Pat Metheny Group

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Pat Metheny Group
Lee's Summit, Missouri
, United States
Genres
Years active1977–2010
Labels
Warner Bros., Nonesuch
Past members
Websitewww.patmetheny.com

The Pat Metheny Group was an American jazz band founded in 1977 by

Antonio Sanchez became the percussionist from 2002 to 2010. Vocalist Pedro Aznar
was also a long-time member, performing with the group from 1984 to 1993. In addition to a core quartet, the group was often joined by a variety of other instrumentalists expanding the size to six or eight musicians.

History

1970s

Founder Pat Metheny first emerged on the jazz scene in the mid-1970s with a pair of solo albums. First was Bright Size Life, released in 1976, a trio album with bass guitarist Jaco Pastorius and drummer Bob Moses. The next album, released in 1977, was Watercolors, featuring Eberhard Weber on bass, pianist Lyle Mays, and drummer Danny Gottlieb.

In 1977, bassist Mark Egan joined Metheny, Mays, and Gottlieb to form the Pat Metheny Group. ECM released the album Pat Metheny Group in 1978 with songs co-written by Metheny and Mays. Pat Metheny Group marked Mays' first use of the Oberheim synthesizer, which became an integral part of the Group's sound. In 1979, the group's second album, American Garage, reached No. 1 on the jazz chart in Billboard magazine.

1980s

Left to right: Steve Rodby and Pat Metheny

The Pat Metheny Group released the album

Grammy Award, the first win of many[1]
for the group.

In 1983, a live album titled

Simon & Bard Group. A soundtrack album The Falcon and the Snowman followed in 1985. It featured the song "This Is Not America", a writing and performing collaboration with David Bowie which reached #14 in the UK Top 40[2] and #32 on the US Billboard Hot 100[3]
in early 1985.

The South American influence would continue and intensify on First Circle with the addition of Argentine multi-instrumentalist Pedro Aznar. This period saw the commercial popularity of the band increase, especially thanks to the live recording Travels. First Circle would also be Metheny's last project with the ECM label; Metheny had been a key artist for ECM but left over conceptual disagreements with label founder Manfred Eicher.

The next three Pat Metheny Group releases would be based around a further intensification of the Brazilian rhythms first heard in the early '80s. Additional South American musicians appear as guests, most notably Brazilian percussionist Armando Marçal. In 1987, Still Life (Talking) was the Group's first release on new label Geffen Records and featured several tracks which have long been popular with the group's followers, and which are still in their setlist. In particular, the album's first tune, "Minuano (Six Eight)", represents a good example of the Pat Metheny group compositional style from this period: the track starts with a haunting minor section from Mays, lifts off in a typical Methenian jubilant major melody, leading to a Maysian metric and harmonically modulated interlude, creating suspense which is finally resolved in the Methenian major theme. Another popular highlight was "Last Train Home", a rhythmically relentless piece evoking the American Midwest. The 1989 release Letter from Home continued this approach, with the South American influence becoming even more prevalent in its bossa nova and samba rhythms.

1990s

Pat Metheny Group bassist Mark Egan

Metheny subsequently concentrated on solo and other small-group projects, and four years went by before the release of the next Pat Metheny Group album. This was a live set recorded in Europe in 1993 titled The Road to You and it featured tracks from the two Geffen studio albums alongside new tunes. By this stage, the group had integrated new instrumentation and technologies into its sound, including Mays' addition of midi-controlled synthesized sounds to acoustic piano solos, accomplished via a pedal control.[citation needed]

Mays and Metheny refer to the following three Pat Metheny Group releases as the

symphonic signatures, blues and sonata schemes. On some tunes from this era, the band also experimented with thrash metal, electronica, and folk music
from parts of the world unexplored by the band in the past.

2000s

After another hiatus, the Pat Metheny Group re-emerged in 2002 with the release

Antonio Sanchez from Mexico City, Vietnam-born trumpeter Cuong Vu from Seattle, and bassist/vocalist/guitarist/percussionist Richard Bona from Cameroon
.

Following the group's 2002 tour, Bona left to concentrate on his solo career, but appeared as one of two guest artists (the other being mallet cymbalist

Montreal Jazz Festival
.

Their final album, The Way Up was released through

Warner Bros. Records albums are to be rereleased on the label. [citation needed
]

The Pat Metheny Group played at the Blue Note Tokyo in January 2009 in its core quartet of Lyle Mays, Steve Rodby and Antonio Sanchez. This quartet version of the group later toured the jazz festivals of Europe in the summer of 2010 as part of the "Songbook Tour". These concerts featured music from all eras of the group but no new material.

Members

Past members

  • Pat Metheny – acoustic and electric guitars, guitar synthesizer (1977–2010)
  • Lyle Mays – piano, synthesizers (1977–2010, died 2020)
  • Mark Egan – fretless bass, bass guitar (1977–1980)
  • Danny Gottlieb – drums (1977–1982)
  • Steve Rodby – double bass, bass guitar (1981–2010)
  • Naná Vasconcelos – percussion, vocals (1980–1982, 1986, died 2016)
  • Pedro Aznar – vocals, percussion, melodica, guitars, tenor saxophone, miscellaneous instruments (1983–1985, 1989–1991, 1992)
  • Paul Wertico – drums (1983–2001)
  • Armando Marçal – percussion, vocals (1987–1992, 1995–1996)
  • David Blamires – vocals, miscellaneous instruments (1986–1988, 1992, 1994–1997)
  • Mark Ledford – vocals, miscellaneous instruments (1987–1988, 1992, 1994–1998, died 2004)
  • Luis Conte – percussion (1994–1995)
  • Nando Lauria – guitars, vocals, percussion, miscellaneous instruments (1988, 2005)
  • Philip Hamilton – vocals, miscellaneous instruments (1997–1998)
  • Jeff Haynes – percussion (1997–1998)
  • Antonio Sánchez
    – drums, percussion (2001–2010)
  • Richard Bona – percussion, vocals, electric bass, acoustic guitars, miscellaneous instruments (2002–2004)
  • Cuong Vu – trumpet, vocals, guitars, miscellaneous instruments (2001–2005)
  • Grégoire Maret – harmonica, vocals, miscellaneous instruments (2003–2005)

Timeline

* This timeline reflects active members of the band, at either times they recorded or times they toured with the band. Members may have left the band by the time albums they performed on were released. Minor contributors to albums who did not tour with the band are not included.[5][6]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[7] 		FRA
[8] 		JPN
[9] 		US
[10][11] 		GER
[12] 		SWE
[13] 		ITA
[14] 		POL
[15][16] 		NLD
[17]
Pat Metheny Group
  • Released: January, 1978[18]
  • Label: ECM
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download[19]
 — — — 123 — — — — —
American Garage
  • Released: 1979
  • Label: ECM
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download[20]
 — — — 53 — — — — —
Offramp
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: ECM
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download[21]
 — — — 50 — — — — —
First Circle
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: ECM
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download[22]
 — — — 102 — — — — —
Still Life (Talking)
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: Geffen Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download[23]
 — — — 86 — — — — —
Letter from Home
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Geffen Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download[25]
 — — — 66 — — — — —
We Live Here
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Geffen Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download[26]
 102 — 45 83 — 23 — — —
Quartet
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Geffen Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download[27]
 121 — 70 187 — — — — —
Imaginary Day
  • Released: October 7, 1997[28]
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
  • Formats: CD,
    DVD-A, digital download[29]
 104 — 51 124 59 — — — —
Speaking of Now
  • Released: February 12, 2002[31]
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download[32]
 134 72 45 101 24 51 9 2 —
The Way Up
  • Released: January 25, 2005[34]
  • Label: Nonesuch Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download[35]
 117 61 34 99 29 40 11 1 68
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[10]
Travels
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: ECM
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download[37]
 62
The Road to You
  • Released: 1993
  • Label: Geffen Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download[38]
 170
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Date of release Title Comment
2015
Essential Collection Last Train Home

Soundtracks

Title Album details Peak chart positions
GER
[12] 		US
[10] 		NLD
[17]
The Falcon and the Snowman
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: EMI
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download[39]
 44 54 46
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards
Year Category[citation needed] Nominated work Note
1983 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance Offramp Won
1984 Travels Won
1985 First Circle Won
1988 Still Life (Talking) Won
1990 Letter from Home Won
1994 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album The Road to You Won
1996 We Live Here Won
1999 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance "The Roots of Coincidence" Won
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album Imaginary Day Won
2003 Speaking of Now Won
2006 The Way Up Won

References

  1. ^ [1] Archived March 19, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ISBN 978-1904994107
    .
  3. ISBN 0-89820-180-2
    )
  4. ^ [2] Archived March 19, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Chronology – Live Recordings Database". Pat Metheny Database. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021.
  6. ^ Recording dates listed in album liner notes were consulted.
  7. ^ "Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol". zobbel.de. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  8. ^ Steffen Hung. "Pat Metheny Group". Les Charts. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  9. ^ "パット・メセニーのアルバム売上ランキング – ORICON STYLE". oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  10. ^ a b c "Pat Metheny Group – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  11. ^ "Pat Metheny – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  12. ^ a b "Home – Offizielle Deutsche Charts". officialcharts.de. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  13. ^ Steffen Hung. "Pat Metheny Group". Swedish Charts. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  14. ^ Steffen Hung. "Pat Metheny Group". Italian Charts. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  15. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży". OLiS. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  16. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży". OLiS. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  17. ^ a b Steffen Hung. "Pat Metheny Group". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  18. ^ "Pat Metheny Group – Pat Metheny Group". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  19. ^ "Pat Metheny Group by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. March 1978. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  20. ^ "American Garage by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  21. ^ "Offramp by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. 3 May 1982. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  22. ^ "First Circle by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. October 1984. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  23. ^ "Still Life (Talking) by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. 7 July 1987. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  24. ^ a b "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". riaa.com. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  25. ^ "Letter from Home by Pat Metheny". Apple Music. January 1989. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  26. ^ "We Live Here by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. January 1995. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  27. ^ "Quartet by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. January 1996. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  28. ^ "Imaginary Day – Pat Metheny Group,Pat Metheny | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  29. ^ "Imaginary Day by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. January 1997. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  30. ^ "ZPAV :: Bestsellery i wyróżnienia – Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD – Archiwum". bestsellery.zpav.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  31. ^ "Speaking of Now – Pat Metheny,Pat Metheny Group | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  32. ^ "Speaking of Now by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. 12 February 2002. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  33. ^ "ZPAV :: Bestsellery i wyróżnienia – Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD – Archiwum". bestsellery.zpav.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  34. ^ "The Way Up – Pat Metheny,Pat Metheny Group | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  35. ^ "The Way Up by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. 24 January 2005. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  36. ^ "ZPAV :: Bestsellery i wyróżnienia – Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD – Archiwum". bestsellery.zpav.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  37. ^ "Travels by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  38. ^ "The Road to You (Live) by Pat Metheny". Apple Music. January 1993. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  39. ^ "Falcon & the Snowman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Pat Metheny Group". Apple Music. Retrieved 2016-05-15.

External links

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