Interviews

Bright Size Life (ECM, 1976)
With bassist Jaco Pastorius and drummer Bob Moses on his ECM debut, 21-year-old Metheny blasts off with an original sound and compositional style, performing original compositions plus Ornette Coleman's "Round Trip/Broadway Blues." The freshness, hardcore swing, and clear-headed inventiveness of Bright Size Life landed it at the National Recording Registry—a literal treasure.

80/81 (ECM, 1980)
If there was any doubt as to Metheny's status as a brilliant jazz guitarist and composer, 80/81 settled the issue. Joined by four of the other greatest musicians in jazz—Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, Michael Brecker, and Jack DeJohnette—Metheny wrote specifically for each player, covering folk, avant-garde, free-ish jazz, and hard bop.

Offramp (ECM, 1982)
Recorded with percussionist Naná Vasconcelos as the first Pat Metheny Group was disintegrating, Offramp combines sensuousness, Brazilian rhythms, and synth guitar as if the band were some new, composite organism. "Are You Going With Me?" is a modern jazz standard, and "Barcarole," "Eighteen," and "James" are performed at nearly every Metheny performance.

First Circle (ECM, 1984)
With graceful drummer Paul Wertico bringing a lighter touch than is usual on a Pat Metheny album, and bassist Steve Rodby staying in the fold, First Circle is at once challenging and comforting, disorienting and explosive. The title track is one of Metheny's most popular compositions.

Still Life (Talking) (Geffen, 1987)
Still Life (Talking) is a perfect album. "Minuano" awakes gently as if from sleep. "So May It Secretly Begin" combines lush rhythms, humid moods, dark atmospheres, and immaculate solos from Metheny and Lyle Mays. "Last Train Home," one of his most popular songs, mirrors Metheny's love of trains with rugged sentiment.

Beyond The Missouri Sky (Short Stories) (Verve, 1996)
Sharing the bill with Charlie Haden, a duet album by two Missouri natives, this beautiful recording is almost private in its intimacy. The duo covers Henry Mancini's "Two for the Road" and Jimmy Webb's "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress"; but the album's ultimate moment exists in Metheny's "Message to a Friend." Vinyl available only from Japan.

The Way Up (Nonesuch, 2005)
Metheny pushes his Group to and through the future in an epic arrangement: The Way Up is a single 68-minute track. The last album with Mays and the end of the classic Pat Metheny group era, The Way Up includes all his trademarks, freshly combined.—Ken Micallef