When
We'll Be Together Again was recorded in 1976, a 31-year-old
Pat Martino was four years away from being operated on for the brain aneurysm that would wipe out his memory. The Philadelphia guitarist was also very much at the height of his creative powers -- a fact that's hard to miss on this excellent session, which 32 Jazz reissued on CD in 1998. Forming an intimate duo with electric pianist
Gil Goldstein,
Martino is at his most introspective on sparse interpretations of the standards "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "Willow Weep for Me" as well as
Henry Mancini's "Dreamsville,"
J.J. Johnson's "Lament," and
Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns."
Martino's lyricism was never more personal than it is on this album, which was first released by Muse and was out of print for many years. Thankfully,
We'll Be Together Again finally came out on CD when 32 Jazz reissued it in 1998. ~ Alex Henderson