Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Pat Metheny / Kenny G: The Jazz Soul of P.D.Q. Bach

474

Pat Metheny / Kenny G: The Jazz Soul of P.D.Q. Bach

By

Sign in to view read count
Pat Metheny / Kenny G: The Jazz Soul of P.D.Q. Bach
In a move that has left the jazz world buzzing and their legions of fans traumatized in shock and disbelief, erstwhile polar opposites and outspoken adversaries Pat Metheny and Kenny G have recorded together for the first time, choosing as their common ground the singularly uncommon music of the opprobrious nineteenth/eighteenth century composer P.D.Q. Bach.

At a media event held to trumpet the partnership (Pat’s brother, Mike, played lead trumpet) the former combatants were in a conciliatory mood. “It’s time we buried the hatchet,” guitarist Metheny said of the alliance with Kenny G, his hands trembling and nostrils flaring at the thought of such an eventuality. “Yes, I’ve made a few nasty remarks about G — okay, a lot of nasty remarks — but deep down I’ve always admired his... his... give me a moment here... Well, anyway, the label thought our getting together would be a great idea, they came up with some killer bread, and frankly, I’m quite...,” he cleared his throat, paused, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I’m quite... rather... somewhat pleased with the results.” Metheny then excused himself, hastened to the nearest men’s room and upchucked his lunch.

G, who speaks as he plays, using simple monosyllabic words, stretching them to their utmost limit, then clinging to them for dear life, said, “It was swell to play with Pat. He is good. We had fun, no fuss. Now we friends. He Pat, me G.” And with that, he grabbed a nearby vine and swung through the trees in Central Park to an escarpment where he was reunited with Jane and Cheetah. Onlookers were understandably flabbergasted to observe Kenny G actually swinging.

But what of the music, you may be wondering. Ah yes, the music. It’s hard to meander far from mediocrity when deciphering P.D.Q. Bach (1807–1742?), one of the more visionary charlatans of his time (whenever that was), a man whose genius for recycling detritus discarded by others has never been equaled and whose inscrutable leitmotifs have been lovingly preserved and annotated by his stalwart champion, Prof. Peter Schickele. Metheny and G are surprisingly compatible on such bite-size bon bons as “Concerto for Horn and Hardart,” “Echo Sonata for Two Unfriendly Groups,” “Lip My Reeds” and “Oedipus Tex,” but rather less successful on those pieces misappropriated for larger ensembles including “Prelude to Einstein on the Fritz,” “Last Tango in Bayreuth” and the anaphrodisic “Erotica Variations.”

A special problem arises on “What’s My Melodic Line?,” as Kenny G seems unable to answer the question (or even to comprehend it). Metheny does his best to compensate, often strumming the backbeat in the style of Freddie Green, but to no avail, as G appears determined to rehash riffs from his latest double-platinum album “Sleek and Sexy Sax Clichés for Sweethearts.” And on “Hansel and Gretel and Ted and Alice,” the duo’s minimalist style seems somewhat at odds with P.D.Q.’s habitually bombastic modus operandi.

In spite of its conspicuous flaws, the album is certain to generate a warm response and record-breaking sales from jazz aficionados, the idly curious and those who take pleasure in watching train wrecks. An even more ambitious sequel is planned, tentatively titled “P&G in the Key of C.”

Track Listing

What

Personnel

Pat Metheny
guitar

Pat Metheny, guitar; Kenny G, alto, soprano saxophone.

Album information

Title: The Jazz Soul of P.D.Q. Bach | Year Released: 2004

Gotcha! April Fools!

Comments

Tags

Concerts

Mar 28 Thu
Apr 3 Wed
Apr 7 Sun
Apr 9 Tue

For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.