Jazz Articles about Pat Metheny

like 191

David Liebman: The Elements: Water

by Jack Bowers
February 1, 1999

Water, the first of four Jazz suites by Dave Liebman inspired by the elements (Earth, Air and Fire are to follow) is designed to evoke images of water in its many forms and guises, from tranquil to chaotic, rivulet to ocean, droplet to deluge. Does it achieve its purpose? Perhaps so. But others will have to make that assessment. I’ve always had trouble with tone poems, classical or any other kind. Even with program in hand, they usually sound like ...

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Gary Burton: Like Minds

by Jack Bowers
November 1, 1998

When like minds get together, the results can be unpredictable. Will empathy lead to a spirit of freedom and adventure, or will the parallel thought processes translate instead into blandness? Adventure clearly wins the day on Like Minds, vibraphonist Gary Burton’s third release as leader for Concord Jazz. Even with Metheny’s guitar added and Corea’s piano hardly as spare as John Lewis’, the session manifests a beguiling MJQ–like ambiance at slower tempos but shifts easily into high gear to swing ...

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Gary Burton: Like Minds

by Jim Santella
November 1, 1998

By assembling an all-star team of straight-ahead jazz minds, vibraphonist Gary Burton reminds us that musical composition and creative performance interaction soar aloft only when the standards are held high. His 27 years of service with the Berklee College of Music in Boston – including a 10-year tour of duty as dean of curriculum and current position as executive vice president – have undoubtedly influenced the leader’s judgement as to what makes a product valuable.With a light waltz ...

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Gary Burton: Like Minds

by Douglas Payne
October 1, 1998

Every once in a great while, the stars align and the muse visit a recording studio to smile beneficently on the musicians assembled there. How else to account for the ineffable chemistry that infuses the best jazz albums? Well the muses were working overtime when vibraphonist Gary Burton arranged the first recording encounter between Chick Corea and guitarist Pat Metheny and recruited an impeccable rhythm section staffed by bassist Dave Holland and drum legend Roy Haynes.Like Minds , ...

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Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny: Beyond the Missouri Sky

by Dave Hughes
December 1, 1997

Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny, both Missouri natives and best friends, join forces for a mostly acoustic duet album. All of the tunes were recorded as duets for acoustic bass and guitar, and on roughly half of the tunes, Metheny overdubbed some “orchestral" backgrounds on synclavier or an additional acoustic guitar part. But these additions simply add texture and shading, and do not overplay the primary voices of the bass and guitar.

Sytlistically, this album is a departure for both ...

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Pat Metheny / Charlie Haden: Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories)

by Robert Middleton
November 1, 1997

On my first listen or two this album seemed at best to be pleasant background music. And it can certainly can be that. It's languid, relaxed melodies don't demand that you take special notice. Perfect music for a quite evening at home or a slow Sunday afternoon. But if that's all you got it would be a shame indeed. This is a very sweet collaboration between two musicians who love and respect each other and each other's music. Drawing from ...

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Pat Metheny Group: Imaginary Day

by A. G. Gillis
November 1, 1997

One of the first things remarkably noticeable about The Pat Metheny Group's 12th album together is the artwork. Over a number of their albums together, The Pat Metheny Group has made an evolution out of their 'glyph imagery' and I would suppose it is only symbolic of the new recording released on October 7, by the Warner Brothers Record Company. As a note on the glyphs, I have taken the liberty of associating the characters to letters from the alphabet ...