Pat Metheny has always held drummers and percussionists in high regard — the key components of an ensemble. Looking back at his career, it’s not hard too see the evidence: Danny Gottlieb, Jack DeJohnette, Paul Wertico, Roy Haynes, Antonio Sanchez. Wow.
A perfect example of how Pat works with his drummer can be found on the Metheny Trio duet “Go (Get It).” With both musicians implying the harmony/rhythm as the partner plays, it’s easy to forget that just two people are performing. So many years earlier, “Suite: I. Florida Greeting Song” finds Danny Gottlieb setting up dynamic walls of rhythm that free Metheny to construct a melodic story that can easily stand on its own.
It’s interesting to see how this approach draws the listener in to the non-technical aspects of the musical construct. A complete idea emerges, even though some of the traditional elements are only implied. The “rules” exist to guide harmonic development. Some see them as a optional constraints, while others treat them at necessary borders.
On “Florida Greeting Song,” Pat avoids all formality and heads toward the heart of the matter.
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Just wanted to tell you that I’m really enjoying the series. Hope you’re in it for the long haul — this’ll take years. Curious to see what you’ll have to say about my two favorites: Q and A and of course Song X.
thanks! i’m definitely in it for the long haul. looking forward to Song X. also looking forward to such insanity as Zero Tolerance For Silence and The Sign of 4.
Great Review. I’ve had many head-scratching moments listening to, and observing, passages of Pat going one on one with the drummer. The realization that what he is doing is totally working in the absence of any other tonal/chord support is mind boggling. It is very easy to miss out on what is occurring and developing on the harmonic and melodic level, as we are so trained to get lost in the theatrics of his finger and fret work.
particularly crazy are tunes like the live version of “Go (Get It)”…where not only is he doing what he’s doing…but running through it at such a zippy tempo