NIU jazz aficionados will rub elbows with one of the greats this afternoon.

Jazz guitar legend Pat Martino will be presenting a clinic today at 3:30 p.m. in room 173 of the NIU Music Building, where he will impart words of wisdom and perform with NIU jazz students.

Martino is an elder statesman of jazz, having played with many of the biggest names in jazz, including Sonny Stitt, Bobby Hutcherson, Chick Corea, Woody Herman and Jack McDuff.

Martino began playing guitar as a 12-year-old in his hometown of Philadelphia, exposed to the world-class jazz scene there by his father, singer Carmen “Mickey” Azzara.

Martino dropped out of high school in tenth grade to pursue music, first playing more rock ‘n’ roll and soul music than straight-ahead jazz.

He played local gigs with such rock superstars as Bobby Darin and Chubby Checker, but landed his first touring gig with soul-jazz organist Charles Earland.

He soon moved to New York, where he entrenched himself in the city’s jazz scene. Already a well-respected sideman before the age of 18, Martino signed a record contract with Prestige Records when he was 20.

As a leader, Martino released many albums that featured such top-notch sidemen as Cedar Walton, Richard Davis and Billy Higgins.

In 1980, Martino suffered a severe brain aneurysm that left him with no memory, barely recognizing his family and having no clue that he was a famous jazz guitarist.

Over the next years he made an amazing recovery, returning to form on his instrument through diligent study of his own recordings.

Making his official comeback with a 1987 live recording aptly titled “The Return,” Martino has continued to wow audiences the world over.

One of the thousands of guitarists inspired by Martino is NIU Jazz guitar professor Fareed Haque. Haque recommended Martino to the NIU Music Society, an SA-allocated organization that provides funds for visiting musical artists.

Martino garnered the most votes from the Music Society’s 65 members in an election to determine which potential guest artists will receive funding.

Martino’s appearance is funded by the Music Society as well as the NIU chapter of the International Association for Jazz Education and the guitar and jazz studies areas.