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Pat Metheny

Pat Metheny is an NEA Jazz Master

Pat Metheny was born in Kansas City on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. Starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience at an unusually young age. Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974. Over the course of his three-year stint with vibraphone great Gary Burton, the young Missouri native already displayed his soon-to-become trademarked playing style, which blended the loose and flexible articulation customarily reserved for horn players with an advanced rhythmic and harmonic sensibility - a way of playing and improvising that was modern in conception but grounded deeply in the jazz tradition of melody, swing, and the blues. With the release of his first album, Bright Size Life (1975), he reinvented the traditional "jazz guitar" sound for a new generation of players. Throughout his career, Pat Metheny has continued to re-define the genre by utilizing new technology and constantly working to evolve the improvisational and sonic potential of his instrument. METHENY'S versatility is almost nearly without peer on any instrument. Over the years, he has performed with artists as diverse as Steve Reich to Ornette Coleman to Herbie Hancock to Jim Hall to Milton Nascimento to David Bowie.  Metheny's body of work includes compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic instruments, large orchestras, and ballet pieces, with settings ranging from modern jazz to rock to classical.

As well as being an accomplished musician, Metheny has also participated in the academic arena as a music educator. At 18, he was the youngest teacher ever at the University of Miami. At 19, he became the youngest teacher ever at the Berklee College of Music, where he also received an honorary doctorate more than twenty years later (1996). He has also taught music workshops all over the world, from the Dutch Royal Conservatory to the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz to clinics in Asia and South America. He has also been a true musical pioneer in the realm of electronic music, and was one of the very first jazz musicians to treat the synthesizer as a serious musical instrument. Years before the invention of MIDI technology, Metheny was using the Synclavier as a composing tool. He has also been instrumental in the development of several new kinds of guitars such as the soprano acoustic guitar, the 42-string Pikasso guitar, Ibanez's PM-100 jazz guitar, and a variety of other custom instruments.  He took the whole instrument development process into a different level with his mechanical, solenoid driven Orchestrion.

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15
Live Review

Pat Metheny At The Paramount Theatre

Read "Pat Metheny At The Paramount Theatre" reviewed by Steven Roby


Pat MethenyParamount TheatreDenver, ColoradoOctober 15, 2023 Award-winning jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheny embarked on a 51-venue, 29-state solo tour supporting his 2023 Dream Box recording. At jny: Denver's Paramount Theatre, loyal fans lined up early for the sold-out show, and it was elbow-to-elbow for the next two hours in the 1800-seat venue. Metheny's tour allows him to be a solo performer, playing tunes from his solo record catalog and--wait for it--engaging ...

2
Interview

Fabrizio De André secondo Luigi Viva

Read "Fabrizio De André secondo Luigi Viva" reviewed by Libero Farnè


Numerose sono state le interviste che ho effettuato negli ultimi decenni: ovviamente a molti jazzisti, dai maestri assoluti ai giovani emergenti, ma anche a danzatori, artisti, attori, compositori di musica contemporanea... Ho ritenuto utile inoltre dedicare una serie di interviste ai direttori artistici di importanti festival jazz, italiani e stranieri. È questa la prima volta però che mi trovo ad intervistare uno scrittore e critico musicale, per certi versi un collega se non fosse per il fatto ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Loop Doctors, John Escreet, John Hadfield and Pat Metheny

Read "Loop Doctors, John Escreet, John Hadfield and Pat Metheny" reviewed by Len Davis


Funky fusion from the Loop Doctors led by Hungarian drummer Peter Szendofi, Unit 1 with bassist Mark Egan, pianist John Escreet and drummer John Hadfield. Saxophonist Adam Larson and the Jimi Prasad Orchestra with trumpeter Avishai Cohen. Ollie Usiskin from Trio Zone and the new one from Pat Metheny Dream Box. The new single from J3PO with Hadrien Feraud. Playlist Loop Doctors “Three 4 Free" from Entering A Room (KCG) 00:00 Unit 1 “Epistrophy" from Unit 1 (Wavetone) ...

30
Album Review

Pat Metheny: Dream Box

Read "Dream Box" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


Guitarist Pat Metheny pushes the boundaries of musical exploration once again with Dream Box, Featuring nine “found tracks" for the quiet electric guitar, this collection showcases Metheny's spontaneous creativity and unique musical vision. During a deep dive into his own musical archives, Metheny unearthed a folder on his laptop's hard drive containing forgotten recordings that surprised even him. As a result, Dream Box takes a departure from his previous works, presenting a blend of compositions that captures the essence of ...

40
Building a Jazz Library

ECM Records Touchstones: Part 1

Read "ECM Records Touchstones: Part 1" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Every album ever released by ECM Records would be readily available in a better world. But that, understandably, is not the case. The German label, founded by Manfred Eicher—who still holds the helm—debuted in 1969 with pianist Mal Waldron's Free At Last. In the ensuing five-plus decades, the Edition of Contemporary Music (ECM) has made the world a better place, releasing well over 1,700 albums. The label is often said ...

117
Readers Poll Results

Your Favorite Living Jazz Guitarists

Read "Your Favorite Living Jazz Guitarists" reviewed by Michael Ricci


All About Jazz member votes were tabulated and this list represents our favorite living jazz guitarists. Fully transparent and easily verifiable, All About Jazz's living guitarists poll was conducted during the 2022 calendar year running from May 3rd to November 30th. We would like to thank every member who participated in creating this impressive list (200 total!) for the next generation of jazz enthusiasts to discover. Note: This list represents the top vote-getters. Hundreds of guitarists received votes, ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Live music from Igor Wilcox, Third Rail, Soft Machine and Pat Metheny

Read "Live music from Igor Wilcox, Third Rail, Soft Machine and Pat Metheny" reviewed by Len Davis


The live concerts continue with Brazilian drummer Igor Willcox from Live at Jazz Room, Third Rail, Harvey S Trio, Soft Machine, Jan Hammer, Pat Metheny, and Marcus Miller. Playlist Igor Wilcox “Lifetime" from Live at Jazz Room 2019 (Record Label) 00:00 Third Rail “You Rang" from Live across Europe (Aerohead) 08:46 Harvey S Trio “Moments Notice" from Going For It-Live (Savant) 17:32 Soft Machine “Hidden Details" from Live at Baked Potato (Moonjune) 26:14 Jan Hammer “Twenty One" from ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pat Metheny's birthday today!

Pat Metheny was born in Kansas City on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. Starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience at an unusually young age. Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974. Over the course of his ...

5

Festival

Pat Metheny Side-Eye To Headline Opening Night At CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival

Pat Metheny Side-Eye To Headline Opening Night At CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival

Source: Dalmath Associates Inc.

The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival is proud to present the legendary Pat Metheny on opening night June 23, 2023, at the festival's 20th-anniversary edition June 23 to July 1, 2023, in downtown Rochester, NY. The concert will be held at 8 p.m. at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Tickets for Pat Metheny Side-Eye are $83 / $73 / $63 / $43 + $7 service charges and are on sale now only at rochesterjazz.com. Pat Metheny, voted Guitarist of the ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pat Metheny's birthday today!

Pat Metheny was born in Kansas City on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. Starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience at an unusually young age. Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974. Over the course of his ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pat Metheny's birthday today!

Pat Metheny was born in Kansas City on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. Starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience at an unusually young age. Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974. Over the course of his ...

1

Recording

John Pizzarelli Plays Pat Metheny

John Pizzarelli Plays Pat Metheny

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

This album shouldn't work. One superb artist recording the music of another usually happens many years after the subject has passed away. But John Pizzarelli's new album, Better Days Ahead: Solo Guitar Takes on Pat Metheny, works beyond your wildest dreams. It's as if John said to himself, “Why not now?" And he's right. The idea of taking on Metheny's compositions and doing so alone is about as beautiful a tribute as one can imagine. Add the fact that John ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pat Metheny's birthday today!

Pat Metheny was born in Kansas City on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. Starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience at an unusually young age. Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974. Over the course of his ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pat Metheny's birthday today!

Pat Metheny was born in Kansas City on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. Starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience at an unusually young age. Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974... Read more.

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5

Website

All About Jazz Celebrates the NEA Jazz Masters

All About Jazz Celebrates the NEA Jazz Masters

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz, home to largest database of jazz musicians on the internet, now recognizes the NEA Jazz Masters on a dedicated page as well as on the recipient's musician page (example). 145 musicians have been honored since 1982 and they are all identified and accessible from the All About Jazz musician section by clicking “NEA Jazz Masters" in the “View by" dropdown box. The 2018 NEA Jazz Masters are: Joanne Brackeen: Pianist, Composer, Educator Pat Metheny: Guitarist, Composer, Educator ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pat Metheny

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pat Metheny's birthday today!

Pat Metheny was born in Kansas City on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. Starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience at an unusually young age. Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974... Read more.

Place our Musician ...

7

Festival

Umbria Jazz 2018 In Perugia From July 13-22: Celebrating 45 Years Of Jazz In Italy And Beyond

Umbria Jazz 2018 In Perugia From July 13-22: Celebrating 45 Years Of Jazz In Italy And Beyond

Source: All About Jazz

Not many festivals have had the kind of impact that Umbria Jazz has had on the musical history of a country and on its social history as well. When it started out in 1973, Umbria Jazz was simply an attempt to combine the passion of a group of jazz lovers with the needs of a region that wanted to promote its riches. No one could have imagined the importance that the festival would later acquire on the music scene both ...

Gary Burton
vibraphone
Ornette Coleman
saxophone, alto
John Coltrane
saxophone
Miles Davis
trumpet
Jim Hall
guitar
Milton Nascimento
guitar and vocals
Steve Reich
composer / conductor
The Beatles
band / ensemble / orchestra
B.D. Lenz
guitar
Jerry Tachoir
vibraphone
Jake Hanlon
guitar
Kevin Hart
vibraphone
Dan Baraszu
guitar
Frank Macchia
composer / conductor
Greg Diamond
guitar, electric
Brian Tarquin
guitar, electric
Bryan White
bass, acoustic
Jim Head
guitar
Jeff Perry
guitar
Lee Barbour
guitar
Lili Añel
vocals
Yuval Ron
guitar, electric
Martin Fabricius
vibraphone
Matt Snyder
clarinet
Oscar Penas
guitar
Ron Jackson
guitar
Marco Pacassoni
vibraphone
ESP
band / ensemble / orchestra
Ricardo Pinheiro
guitar, electric
Ed Johnson
guitar and vocals
Phil Traynor
bass, electric
Dave Howard
guitar, electric
Dave Clark
guitar
Nick Finzer
trombone
Journeys
band / ensemble / orchestra
Pepa Niebla
vocals
Niebla
vocals
Rotem Sivan
guitar
Johnny Padilla
saxophone
Majamisty TriO
band / ensemble / orchestra
Thomas Dahl
guitar
Charlie Hoats
bass, electric
Joe Dyson
drums
Paul Colombo
guitar, electric
Ron Carlson
guitar
Myles Brown
guitar
Tony Song
guitar
Daniel Villa Verde
guitar, acoustic
Jorge Garcia
guitar, electric
Marcos Milagres
bass, acoustic
Walt Pitts
guitar and vocals
Alex Hahn
saxophone, alto
LJ Folk
guitar and vocals
Zsolt Bende
guitar, electric
PC ENERGETIC
band / ensemble / orchestra
PLS.trio
piano
Benjamin Boone
saxophone
Jukka Haavisto
bass, electric
Mishko M'ba
bass, electric
Chris Trinidad
multi-instrumentalist
Under The Lake
keyboards
Jayson Tipp
keyboards
Reza Khan
guitar
Sergio Pereira
guitar and vocals
Pavel Jany
guitar
Nick Lombardelli
multi-instrumentalist
LILLY
vocals
Gregg Fine
guitar
Jay Reed
guitar
Viktor Haraszti
saxophone
Richard Szaniszlo
vibraphone
Vin Venezia
guitar
Lisipi
piano
John Irvine
guitar
J.Cordes
guitar, acoustic
The Beat Freaks
guitar, electric
Rea Meir
woodwinds
THREE WISE MONKEYS
guitar, steel
Arcangelo Pezzella
guitar, electric
AP Project
band / ensemble / orchestra
Luis Casado
guitar
Sophia Smith
saxophone
Max Walker
guitar
Denin Koch
guitar, electric
Stuart Redd
guitar
Paco Reinaldet
saxophone, soprano
LITANGEN
guitar
SM Shahbaj
multi-instrumentalist
Jonatan Piña Duluc
saxophone, tenor
Johan Grim
guitar
Dom Angelo Mongiovi
guitar, electric
Denis Krupin
various
Efrat Alony
vocals
Alony
vocals
Brian Eaton
multi-instrumentalist
Organ Fairchild
organ, Hammond B3
Sebastien Pittet
bass, electric
Oli Astral
guitar
Kansas City Area Youth Jazz
band / ensemble / orchestra
Jerry Tabor
guitar
TriTone Asylum
producer
Jack Taylor
guitar
Thomas J Wassell
guitar, electric
Brian Grace
saxophone
Art Boffi
guitar
Yulia
piano
Rob Ames
saxophone, soprano
John Hench
bass, acoustic
Jazz'on Parma Orchestra
band / ensemble / orchestra
Joby
author
Andrew Ginzel
guitar, electric
Zock Organ Trio
band / ensemble / orchestra
Ron Bosse
guitar
Hébert
guitar, electric
Martin Iaies
guitar, electric
Thomas Reilly
vibraphone
Matt Jardim
guitar
Kerilie McDowall
guitar, electric
J. Garza
guitar
Nastazio Gkoumas
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