Pat Metheny recommendations

Pat is one of my faves and I have all his output. I can recommend lots but it would be helpful for me to help you if you could say what it was you heard and liked - solo, Pat Metheny Group, Trio, Other? Which album?

quote:

Originally posted by ccr:
. . . Pat Metheny . . . he seems to have been pretty prolific. I would be grateful for any suggestions as to his best and where to start.
Thanks

Definitely a prolific artist,, Metheny. He does have a large catalog so I'll list only a few of my favorites . . . each being from a different period, and/or line up.

Offramp, I believe this to be one of the PM "Group's" earliest offering's. Listening to this gives you a good idea of the "Group" sound, and IMHO one of the more accessible/enjoyable offerings.

Trio 99 - 00 Covers more traditional/post bop tunes in a trio format. Amazing musicians and performances. (There's also a trio live which is excellent)

beyond the Missouri Sky is a duo with Charlie Haden. This is one of my all time favorite albums of any genre - period! So beautiful. Highly recommended.

The Way Up One of the latter "Group" offerings. Still not sure about this one, and would be interested to know what others here think. Mention it because it's interesting to hear how the group sound had evolved from his earlier work.

Max

quote:

Originally posted by Max Bass:

The Way Up One of the latter "Group" offerings. Still not sure about this one, and would be interested to know what others here think. Mention it because it's interesting to hear how the group sound had evolved from his earlier work.

Max

I like it but it misses the melody and soaring vocals of other PMG releases. Not an easy listen but an impressive addition to the Group output.

once i seen his playing on Mezzo channel with afro-woman (singing). He play on guitar like band. Bass, guitar and drum.. From what album is that?

quote:

Originally posted by Vadim Kondakov:
once i seen his playing on Mezzo channel with afro-woman (singing). He play on guitar like band. Bass, guitar and drum.. From what album is that?

He did an album with the Israeli singer, Noa - is that who you are asking?

20 years ago I was quite taken with off ramp and As Falls Witchita..... it has a rather dreamy quality.

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:

quote:

Originally posted by Vadim Kondakov:
once i seen his playing on Mezzo channel with afro-woman (singing). He play on guitar like band. Bass, guitar and drum.. From what album is that?

He did an album with the Israeli singer, Noa - is that who you are asking?

no ):

'Travels' is a good introduction to his ECM years with the Group. I second 'Off Ramp' and am a huge fan of 'As Falls Witchita...' One of my other favourites is 'Beyond The Missouri Sky' with Charlie Haden.
atb
james

quote:

Originally posted by mudwolf:
20 years ago I was quite taken with off ramp and As Falls Witchita..... it has a rather dreamy quality.

Muddy/Howlin ????. . . I'm ASSUMING your making reference to those two Great bluesmen. Anyway, I could be wrong, but kinda remember "Off Ramp" as being the first instance of guitar synthesizer being used in jazz.

Lontano, Max bass
Thanks for the comments and suggestions. The only cd I have, interestingly, is The Way Up so guess I have heard the group. Having said that I like solo guitar etc so am open to all his output. Missouri sky looks interesting so may give that a go.
Thanks

ccr,

If you like the Way Up then you cannot go too far wrong with most of the output from the Group.

My faves are

Offramp, Travels (great 2 disc live album covering the ECM days) and First Circle. Then he moved to Geffen and released my fave Still Life Talking. Imaginary Day, We Live Here (quite poppy) are worth checking as is the live album The Road to You.

Other albums well worth a look are As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls - duo with Lyle Mays and marvellous. As is Rejoicing with Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins. 80/81 is a lot more straight ahead jazz but very accomplished.

One of my fave of his albums is Works on ECM - a compilation of some lovely tracks from his eCM days.

Then his trip alums are good as well - more jazz and I particularly like the Trio Live album.

His album Secret Story is really quite beautiful as well.

Most of this is on spotify to try out if you have access.

Lots of great suggestions here ... can hardly go wrong with most of Metheny's music, especially the group stuff written in collaboration with keyboardist Lyle Mays.

I'd also recommend Pat's very first record, Bright Size Life, a trio album (with bassist Jaco Pastorius in his prime) which introduced a brand new and highly individual artist to the world over three decades ago, which still sounds as fresh as a Kansas wheat field in spring, and is still one of my all-time favorite albums.

Fred

quote:

Originally posted by Lontano:
Then he moved to Geffen and released my fave Still Life Talking.

Just listened to this last night. What a great album! Some classic song writing in "Minuano" and "Last Train Home".

Strange thing . . . the CD/album lists 7 cuts, "In her family" being the 7th. My CD player, instead finishes with #6! Press next/advance/#7 . . . err message! Watsup with that!? HOW can there be no In her Family, I really want to hear it.

Is there or is there not a 7th tune? Lontano, can you please confirm this?

There are 7 tracks and in her family is a beautiful tuneful acoustic number to finish with. Track 6 distance is a strange affair almost an intro to something so maybe it got merged with 7 on the cd. track 6 is 2.45 and 7 is 2.22

Minuano 6/8 is a masterpiece. They play it live even better!

Ahhhhhhhhh . .. . . yes! Thanks for clearing this up! I did hear it . . . the music had changed, and I kept looking at the counter to see if it was at 7 but it remained on 6 . . . serves me right for ever trusting a computer/digital source!

Thank you Lontano.

My fav Pat album has always been American Garage

CCR,

as an alternative, go to Pat's website and listen to PM Radio, that way you will get to listen to a broad cross section of his considerable output.

quote:

Originally posted by ewemon:
My fav Pat album has always been American Garage

And I strongly second that - I was wondering when someone was going to mention it on this post!

I'd definitely go for Bright Size Life with the late great Jaco Pastorius

...and if you like the combination they also formed part of the "supergroup" on Joni Mitchel's live: "Shadows and Light", Pat's solo is superb (mildly compromised by the American audience but hey you can't have everything)

The 2007 album with jazz pianist Brad Mehldau is fantastic - Metheny Mehldau Quartet.

Whatever you do, DO NOT get Zero Tolerance for Silence. Absolute rubbish.

quote:

Originally posted by Singslinger:
The 2007 album with jazz pianist Brad Mehldau is fantastic - Metheny Mehldau Quartet.

Seconded. One of my all-time favourite records.

I would recommend "Like minds" with Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Roy Haynes and Dave Holland. There are some exciting tracks on "80/81" album.

Hi,

Totally recommend

The Road to You
Watercolors
Still life (Talking)
Imaginary Day
First Circle
The Falcon and the Snowman


Enjoy them all

Rooster

Oh, a no-brainer - the first pat metheny group album (plain white cover). I've got most of his albums, but this one has never been bettered imho.

Nigel