Profile
Pat Metheny (1954 – ) is American Jazz Fusion guitarist. The characteristics of his guitar play is orthodox also has no blue and smoky tone of Jazz, and the tone is soft and beautiful because he uses almost only front pickup of hollow body Jazz electric guitar. In the early era he played Gibson ES-175, from the mid-80’s he plays his signature model, Ibanez PM250. Also his composition has no blue and smoky taste of Jazz, and is wonderful and mystic, which associates the forests, streets, towns and scenes in Southern and Central US.
Also another characteristics is, contrary to the Pat Metheny Group, his solo works are not typical American taste Fusion. Each solo work of Pat has their own concepts, proper production systems, members, compositions and arrangements. So each of his solo works have various tastes, moods and musical structures, also the wonderful and mystic mood of Pat’s music.
Bright Size Life (ECM, 1976)
“Bright Size Life” is the debut album of Pat Metheny. This album is Jazz guitar trio album of the fantastic trio is consist of Pat, Jaco Pastorius (electric bass) and Bob Moses (drums).
The first and the title track “Bright Size Life” is a high tempo bright, refreshing and aggressive song with the excellent combination of the trio.
“Sirabhorn” is a wonderful and mystic composition which associates woods and nature of the Southern of US and its rural scenes.
“Unity Village” is a sorrowful and nostalgic song associates the scenes of Southern and Central US small towns.
“Missouri Uncompromised” is a high tempo and harder song with a neutral, vague and ordinary mood. Pat plays various solos, Moses plays hard and Jaco plays swingy and freely.
“Midwestern Nights Dream” is a sorrowful and melancholic beautiful composition with impressive guitar riffs and melodies, remember journeys and far places.
“Omaha Celebration” is a country taste bright and charming song.
This album is undoubtedly Jazz album but there is no tone or echo of typical jazz. There’s the iconic mood and echo of Pat Metheny associates woods, forest, towns and natural landscape in Southern and Central US. The excellent jazz album has no Blues, smoky and urban mood of Jazz, so it’s called the “Music of Forest”.
Watercolors (ECM, 1977)
“Watercolors” is the second album of Pat Metheny.
The title and first track, “Watarcolors” is a wonderful and bright fusion song of guitar and a piano trio, follows the first album.
“Ice Fire” is a track of sorrowful guitar solo by Pat.
“Oasis” is a song of Spanish or Latin and melancholic mood with acoustic guitar arpeggio and synthesizer pad chord backing.
“Lakes” is a bright and refreshing fusion song of the lat 1970’s, like “James” by the Pat Metheny Group.
“River Quay” is a gentle and sweet Country and Folk taste Fusion song by guitar plus piano trio.
“Sea Song” is a transparent and relaxing Wong with guitar, piano trio and synthesizer lead and chord backing.
Continued to the first album, this album has the iconic style and taste of Pat as Jazz has no smoky and bluesy mood, the “Music of Forest”. But there are more various styles in composition and formations.
New Chautauqua (ECM, 1978)
“New Chautauqua” is the first “solo” album of Pat Metheny (as not the leader of a combo). This album is consist of dubbings of electric 6 and 12 string guitars, acoustic guitar, 15 string harp guitar and electric bass are played by Pat only.
“New Chautauqua” is a bright and refreshing Country taste Fusion song with electric guitar solo and acoustic guitar chord backing.
“Country Poem” is a Country taste unique song. It’s cosiest of some acoustic guitars dubbing as lead guitar, arpeggio guitar and chord backing guitar.
“Hermitage” is an ennui mood song with acoustic guitars arpeggios and bass. And it features Pat’s fluent and wonderful iconic guitar solo.
“Sueño con Mexico” is Latin taste refreshing and sentimental Fusion. It begins with acoustic guitar arpeggio, and electric guitar solo follows. Another acoustic guitar plays harmonics. Another guitar plays another arpeggio and bass guitar follow, so the sound become bold. Then Pat plays beautiful and gentle acoustic guitar solo.
The last track “Daybreak” is melancholic also bright song. It’s consist of Pat’s wonderful electric guitar solo and tone with 2 or 3 acoustic guitar backing.
A unique style Fusion album features Country and Latin tastes is made by electric and acoustic guitars, and electric bass dubbing only. There’s no drums and percussion but no the sense of incongruity. Because chord backing guitars and bass guitar take keeping rhythm and basis of the sound.
80/81 (ECM, 1980)
“80/81” is a double album by Pat Metheny released in 1980 from ECM. And the songs of this album is the repertory for the European tour of 1981. The trio is consist of Pat, Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette. Some songs features saxophonists, Dewey Redman and Michael Brecker.
“Two Folk Songs” is a 20 minute length two song suit. The former part is a refreshing Fusion taste acoustic song features solo of Micheal Brecker, and Pat only plays chord backing. Later part is a slow song composed by Charlie Haden and features Haden’s bass solo, in the end Pat follows by acoustic guitar solo.
“80/81” is middle-tempo bright Fusion with the impressive theme. The later part tenor saxophone by Michael Brecker takes part in and plays solo.
“Turn Around” is a Jazz song features Pat’s wonderful guitar solo.
“Open” is a 14 minute length high-tempo Jazz song like a jam session.
“Everyday” is a slow Fusion Ballad. But in the later par, tempo becomes higher and performance of the band becomes dynamic.
The last song “Goin’ Ahead” is Folk and Country taste slow sentimental song. It consist of dubbing of Pat’s acoustic guitars.
A good album is made by acoustic instruments.
As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls (Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays, ECM, 1981)
“As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls” is a duet album with keyboard player and pianist Lyle Mays, a principal member of the Pat Metheny Group.
The first and title track “As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls” is 20 minutes long and has the New Age taste and a vague mood. This song might be a collage of some parts, made by digital tape recorder or Synclavier. And this song features mystic and wonderful Mays’ fantastic synthesizer lead and silky pads, and rhythm machine percussion sequences.
“Ozark” is a bright and refreshing high-tempo contemporary also Folk taste song. Metheny plays acoustic guitar, Mays plays piano with programmed percussion samples.
“September Fifteenth” is a slow relaxing and sentimental song. Pat plays electric and acoustic guitars, Mays plays piano and synthesizer pad.
“It’s For You” is 80’s New Age taste Fusion with Mays’ beautiful lead and its phrases and Pat solely plays 12 strings acoustic guitar arpeggio and chord backings.
“Estupenda Graça” is a Traditional and Latin taste slow and gentle song with vocal and voices.
This album is not typical Fusion album different to the Pat Metheny Group. It’s unique New Age Folk taste Fusion combines acoustic instruments, electronic instruments and digital recording technology.
Question and Answer (Geffen, 1990)
“Question and Answer” is an acoustic guitar trio album by Pat Metheny, and deals with some track of Jazz compositions by others. The trio is consist of bassist Dave Holland, legendary drummer Roy Haynes and Pat.
The first track, “Solar” is a composition by Miles Davis. A New Main Stream style very improvisational song with a dynamic and synchronized play of the trio.
The title track “Question and Answer” is Pat’s lyrical composition. Pat’s solo is wonderful and fine and Hayden’s polyrhythm play is dynamic and changing-freely.
“Never Too Far Away” is Pat’s iconic style Folk and New Age taste sentimental song like “Unity Village”.
“Change of Heart” is a bright and wonderful iconic composition of Pat.
The last track, “Three Flights Up” is a high-tempo song like a jam session with Synclavier pad chord accompaniments are played by Pat.
The half of this album is consist of Pat’s unique style music, and the rest is orthodox Hard-bop or New Main Stream Jazz songs.
I Can See Your House from Here (John Scofield & Pat Metheny, Blue Note, 1994)
“I Can See Your House from Here” is a unique style album features two guitarists Pat Metheny and John Scofield. Other members of the band are electric bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart. Pat’s play is panned to the right channel and Scofield’s play is panned to the left channel.
“I Can See Your House from Here” and “Red One” are songs feature two overdrive guitars, like a jam session.
“No Matter What” is a Be-Bop style , slow two clean electric guitar improvisational song.
“Everybody’s Party” is a Hard-bop style two overdrive guitars session song.
“Message to My Friend” is Pat’s wonderful and sentimental mood slow Folk taste song. Both of them play acoustic guitars.
“Say the Brother’s Name” is Pat’s iconic Folk and Country taste beautiful song, both play acoustic guitars and clean electric guitars, one plays lead other plays backing, they utilized each other.
“Quiet Rising” is a slow quiet Fusion composition by Pat. Electric guitars plays are excellent and sweet.
“One Way to Be” is a dynamic Hard-bop style song. Call and response between Pat and Scofield is very exciting.
“You Speak My Language” is a mid-tempo humorous Be-bop style song with so freely improvisations of two electric guitars.
This album is a good combination of two today’s excellent Jazz Fusion guitarists. Half of songs are Be-bop or Hard-bop style jam session. Rest of songs are iconic Folk and/or Country taste wonderful and mystic compositions by Pat.
One Quiet Night (Warner Brothers, 2003)
“One Quiet Night” is the album features a special project of baritone guitar solo.
The first track, “One Quiet Night” is Pat’s iconic “Music of Forest” composition, also the guitar play has Pat’s perticular iconic wonderful mood.
“Song for the Boys” is high-tempo refreshing and cool song with dynamic guitar chord backing and arpeggio include melodies and phrases. The best song of this album.
“Another Chance” is middle-tempo neutral and apathetic song.
“Time Goes On” is a wonderful, sentimental fine song.
“Over on 4th Street” is a Folk taste bright and dynamic song. The chord backing play with Melodie is excellent and skilful. The second best song of this album.
“North to South, East to West” is mid-tempo fine sentimental and mystic song. Pat’s play is like a trio by one person.
“Last Train Home” is an arpeggio based mid-high-tempo song with various moods.
“In All We See” is the song of Pat’s typical mystic and sentimental taste. He plays bass part, arpeggio and melody only by him. It’s skilful and musically good.
I recommend this album who like New Age and Post-classical piano solo music, and Classical guitar music, also acoustic guitar players.
Metheny Mehldau (Nonesuch, 2006)
“Metheny Mehldau” is a duet album of Pat Metheny and pianist Brad Mehldau. Drums and electric base taka part in some songs.
“Unrequited” is mid-tempo vague improvisational song like a session. Pat’s guitar and Mehldau’s piano are equal and highly synced. And it can’t be divided solo and backing.
“Ahmid-6” is a refreshing high-middle tempo song of Pat’s Fusion taste.
“Ring of Life”, drums and electric bass take part in, and Fusion taste hight tempo dynamic song with excellent improvisations. Later part, Pat plays guitar synthesizer hardly.
“Legend” is a melancholic also wonderful song.
“Find Me in Your Dreams” is Mehldau’s taste sorrowful and romantic also contemporary Ballad song.
“Say the Brother’s Name”, also drums and bass take part in. A bit Latin taste song with a sophisticated arrangement, and great performances and the combination of the band.
“Annie’s Bittersweet Cake” is a mystic and wonderful song. Mehldau plays fine chord backing. And Pat plays his unique style bright and refreshing guitar solo.
“Make Peace” is a Folk taste refreshing and apathetic mood gentle song owns a feeling of sentiment. Pat plays acoustic guitar.
A good album of the duet of representative unique Jazz artists in the present day, their music is wonderful, bright and refreshing, and is not typical smoky Jazz.
Day Trip (Nonesuch, 2008)
“Day Trip” is the album of the guitar trio of Pat Metheny with bassist (double bass) Christian McBride and drummer Antonio Sanchez. Also Pat plays his iconic tone Fernandez signature hollow body electric guitar, guitar synthesizer and acoustic guitar.
“Son of Thirteen” is Pat’s symbolic wonderful mood refreshing high tempo song with dynamic combination and the play of the trio.
“At Last You’re Here” is a usual middle tempo song of Pat.
“Let’s Move” is a Hard-Bop taste high-tempo song. Pat’s fine guitar play is excellent and like Wes Montgomery.
“Snova” is a Latin taste mid-tempo song.
“Is This America? (Katrina 2005)” is slow gentle and nostalgic song features acoustic guitar.
“Whatnot” is Bebop style and taste more improvisational and free form guitar tiro song.
“When We Were Free” is a rare blue and smoky Jazz song as Pat. But, later part, Pat plays guitar synthesizer.
“Dreaming Trees” is a gentle and sentimental song with acoustic guitar.
“Day Trip” is an agressive and dynamic Hard-bop taste song which associate “S. O. S.” by Wes Montgomery.
A nice album of Pat Metheny has a Jazz and Hard-bop Tate than usual.
Orchestrion (Nonesuch, 2010)
“Orchestrion” is a solo album of Pat Metheny solo album released in 2010, features orchestrionics. The orchestrionics set includes pianos, marimba, vibraphone, electric basses, GuitarBots, drums and percussions.
The first and the title track “Orchestrion” is a 16 minute length and high-tempo, stimulative and refleshing song, with a very complex arrangement and a perfect syncing of instruments. Especially fine marimba and vibraphone backing are impressive, and Pat’s guitar solo crosses them. The composition has the iconic wonderful mood of Pat, and has elements of Minimal Music ensemble of Steve Reich and Philip Glass and New Age orchestral works.
“Entry Point” is a slow bit melancholic song with lyrical guitar solo of Pat.
“Expansion” is a mystic, wonderful and ethnic also neutral mood mid-tempo song.
“Soul Search” is a very slow solitary mood song with a delicate arrangement, Pat’s guitar wonderfully syncs and rides on the accompaniment, and make good use of it.
“Spirit of the Air” is a Latin taste song has excellent musical developments like the Pat Metheny Group.
A very good and unique project and album, and Pat created music can be made only by this method and his guitar play. It’s the original, complex and profound also wonderful and lyrical music has elements of (or is similar to) Minimal Music ensemble works of Reich and Glass, New Age orchestral works, Orchestral Fusion and Easy Listening. And one of the greatest music production project, but there are artificial, unnatural and unbalanced touches.
Resources and Links
Pat Metheny – Modern Recordings
Music Review
Works of Pat Metheny Group
Music Review
Lyle Mays Solo Works
