Probably not put out and certainly not readily available before, the recordings on Young Guns (HighNote ***1/2) are from guitarist Pat Martino’s “personal collection” and date to a Louisville club in 1968-69. In terms of what Martino was doing in 1968 to put these performances in context he had recorded East in New York at the beginning of the year, the seminal El Hombre the year before. With interesting album notes by the fine jazz writer Bill Milkowski who provides a bit of background about the soulful Hammond organist Ludwig (1937-2010), later a Sonny Stitt sideman, and about Ludwig’s long time drummer Randy Gelispie who completes the trio, the vintage sound, though, is not perfect but makes up for its wheeziness with bags of atmosphere, the old show numbers and standards (‘Who Can I Turn To’, ‘Watch What Happens’, ‘Close Your Eyes’) might make you feel this is a period piece: and it certainly is. Yet sitting in Ronnie Scott’s the other week listening to Gerald Gibbs made me once again realise just how much authenticity and natural spirit to the heart of jazz the Hammond organ sound contributes. Young Guns, warts and all, seconds that emotion.

Listen to 'Colossus' above, the Martino composition’s first appearance on a CD, the closing track of Young Guns