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
"Lament,"
Stephen Sondheim
"Send in the Clowns."
'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,
finally came out on CD when
reissued it in 1998. ~ Alex Henderson