After all of these years (and all of these listening sessions) it’s hard not to think of “Aprilwind” as being merely the introduction to “April Joy.” You May Also Like: Why Pat Metheny’s ‘New Chautauqua’ Still Provides an Important Refuge Pat Metheny, May 16, 2019: Shows I’ll Never Forget

After an opening that manages to be sparse and yet unresolved, “Jaco” transitions into the first (only?) track on this album structured to feature rounds of solos in a more traditional jazz fashion. You May Also Like: ‘Bright Size Life’ Gave Early Definition to Pat Metheny’s Incredible Career Pat MethenyRead More

It isn’t often that an up and coming band is able to create a piece of music that singularly defines their mission. A musical manifesto, if you will. Rarer still, is when the passage of time supports the integrity of said gauntlet. You May Also Like: Pat Metheny, May 16,Read More

With this album, we have what many think of as the classic Pat Metheny Group sound.

“Sea Song,” while not bursting out in the style that would mature on the next Group release, did extend one of Metheny’s signatures, that of the long-form melodic story, introduced in fragments. You May Also Like: No related posts.

In a style that would fully bloom years later with the emergence of Pat’s Pikasso guitar, “Suite: II. Legends Of The Fountain” has Metheny spinning up beautiful melodies and arpeggios supported by deep pedal tones and artificial harmonics. You May Also Like: Pat Metheny Discovered Bold New Machine-Aided Freedoms WithRead More

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 You May Also Like: Why You Should Give Pat Metheny’s ‘Rejoicing’ Another Listen Pat Metheny, May 16, 2019: Shows I’llRead More

Before Watercolors digs back into introspection (which I will get back to next week) we have River Quay, extending what appears to be the introduction of the sound of the Pat Metheny Group. You May Also Like: Why You Should Give Pat Metheny’s ‘Rejoicing’ Another Listen Pat Metheny, May 16,Read More

It’s not a constant presence on this album, but as mentioned when we discussed the title track on Watercolors, what would become the sound of “The Group” begins to establish itself. You May Also Like: Pat Metheny, May 16, 2019: Shows I’ll Never Forget Pat Metheny, “You Are” from ‘FromRead More

“Oasis” provides a very early counterexample to the notion that the music of Pat Metheny tends toward lightweight fare, closer to new age or (worse) smooth jazz than anything from the “real” jazz tradition. You May Also Like: Pat Metheny – ‘MoonDial’ (2024) ‘Bright Size Life’ Gave Early Definition toRead More