Pat Metheny Fans

[NickNack]

I only have one CD by this man, "(Still Life) Talking", and always wanted to get some more. Wondering if there are any fans here who could recommend some things. I have no idea if I should seek out the older or the new stuff. Does he have any "classic" titles? All opinions and recommendations welcome :) .

[BrunoRepublic]

I haven't heard much of his material, but I liked Offramp enough to buy it. But I confess that aside from that, Still Life (Talking), and of course, "This Is Not America" with David Bowie, I haven't heard any of his other works.

[Forrrce]

I owned 'Travels' once but found I didn't play it much, can't really recall a great deal about it. 'As Wichita Falls (So Falls Wichita Falls)' on ECM was, for a while, played out by some hip London house DJs - there was some talk of it being some sort of leftfield drum fest. I still see the LP a lot but have never bothered to verify this. Aside from that, I heard a really nice track in record shop around 3 years ago and asked what it was, the guy said it was by Pat Metheny & Kenny Garrett. I didn't ask to view the cover, thinking I'd see it everywhere, but I've been looking for a CD with both of them playing since and have never found one. This may be something to look out for.

[K-Bee]

I guess you can divide Pat metheny's music in two halfes.
The fusion stuff ( with lots of electronics and a somehow rather ambient feeling alltogether) and the straight ahead jazz stuff. "Still Life Talking" is probably as classic a metheny album as you're likely to get and his most famous album to this date.
other than that, I'd recommend "I Can see Your House From Here". Metheny made this album with John Scofield in 1994 (released on Blue Note). A truly great quartet recording also featuring Bill Stewart and Steve Swallow.

Forrrce,
Metheny and Garret recorded together on Garrets tribute album "Pursuance - The Music of John Coltrane" (Warner Bros., 1996) . It also features drummer Brian Blade along with bass player Rodney Whittaker.
That may be the album you're looking for.

[Nano]

Well Nick, if you only have Pat Metheny Group's Still life talking (known for the classic "Last train home") and you like it, you're obviously chasing the "fusion" stuff. I was a "Pat fan" by then, but always liked more his early ECM material ("Still life" was the first PMG album released on Geffen). Of that early stuff, on the fusion side, I strongly reccomend "As falls Wichita..." (1981), a great fusion-ambient work with Pat, the exquisite keyboard player Lyle Mays and Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos. And the double live CD "Travels", with those musicians plus bassist Steve Rodby and drummer Paul Wertico (both present on "Still life" too). Also "First circle" (1984), his last album for ECM, with Pedro Aznar replacing Naná (he also sings and it fits well!). Of course, Pedro being from Argentina had nothing to do with the quality :)

From the "Geffen" period -in which PMG's style got a bit washed and obsessed with Brazilian rhythms- maybe the best album is "Secret story" (circa 1991), which sounds like PMG but with Pat taking care of most instruments.

Now, if you like this and want to dig more deeply on the straight jazz stuff, ahhh my friend! There are several treasures to discover:

-Bright size life (1976): his first solo album, a trio with Jaco Pastorius playing bass.
-New Chautauqua (1979): this is pure gold. Maybe you heard "Sueño con Mexico" on one of the first "Cafe del Mar" compilations. The rest of the album is just like that: Pat alone with his guitars.
-Offramp (PMG, 1982): some fusion stuff mixed with straight stuff. Excellent on both areas.
-Rejoicing (1983) and Question and answer (1990): both are trio albums, maybe the best format for this amazing guitar player and composer.

Good luck!

[Forrrce]

Originally Posted by K-Bee

Forrrce,
Metheny and Garret recorded together on Garrets tribute album "Pursuance - The Music of John Coltrane" (Warner Bros., 1996) . It also features drummer Brian Blade along with bass player Rodney Whittaker.
That may be the album you're looking for.

Whilst I recall the track I heard having a hint of deja vu, 'Trane certainly didn't spring to mind at the time - so if this is the one, they've boldly taken the man's music in a different direction. For better or for worse, we shall see. Thanks for the tip, K-Bee.

[NickNack]

Hey Guys,

Thanks to all of you for your input. At least I have some ideas on where to start and what I might be getting. There's always a cut they play on the smooth jazz stations but I have yet to catch the name. I think it's from a soundtrack or something. I'll check Amazon. They seem to have a full list of Metheny on hand.

[markydefad]

Nicky, check out "Are You Going With Me?" from "Offramp"...if you don't already know this track.

This is a smooth-jazz classic.