Pat Metheny

[JaceTheAce]

Anyone else like Pat Metheny? Whenever I test new speakers I always bring along the "Still Life Talking" CD by Pat Metheny. Good speaker testing music.

 

[jaxvon]

I'm a big fan, though I haven't purchased any of his albums (what?). I just borrow albums from my dad. Also, I recently saw Metheny live with Christian McBride...omg...words fail me.

 

[gene]

IMO Pat Metheny is the greatest jazz guitarist of our time. He sets a mood like no other, doesn't care about being trendy, and has a unique sound and playing style.

I reviewed a live performance I attended (my 4th time seeing him live). Awesome!

Pat Metheny - The Way Up Concert

Pat Metheny / John Scofield - I can see your house from here

 

[jeffsg4mac]

I have been a fan of Pat's ever since a friend played me the soundtrack from the falcon and the snowman. Hooked ever since. I have seen him live 4 times and have most of his CD's. Whatever you do, DO NOT EVER BUY SONG X. It is horrible

 

[Stanton]

You're right about "Song X": its terrible. You could tell at an early age he had a lot to say; I used to attend his free concerts (where we both grew up) in Kansas City. While I think he's one of the greatest guitar soloists of our time, I prefer his older (mostly 80's) music to the later stuff; it's not unusual for (great) musicians to sort of get bored with what they're doing and go "outside" a bit. At any rate, his live concert(s) (with Lyle Mays, etc.) are some of the most amazing I've ever attended; nearly everyone he plays with is a musical virtuoso.

 

[gene]

Whatever you do, DO NOT EVER BUY SONG X. It is horrible

I haven't heard Song X, but nothing could be worse than "Zero Tolerance for Silence". Either he was on crack when he made that album or he was pissed at the record label for pressuring him to crank out another album.

I agree his 80's stuff rules, such as Wichita Falls (or was that the 70s?), Still Life Talking, Letter from Home. I also love the first 2 songs from Off Ramp.


Not to mention you gotta respect his opinion of Kenny G

 

[JaceTheAce]

I agree about the comment regarding the new Pat Metheny albums being out of anything near great as his older 80's albums.

I used to like Spyro Gyra in the 80's but then in the 90's and especially now, Jay Beckenstein (the saxophonist in the group) began to sound more and more like Kenny G! I've since stopped buying their albums. I think their Morning Dance album was the best, except the analog recording quality was horrible for even that time of decade.

 

[Stanton]

I beg to differ on the most recent Spyro Gyra CD's, especially the last one (Deep End). I'll probably eventually review that one or their new one coming out next month (if it's any good). They've had a few clunker's, but their track record is (by far) above average.
BTW, the guitar player I still like the most (and have an older review coming out on) is Mike Stern. In fact, I like his last one so much I might review that one eventually as well.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

Not to mention you gotta respect his opinion of Kenny G

OMG Gene, that is awesome. I never read that before. I love it.

 

[bruceh]

The Way Up

"The Way Up" was my choice for album of the year, in any category of music. Tremendous playing and songwriting with energy to burn. Love it.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

Certain artists, no matter how good at their craft they may be, just don't do anything for me. Pat Metheny is one of those.

 

[gene]

Certain artists, no matter how good at their craft they may be, just don't do anything for me. Pat Metheny is one of those.

Well you know what they say about opinions.....

 

[sivadselim]

SongX is great, but it's REAL jazz. The recent 20th anniversary edition is worth having if you don't already have it.

BTW, Letter from Home, Still Life Talking, and Road to You are about to be re-released very shortly as 24bit remasters. They are available now as pre-orders at Amazon. I believe these are the first of several remasters he'll be releasing.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

Well you know what they say about opinions.....

No. I don't.

But I don't think I said anything negative and in fact, thought I was complimenting him.

I could have just said, "Metheny blows, man." But I wanted to keep it civil.

He just happens to be in that category of musician who are very talented, but just -- for whatever reason -- bore me. In that he joins a very select list of artists such as Spyra Gyra, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, the Eagles, to name just a few.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

SongX is great, but it's REAL jazz.

Are you kidding me, joking right? That is NOT REAL JAZZ. Dave Brubeck is Real Jazz, not that junk on SongX. SongX is random notes that sound like doodoo.

 

[sivadselim]

Are you kidding me, joking right? That is NOT REAL JAZZ. Dave Brubeck is Real Jazz, not that junk on SongX. SongX is random notes that sound like doodoo.

LOL. Oh, ok. Who are Ornette Coleman, Jack Dejohnette, and Charlie Haden anyway?

If Brubeck is your prime example of real jazz, you need to explore a little bit more. I'd start with Miles, Coltrane, and Monk.

SongX is the most REAL piece of jazz Metheny's produced. And I'm a huge Metheny fan. HUGE.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

LOL. Oh, ok. Who are Ornette Coleman, Jack Dejohnette, and Charlie Haden anyway?

If Brubeck is your prime example of real jazz, you need to explore a little bit more. I'd start with Miles, Coltrane, and Monk.

SongX is the most REAL piece of jazz Metheny's produced. And I'm a huge Metheny fan. HUGE.

I don't deny the talent of any of those people, however Coleman was on songX and he does a lot that JUNK. Fortunatly, Pat does not do that junk very often. Random sounding notes is not real jazz. It is an offshoot called free form jazz or free jazz. Nothing real or unreal about it, it just stinks. If you like then listen to it all you want, but don't call it real and anything else is not real, that is just not accurate.

 

[ScottMayo]

....3

OK, we have the Metheny fans here. So...

The "numbers" in "As Falls Witicha". You know the ones I mean if you have the album. What do they mean?

I think I know, but in Googling around the net I haven't seen anyone else come up with it, so I have no idea if I'm right. I just wonder what other people think.

Anyway, I like his style. It took me a week of listening before "The Way Up" started to make any sense to me. Getting to that point got me thinking about music in entirely new ways.

 

[20to20K]

Metheny Numbers...

If you sync up the number in "Wichitas..." they coincide with the
seconds of a clock. It goes from like: "34...(7 seconds pass)...41...
(11 seconds pass)...52....(12 seconds pass)...4......and so on...:

Now what I've always wondered is what was the point of that?
Never found out. I do know that album somehow is supposed to
chronicle the events surrounding a huge tornado that struck
Kansas in the 1930. Maybe googling that will provide some insight...

OK, we have the Metheny fans here. So...

The "numbers" in "As Falls Witicha". You know the ones I mean if you have the album. What do they mean?

I think I know, but in Googling around the net I haven't seen anyone else come up with it, so I have no idea if I'm right. I just wonder what other people think.

Anyway, I like his style. It took me a week of listening before "The Way Up" started to make any sense to me. Getting to that point got me thinking about music in entirely new ways.

 

[ScottMayo]

If you sync up the number in "Wichitas..." they coincide with the seconds of a clock. It goes from like: "34...(7 seconds pass)...41...
(11 seconds pass)...52....(12 seconds pass)...4......and so on...:

Yup. Number of seconds from the fade-in of the keyboards in that section, as far as I can make out. No idea WHY, though. Just one of those things I wish would get explained...