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Pat Metheny Appreciation Thread
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BrufordFreak View Drop Down
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    Posted: October 24 2023 at 10:36
Over the past ten years I've seen a slight increase in the awareness and appreciation of the talents and gifts guitarist/composer Pat Metheny has bestowed upon us. I am still surprised at how many PA comments I read relegating him to a "Soft/Smooth Jazz" or even "New Age" category. Then I was surprised to see that no one on PA has ever started a Pat Metheny appreciation thread. So, here it is. The world (and especially the prog community) needs to hear the astounding skills, diversity, of the music that Pat & his collaborators have blessed us with over his 45-year career. From early bands with Gary Burton, Jaco Pastorius, Joni Mitchell, and Jaco Pastorius, to collaborations with the likes of Nana Vasconcelos, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden, Cuong Vu, John Scofield, Jim Hall, Billy Higgins, Roy Haynes, Christian McBride, Brad Mehldau, Ralph Towner, Dave Brubeck, B.B. King, Steve Swallow, Dave Holland, Eberhard Weber, Jack DeJohnnette, Michael Brecker, Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea, and of course, Steve Reich, to multiple solo projects and several "Group" lineups with the likes of Danny Gottleib and Mark Egan, Steve Rodby, Paul Wertico, and Pedro Aznar, and Mark Ledford, Paul Blemires, Don Alias, Glen Velez, Dave Samuels, and Mino Cinčlu, and, after Paul Wertico retired, Antonio Sanchez, as well as life-long friend and collaborator, the late, great Lyle Mays.  

If you're totally new to Pat and you want to get to know his "proggy" side, I'd start with As Fall Wichita, So Fall Wichita Falls and any of his 1980s "Group" releases, then New Chautauqua (solo), Beyond the Missouri Skies (with Charlie Haden), Secret Story, (solo--with a few select collaborators and amazing orchestrations courtesy of Jeremy Lubbock and The London Orchestra), Imaginary Day, and the ultimate peak of his Group skills with 2005's The Way Up.

A marathon runner who has toured an average of 230 days a year for over 35 years, Pat has never tried alcohol or drugs of any kind, resulting in a focus and stamina in his concert performances that is Herculean--to this day!

Check out his 2021 YouTube video interview with Rick Beato: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEgalcH_-b4&t=4378s&ab_channel=RickBeato


Or, if you want to see him performing, try these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tm3xgvcB_0&ab_channel=jccochlar


or his series of videos introducing and playing his Orchestrion "room":


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsYEOUKS4Yk&ab_channel=NonesuchRecords

Feel free to comment or add videos that you appreciate.



Edited by BrufordFreak - October 24 2023 at 10:38
Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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Big Sky View Drop Down
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Points: 526 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Sky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2023 at 12:20
Saw Pat Metheny a couple of times in the mid 80s at Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte, NC when I attended UNC Charlotte. Obviously a great talent and enjoyed those concerts. I was aware of who Metheny was around 1985. My listening had expanded from Prog, which I started to listen to heavily beginning in 1982 and had expanded to the Fusion realm around 84/85, where the Mahavisnu Orchestra, Al Dimeola, RTF and Dixie Dregs albums had found their way on the turntable.

However, despite being aware of Metheny, it was not until the movie Fandango, a 1985 release starring Kevin Costner and Judd Nelson, when I first heard his music. During the dance scene with Costner and Suzy Amis following the wedding, Metheny's "It's For You" was played during that scene and I immediately loved that tune. Next day took the movie back to the local rental store and headed out to Peaches Record Store and picked up As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls. I later picked up First Circle, Offramp, Travels and Bright Size Life.

Most my listening of Metheny came in the 80s. Occasionally I will put his music on, but it's typically his 70s to mid 80s music. Friend of mine who went to the first Metheny concert with me in 1986(?) became a huge Metheny fan. I remember the following day after class we went to the record store where he bought a couple of Metheny albums. Over the next couple of months he picked up several more Metheny albums.

Metheny is one of the great Jazz and Jazz Fusion guitarist of all time. Influential and popular, he's one of the few jazz artists who have had a number of gold certified albums.

Edited by Big Sky - October 24 2023 at 12:23
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Boojieboy View Drop Down
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Points: 649 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Boojieboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2023 at 13:05
I only have a few albums by him, though they are all good: Imaginary Day, Still Life (Talking), Speaking of Now. Maybe they're considered Pat Metheny Group, per se.

Highly creative stuff. I definitely need to do more exploring of his vast catalog.
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Grumpyprogfan View Drop Down
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Points: 11538 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2023 at 13:47
Been listening to Pat since 1979. I prefer the "Group" material because of Lyle Mays. The writing collaboration of Pat and Lyle is magical, and has created some of the greatest music ever. And Pat is one of my favorite guitarists. He gets better with age.

Edited by Grumpyprogfan - October 24 2023 at 13:48
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Cosmiclawnmower View Drop Down
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Points: 3627 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cosmiclawnmower Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2023 at 14:09
Originally posted by Grumpyprogfan Grumpyprogfan wrote:

The writing collaboration of Pat and Lyle is magical, and has created some of the greatest music ever. And Pat is one of my favorite guitarists. He gets better with age.

Absolutely agree; the music is beyond categorisation and is, in my opinion, pure emotion and mercurial energy. Ive had friends say 'ugh.. Lift music!' but i just dont hear it.. one of my all time favourite musicians and some of my all time favourite musicClap.

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BrufordFreak View Drop Down
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Points: 8185 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2023 at 16:34
Love all the comments--the fact that there are Metheny die-hards here. 

You guys really have to see the Orchestrion "room" and that Rick Beato interview. Mesmerizing!
Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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progbethyname View Drop Down
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Points: 7849 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote progbethyname Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2023 at 17:03
Wow. Since there is some Metheny love on here hopefully will get a Strunz & Farrah appreciation thread that goes for pages. 😌
Gimmie my headphones now!!! 🎧🤣
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BrufordFreak View Drop Down
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Points: 8185 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BrufordFreak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2023 at 21:57
I don't get you, Nicholas. What do you mean?
Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/
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