| Author |
Message |
Johns (Johns)
| | Posted on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 10:15 pm: | |
I got to see Pat Metheny last night. He was playing in a trio with Antonio Sanchez on drums and Christian McBride on the upright bass.
I had front row seats and was maybe twenty feet from him most of the evening. This is the second time I've seen him, last time was with the "Group".
Metheny is an intense player (rarely opens his eyes when soloing) with a musical prowess that is pretty close to superhuman.
He started out on a baritone guitar then graduated to the Manzer Pikasso thing that looks like something out of Star Wars. (If you haven't seen this instrument, check it out: http://www.manzer.com/more.tmpl?cmd=search&db=lmodels.db&var2=lmodels.db&var3=Custom%20Design&wfskudata=2931-15). Among the many gutars he played throughout the evening, were a nylon string classical (probably made by Manzer), an electric Sitar, and a Roland GR303 synth. His main "jazz" axe was a blonde Ibanez PM20. It's not a production model because it doesn't have any inlays on the headstock and the tailpiece is ebony, like a Joe Pass.
The trio format gave everyone a chance to "go crazy" with lots of soloing. On one song, PM was going frantically ballistic with his GR303. My wife says she's never seen anyone's fingers move so fast. He got so frenzied, I really thought the only fitting climax to the solo would be if his guitar blew up.
It just too hard to try and describe PM's prowess. You've got to see and hear it to believe it. |
Bigmike (Bigmike)
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 04, 2003 - 12:06 am: | |
I'd tell you guys what a hardcore Pat Metheny fan I am but it would scare some folks away. I have collected many bootleg shows of his spanning his entire career. Think I have seen his group maybe 8 times in my life. Yet the best show I ever saw Pat in was the Parallel Realities tour he did in 1990 with Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland and Jack DeJonette. Two nights in a row I was 15 rows from the stage at Villa Montalvo (now called something else). I would honestly say it was the 2nd best musical experience of my life - only 2nd to seeing the Beatles live in 1965.
Pat's an amazing player. In fact I just saw a show on PBS on Saturday night called Soundstage - it featured clips from the Newport Jazz Festival 2003. pat did 2 songs with the same lineup you saw. He did "John McKee" and "James", realzing this is "made for tv stuff" no one got to stretch out playing THAT much. A great gig none the less.
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An interesting caveat on the blonde Ibanez he plays, this is a guitar I've always lusted after. But watching this Soundstage broadcast I noticed many times the camera guys were shooting from interesting angles BEHIND Pat (a great view of the bay and fans) and I realized to my horror that this guitar has the "dreaded scarf joint" neck that I am so horribly prejudiced against... Hmm, I guess those can't be so bad after all. |
Johns (Johns)
| | Posted on Friday, November 07, 2003 - 10:50 pm: | |
Bigmike:
I'm a recent Metheny convert. I envy the fact that you've been able to see him so many times, over the years.
I guess because he was classified as "jazz" he wasn't on my radar for all this time. But I really feel that he doesn't deserve to be pidgeon-holed.
Since I started this website I've also been introduced to Ritenour and Carlton. I probably connect with Carlton more than Rit, but Metheny's range and prowess is just beyond my (current) comprehension. Add Lyle Mays to the mix and the music is just too good to be true. |
Bigmike (Bigmike)
| | Posted on Saturday, November 08, 2003 - 12:05 am: | |
Johns,
Yes, that Mays/Metheny thing and talk about some incredible sidemen that he's had in his band over the years. Damn !!
If I may suggest to any of you reading this. Please try to find a DVD called Parallel Realities Live at the Mellon Jazz Festival. It is one of the most outstanding gigs I've ever seen in my life. And this dvd does a stellar job of documenting the performances of and chemistry flowing between Metheny, Hancock, Holland and DeJonette... Amazing stuff. Some of Pat's best playing.
BigMike |
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