05/15/2026
This week in the MCG Spotlight archives, Marty Ashby welcomes guitarist and educator Mark Koch for a personal tribute to Pat Martino, recorded shortly after Martino’s passing at age 77.
Koch was not just an admirer of Pat’s music — he was a student and friend. He recalls first meeting Martino as a young guitarist, then hearing him perform in 1967 with Gene Ludwig and Randy Gillespie, an experience Koch describes as “like getting struck by lightning.” That sense of awe runs through the entire conversation, as Koch reflects Pat’s sound, discipline, humor, teaching, and the almost spiritual intensity of his improvising.
The playlist follows the stories. Marty opens with “The Visit” from Footprints, the 1972 album he remembers buying when it first came out. Koch then talks about Consciousness, including the solo guitar piece “Bessada,” which he remembers Pat working on after late-night lessons, and Benny Golson’s “Along Came Betty,” praising Martino’s samba feel, precision, and “impeccable time.” The show also reaches into the fusion energy of Joyous Lake with “Songbird,” the playful duet with Les Paul on “I’m Confessin’,” Emily Remler’s Pat-inspired “East to Wes,” and the closing intimacy of “Dreamsville” with Gil Goldstein.
From the MCG Jazz archives, it’s not just a survey of Pat Martino’s recordings — it’s a remembrance through the ears of someone who learned from him, laughed with him, and carried his influence forward.
Friday and Sunday at 6:00 PM
Saturday at 1:00 PM
The Pittsburgh Jazz Channel WZUM 101.1 FM
