South Jersey Jazz Society Announces Lineup for Celebration of Life and Legacy of Pat Martino

South Jersey Jazz Society presents a Celebration of Life and Legacy of the great jazz guitarist Pat Martino at this year’s Jazz @ the Point Festival, which runs from November 3 through 6 at Gateway Playhouse and Gregory’s Restaurant in Somers Point, New Jersey. Artists performing at the festival include influential musicians and jazz icons who have interacted with Martino throughout the guitarist’s illustrious career that spanned more than five decades before he passed away in 2021.

Bill Milkowski, author of Pat Martino’s autobiography Here and Now!, will be the keynote speaker for performances at Gateway Playhouse.

“The planned Celebration of Life and Legacy comes nearly a year to the day Pat passed away on November 1,” stated Joe Donofrio, artistic director, vice president and event producer on behalf of South Jersey Jazz Society. “It was not an ideal situation to try and gather musicians and audience during the past COVID cycle and look forward to recognizing and celebrating his genius with his many musical colleagues.”

The Celebration of Life and Legacy will also be live-streamed Thursday, November 3 through Saturday, November 5, which will provide an opportunity for an international audience to engage. The in-person event is free for all attendees (live-streaming will $10 per day), accepting only free-will donations from those in attendance thereby exposing as many people as possible to the magic that was and is Pat Martino. Proceeds from this event will be shared equally with the estate of Pat Martino. Gateway Playhouse will administer general seating.

Sponsors include OceanFirst Bank Foundation, Benedetto Guitars, Miner Family Winery, TrueFire, High Note Records, Just 4 Wheels, John Scarpa, UBS Financial, Dennisville Fence, Walt’s Original Primo Pizza, Ritala Associates and guitarist Peter Kuklen.

This event is made possible in part through the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the Local Arts Grant administered by Atlantic County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs. This program is made possible in part through the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts through the Local Arts Grant administered by Atlantic County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs. The producers wish to thank DL Media for their participation.

Intermission

9:45PM – ‘till: Late Night Hang Featuring Pat’s Longtime Hometown Friends. Bob Sterling, Rich & Rob Budesa, E. Shawn Qaissaunee, Michael Kraft, Geno White, John Mulhern & Richard Sheppard