SPEAKING OF NOW LIVE

Concentrating on the then-new album Speaking of Now (2002), this concert featuring also the same six-piece line- up can be evaluated more or less the same way as the mellow album. I'd like to cite Conor Fynes' album review: "While the compositions rarely have any significant or memorable parts to them, it is surprising how complex some of the arrangements can get in the music, considering how inherently mellow and laid-back the music is here. The spotlight here is always on the musicianship though, and regardless of a few more intricate moments to the songwriting, it is hard to praise the composition when it is neither dynamic, energetic, experimental or memorable." I pretty much agree with these words, regarding this DVD. Being two hours and 15 minutes long, it of course contains other pieces too, but still the whole feels a bit too mellow, almost narcotic at places, for a concert experience.

Filmed at Tokyo's NHK Hall in September 2002, visually this DVD is done very skilfully. The elegant editing from multiple cameras is carefully balanced between close-ups of individual musicians and the broader angles, capturing the act of playing very sincerely. The hall and the all-seated audience have a somewhat stiff and serious aura to them, like in a classical music concert. The connection between the musicians and the audience is nowhere near the energy typically felt at rock concerts. Well, this isn't rock.

The show begins with Metheny's solo guitar piece 'Last Train Home' from the 1987 album Still Life (Talking), and on 'Go Get It' he's joined by the drummer. Perhaps the technical and relatively unemotional orientation of this track doesn't have the best possible moment so early in the concert. 'As It Is' involves the whole group and starts the run of the Speaking of Now album which continues for the majority of the show -- although not in the exactly same running order, and missing one track. Several pieces feature the wordless (?), humming-like vocals of Richard Bona (who also plays percussion, guitar and bass) that add to the esoteric calmness of the music. Ok, I admit being slightly unlogical for blaming the dominant mellowness while I'm not enthusiastic of the rougher moods of 'Scrap Metal'. I do tend to prefer mellowness in music, so how come it starts becoming a weakness here? Maybe it's just the lack of strong dynamics and energy on several compositions, like Conor said, and the lack of memorable melodies.

The music of Speaking of Now may not offer the long-time collaborator Lyle Mays on keyboards his finest contribution; sometimes his piano chords are sort of buried. Metheny's guitar work is the real star of course. I don't recall the name of the piece in which he plays a custom-made instrument with multiple sets of strings, including a kantele imitation, but that was a nice moment anyway. Despite my negative notions, all in all this is a very fine DVD, both in general and as a Metheny release, only slightly less recommended if you're seeking more dynamic fusion. 3½ stars rounded up for a generous running time and high technical quality.

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