RARUM: SELECTED RECORDINGS

ECM Records' "Rarum: Selected Recordings" series has been excellent, especially in revealing the back catalogue of many of its major artists. This particular release of Pat Metheny's recordings made from the mid 70's to mid 80's, is one of the best. A sampler for those who wish to discover Metheny developing into both a major mainstream jazz and in deed, jazz fusion artist, the music here crossing many boundaries, and in particular will bemuse those who claim Metheny is a "pure jazz musician". Metheny sells albums by the shedload, and has sellout concerts in the biggest of the worlds music venues, and this record helps to explain why. A sampler which can't be faulted and could readily be given to anybody wanting to find out what Metheny's music is about, while having a most pleasurable 60+ minutes of listening experience.

Rightly the UK-based, Jazzwise magazine awarded this record one of its extremely rare "5 stars- Essential" ratings, when reviewing it in 2004. In part this is down to Pat Metheny doing a thoughtful and sensitive job selecting tunes from his extensive and varied range of recordings. To many this was the most fruitful period of Metheny's career, when the guitarist was maturing and working with a varied range of influences and fellow musicians. And in part it is down to the great tunes selected - many of which I would have chosen, if given that privilege - which put Metheny into the major league of jazz and jazz rock guitarists! MUsic here which ranges from jazz rock fusion to experimental jazz to straight jazz.

We used to eagerly wait for every new Metheny release on ECM, and this Rarum release clearly illustrates why. Buy this n preference to the two earlier ECM 'Works' recordings