Pat Metheny

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I have never been a big fan of the guitar, with the exception of Joe Pass in the jazz realm, and various flamenco artists. However, I've heard some really interesting things from Pat Metheny lately, including this album, in which he plays multiple instruments and some very interesting pieces of American composer John Zorn:



Confusingly, there is also this version available on Amazon, and I can't figure out what the difference is--the track listings/order are the same:



I also heard this one a while back, and recognized the Charlie Haden bass very quickly. Another one on my wish list.



For Pat Metheny fans, what are your favorites/must-haves? What are your thoughts on this guitarist?

[James]

I've dicked around with guitars & playing them for most of my life (wish I knew better) .. so naturally I've pretty much checked all of them out (the 'important' ones) .. grew to prefer listening to horn & piano players instead over time .. meatier more advanced vocabulary.

Metheny is a great guitar player with a pretty robust vocabulary .. not the biggest fan of his 'tone' or his music always. I've actually overgrown interest awhile back but certainly appreciate him. I became aware of him in the late 70s and was quite blown away by a concert I attended in the early 80s. The entire band was 'in the zone' so to speak, and the compositions were pretty good, ditto the playing from all. He's at his absolute best within trio formats, so check out those. The PMG music is very, very uneven and blah .. ditto most of his all-star collaborations..

[Mirror Image]

I find Metheny 'okay' in trio settings and outstanding in larger groups like his own Pat Metheny Group or where there's a quartet, quintet, etc. I'll give him props for Bright Size Life, though, that was an amazing recording. I find his work with the Group to be better than uneven and consider his work with them (esp. Lyle Mays) to be his best work. My favorite Metheny recording is Offramp, which I had heard 20 years ago and has remained an absolute favorite of mine even to this day. Hugely influential for me.

[Todd]

I've listened to relatively little Metheny, but I will say that Beyond the Missouri Sky is one of the top 5 or 10 most frequently listened to albums in my lifetime.  It's outstanding first note to last, and even my wife and one of my sisters-in-law love it.  There's an immediate sense of comfort and familiarity with it, at least for me.  Both Metheny and Haden do stellar work.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

If you like Beyond the Missouri Sky, you should check out Charlie Haden with Gonzalo Rubalcaba in Tokyo Adagio--Same sort of low key, incredibly sophisticated, refined playing. It is one of those albums that works great either as dinner music (red wine mandatory) or as serious listening.

For me, they reach the level of Joe Pass and Niels Hening Orsted Pedersen in Northsea Nights--one of the most astounding, virtuosic, and refined recordings (of anything) I have ever heard.



http://www.impulse-label.com/catalogue/charlie-haden-gonzalo-rubalcaba-tokyo-adagio/

[James]

I find Metheny 'okay' in trio settings and outstanding ..

There is more for him to do in a trio setting as a player (carry the melody, chordal playing, comping, harmony, soloing) and the level of group interplay between 3 people is much higher and more demanding, more intimate/simpatico too.

[Mirror Image]

There is more for him to do in a trio setting as a player (carry the melody, chordal playing, comping, harmony, soloing) and the level of group interplay between 3 people is much higher and more demanding, more intimate/simpatico too.

I know how hard it is to be in a trio (I've played in one), but my preference for Metheny is in a larger group setting (quartet, quintet, sextet, septet, etc.). Like I said, I think his work with Pat Metheny Group is his best work despite whatever kind of rebuttal you offer (as you've done above).

[James]

I know how hard it is to be in a trio (I've played in one), but my preference for Metheny is in a larger group setting (quartet, quintet, sextet, septet, etc.). Like I said, I think his work with Pat Metheny Group is his best work despite whatever kind of rebuttal you offer (as you've done above).

Sure, and that group of very collaborative, other core members have just as much as say as Pat does, more voices. If you want more Pat, the essence of Pat, the best representation of him as a jazz musician and player-improviser and what he's fully capable-of .. you really can't top the trio stuff.

[Pap]

I've listened to relatively little Metheny, but I will say that Beyond the Missouri Sky is one of the top 5 or 10 most frequently listened to albums in my lifetime.  It's outstanding first note to last, and even my wife and one of my sisters-in-law love it.  There's an immediate sense of comfort and familiarity with it, at least for me.  Both Metheny and Haden do stellar work.

+1
Another favorite of mine is his solo album;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BntNRMiI4PQ

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

DAMN, I LOVE those ECM covers--my style of photography is somewhat similar (At least for some subjects)

[7/4]

Beyond the Missouri Sky, love that album and a bunch of others. Bright Size Life is one. 80/81, another.

[HIPster]

Metheny is hit or miss for me. 

This one hits it way out of the park ~

[asin]B001ECE6BW[/asin]

Listening to this now: superb!