Profile
The Pat Metheny Group was a Jazz Fusion band founded in 1977 by guitarist Pat Metheny and keyboardist Lyle Mays. Other principal members were bassist Steve Rodny, drummer Paul Wertico and Argentine vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Pedro Aznar. The group became famous by early albums “American Garage” and “Offramp”, and it held many concerts energetically. During from the mid-80’s to the 90’s the group made greater success by “First Circle”, “Still Life” and reached the peak of the group, and held world tours many time. In 2010, the group held “Songbook Tour” featured the retrospective repertory, and the group stopped activity.
The characteristic of Pat Metheny Group, contrast to Pat Metheny solo works, was the taste of a typical American or Californian and 80’s or 90’s Fusion with New Age and Latin music elements. But the compositions, the plays, the arrangements and the moods of the works were more sophisticated, elegant and pure than other usual Fusion musicians. Another characteristics of the group was the combination of two great geniuses Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays. They are first-rate Jazz musicians can play improvisation. And Pat’s guitar is an orthodox succession to the Jazz guitar history also his plays is natural and wonderful has no smoky and blue tone of Jazz, the mood of his composition is the same. Mays’ iconic Roland JX-10 synthesizer lyrical lead like flute or pan flute tone and its mystical phrases was an important element of the group. And Mays’ piano backing and solo was not smoky and blue, also it was elegant, bright and gentle, curried entire sound of the group. And his sythesizer pad(s) plays in interludes on many works made impressive and grandiose musical developments. Also synchronicity of two geniuses and other members were a greatest legacy of the history of Fusion music.
Pat Metheny Group (ECM, 1978)
“Pat Metheny Group” is the debut album of Pat Metheny Group, is consist of Pat Metheny (guitar), Lyle Mays (piano, synthesizer), Mark Egan (fretless bass) and Danny Gottlieb (drums).
“San Lorenzo” is a refreshing and bright Fusion song associates a see breeze and a port town. Mays’ piano play is beautiful and elegant. Fretless bass of Mark Egan is impressive and rings a unique tone.
“Phase Dance” is minor key refreshing also sentimental Fusion. The combination of Pat’s solo and reactions drum’s is very good.
“Jaco” is the song for Pat’s ally, Jaco Pastorius. A wonderful and groovy song with skilful arrangement and plays.
“Aprilwind” is a short mystic song of guitars dubbing by Pat.
“April Joy” is a beautiful and sentimental song with excellent arrangement and performances. This song is composed of three parts. The first part is a dynamic part features Pat’s solo. The second part is a non-rhythm silent par features Mays’ synthesizer pad solo. The third part is calm with passionate also gentle plays and combination of the band.
“Lone Jack” is a high tempo refreshing Fusion song like a session. Pat’s solo play is fine, hard also cool. Mays’ piano is dynamic and elegant. The synchronisation of the band is excellent.
A good Fusion album.
American Garage (ECM, 1979)
“American Garage” is the second album of the Pat Metheny Group released in 1979. The members are same as the debut album.
The first track, “Heartland” is 80’s, American and Californian taste Fusion features the brilliant synthesizer lead theme and phrases by Mays.
“Airstream” is a Country taste sentimental also bright song.
“The Search” begins with Pat’s 12 strings guitar arpeggio and Mays’ iconic lyrical lead like flute phrases. Then Mays plays elegant piano improvisation, and Pat’s overdrive electric guitar solo follows. A wonderful and fine middle tempo Fusion song.
“American Garage” is energetic, funny and bright Rock and Country taste Fusion.
The last track, “The Epic” is a 13 minutes length, sophisticated and smooth Fusion song with complex and aggressive arrangement. The combination of the band is perfect. The piano solo by Mays is impressive and super!
On this album the Pat Metheny Group succeed to make and establish their sophisticated and original style and taste, and arrangement has dynamic developments.
Offramp (ECM, 1981)
“Offramp” is the third album and one of the masterpieces of the Pat Metheny Group. Bassist Mark Egan was replaced by Steve Rodby, and Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos took part in.
“Barcarole” is a refreshing and mystic song. It begins with bass drum, snare drum and hi-hat sequences by rhythm machine with percussions by Vasconcelos and silky pad chord play by Lyle Mays. Then guitar synthesizer solo by Pat follows. To the end, plays gradually dynamic.
“Eighteen” is 80’s and Californian taste refreshing and sweet Fusion features the iconic tone like flute and electric piano by Mays.
“Offramp” is and abstract and ethnic taste song like a session. Pat plays guitar synthesizer freely. And percussions tones and plays are unique.
“James” is the representative and the greatest song of the Pat Metheny Group, and it tributes to a Folk and Pop singer and composer, James Taylor. Very refreshing, smooth and sweet Fusion song with impressive theme. Plays of electric guitar by Pat and piano by Mays are perfect, The arrangement and its developments are sophisticated and excellent.
“The Bat Part II” is a calm song like Ambient or New Age music features pad chord and lead by Mays.
On this album, the Pat Metheny Group promoted their characteristics and technique of arrangement, also various composition writings. And Pat and Mays refined their icon tones and plays.
First Circle (ECM, 1984)
“First Circle” is the fourth album of the Pat Metheny Group released in 1984. The drummer replaced Paul Wertico, and multi-instrumentalist Pedro Aznar participated as vocal, percussions and guitar.
“Forward March” is an occur and amusing march song is played by a brass band.
“Yolanda, You Learn” is 80’s high-tempo Fusion song like a session.
The title track, “First Circle” is a gentle and sweet Fusion song has New Age and Ethnic taste. Pat plays acoustic guitar backing. Wertico plays fine and smooth play. The feature of this song is vocal by Pedro Aznar and Mays’ iconic Roland JX-10 lyrical synth lead and pad. And the developments of the song is smooth also dynamic. This is one of the best song and performance of the Pat Metheny Group.
“If I Could” is a slow and calm song features Pat’s acoustic guitar solo.
“Tell It All” is Latin taste Fusion features Pat’s fine and dynamic electric guitar solo and ethnic percussions.
“End of the Game” is mystic and funky taste Fusion associates an urban area and its streets and sceneries. The developments by key changes and Mays’ pad chord play is excellent.
“Más Allá (Beyond)” is a slow vocal ballad song features the vocal of Pedro Aznar.
“Praise” is a bright and positive Fusion song with American Rock rhythm and taste. It features Mays’ lyrical JX-10 lead and Aznar’s humming voice.
Especially “First Circle”, “End of the Game” and “Praise” has the characteristic composition, arrangement, sound and taste of the Pat Metheny Group. A very sophisticated and excellent Fusion album and one of greatest albums of the Pat Metheny Group, is equal to “Offramp”.
Still Life (Talking) (Geffen, 1987)
“Still Life (Talking)” is the fifth album of the Pat Metheny Group. The principal members Pat Metheny and the rhythm section is the same as “First Circle”. Vocalists Mark Ledford and David Blamires, and percussionist Armando Marçal participated.
“Minuano (Six Eight)” is Latin taste smooth and cool Fusion with a fine and complex arrangement.
“So May It Secretly Begin” is also a smooth and cool Fusion features Pat’s impressive solo and Latin percussions.
“Last Train Home” is a high tempo Country also mystic taste unique style song. It begins with fine drum sequences and Pat’s wonderful guitar solo. Then vocal and Mays’ pad solo initiates a whistle of locomotive follow. One of representative and impressive song of the Pat Metheny Group is very sweet, marvellous and sophisticated.
“(It’s Just) Talk” is Latin taste Fusion with a good ensemble and a chemistry of the band.
“Third Wind” is a very high tempo song features Latin percussions. The percussions play is very minute and hard. Pat’s fast-changing solo and Mays’ mystic solo, you can fully sufficiently them. The arrangement and developments of this song is complex and excellent.
“Distance” is a tender also sentimental New Age song like Ambient is consist of almost only Mays’ iconic tone pad(s).
“In Her Family” is a New Age taste calm and gentle song features Mays’ piano play.
The plays, compositions and arrangements on this album became more sophisticated and complex, and the style and characteristics of the Pat Metheny Group completed and was established finally.
Letter from Home (Geffen, 1989)
“Have You Heard” is a refreshing also sentimental fine Fusion,
“Every Summer Night” is a Latin taste sophisticated Fusion song features a bright tone synthesizer lead of Lyle Mays.
“Spring Ain’t Here” is a middle tempo fine, finished and neutral Fusion.
“45/8” is a short occur and amusing New Age taste song features ethnic instruments.
“5-6-7” is a Latin taste unique Fusion features whistle and is impressive theme and phrases. And the arrangement and its developments of this song is excellent and beautiful.
“Best 70” is amusing and bright Latin taste Fusion.
“Dream of the Return” is a slow 90’s and Latin taste Ballad song with humming vocal.
“Are We There Yet” is a typical and fine song of the Pat Metheny Group features Pat’s hard guitar synthesizer play and Mays’ beautiful pad lead and chord plays.
“Vidala” is a mystic and ethnic vocal song emphasises percussions and Mays’ pad chord accompaniment.
“Slip Away” is a great song and one of fruits of the Pat Metheny Group. This song has various elements of the Pat Metheny Group. The Californian and Latin tastes, Pat’s wonderful PM205 guitar play, Mays elegant piano backing, Latin mood humming voice, excellent development in the interlude and good combination synchronization of the band.
“Letter from Home” is a slow and sweet song is consist of acoustic guitar by Pat, elegant piano, pad(s) by Mays and vibraphone by Pedro Azur.
It’s very sophisticated, fine and perfect album and there’s the peak and the completed shape of the Pat Metheny Group. Nothing to say anymore.
We Live Here (Geffen, 1995)
The first, “Here to Stay” is the featured song of this album and the world tour. A middle tempo Fusion song with drum sequences and Latin taste chorus are impressive. Pat’s solo is the excellent one in his recording career.
“The Girl Next Door” is a rare soulful and groovy Fusion track of the Pat Metheny Group, has an Acid Jazz taste.
“To the End of the World” is sentimental and smooth Fusion. The combination of Pat’s guitar solo and Mays’ pad accompaniment is elegant and very good.
“We Live Here” is a high tempo refreshing New Age taste song features bold percussion and drum sequences. Pat plays guitar synthesizer emotionally. Mays plays beautiful pad accompaniment.
“Episode d’Azur” is vigorous also cool Fusion has a Funk taste, with impressive theme and developments and the arrangement which varies complexly.
“Red Sky” is a mid-tempo cool and smooth Fusion song. Pat’s guitar is fine and aggressive, Mays’ pad accompaniment is beautiful and impressive. The later part, Pat plays guitar synthesizer hardly.
“Stranger in Town” is a high tempo Fusion song features Pat’s impressive and aggressive theme and solos are technical and versatile like Wes Montgomery. And the interlude is very nice thing of this song. The key changes and Mays’ iconic JX-10 lead and pad is very beautiful. This song is good for a live performance, became one of principal repertory of the group and Pat Metheny solo concerts since the release.
The album “We Live Here” has no American and Californian tastes, and has elements of Jazz Funk and Acid Jazz. This album might be a reaction to Acid Jazz and M-Base scenes and the 90’s music scene. The master piece of the Pat Metheny Group in the 90’s.
Resources and Links
Music Review
Pat Metheny Solo and Collaboration Works
Music Review
Lyle Mays Solo Works
