RobiNZ Personal Blog

Pat Metheny’s ultimate one man band — Orchestrion

Pat Metheny makes the ultimate one man band — Orchestrion. I own the CD but hadn’t seen this before, how amazing technology and talent makes amazing music.

First Circle, my second Metheny masterpiece

I mustn't have told Amazon I own this as today it was first on the “recommendations for you”. Its not the first Pat Metheny Group recording I heard, As Falls Wichita... has that honour, but is the first I owned. A CD when they were still new and represented a hefty chunk of my weekly, first job, income.

Some old albums don’t stand up when revisited but First Circle isn’t one. From Forward March — a favourite with dissonant, out-of-tune chords and notes to confound those who don’t know Metheny — to “Praise” it still shines and I listen to it regularly. Not bad twenty seven years after it was first released.

Pat Metheny on Tour with the Bose L1 System

Pat seems thrilled with his Bose L1 speakers, just need him to bring this tour to New Zealand so I can hear it!

Via http://twitter.com/PatMethenyNews

Pat Metheny creates a “live” solo “group” - ORCHESTRION

Ever thought a Solo performer, with a bit of automaton help, could sound this great? Pat Metheny’s latest project merges his performance with automated instruments to create a live solo live jazz group.

Can’t wait to hear the CD, wish the concert was coming a bit closer. Pat is touring ORCHESTRION through Europe in Feb/March, US/Canada starting in April but the closest he’ll get to NZ (so far) is L.A. or San Francisco. What about a Aussie/New Zealand leg Pat!?

Pat Metheny - ORCHESTRION

This project represents a conceptual direction that merges an idea from the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the technologies of today to create a new, open-ended platform for musical composition, improvisation and performance.

Preview Orchestration

An intro to Orchestration

FAQ, WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR THE ORCHESTRION PROJECT COME FROM?

FAQ: WHAT IS AN ORCHESTRION?

Pat Metheny Group – Forward March Live

This, the first track from First Circle, is one of my Favourite Pat Metheny Group tracks. It’s also a brilliant way to disrupt the demo of any new AV technology. I haven’t seen it performed live, even though I own every Pat Metheny Group DVD but think it’s a brilliant entrance. When I saw Pat perform in Wellington he mentioned possibly returning to New Zealand with the group. I hope one day they Forward March here.

Upojenie: Pat Metheny & Anna Maria Jopek - in the USA

Pat Metheny Group have an updated website and it's come with a bonus for US readers. The wonderful Upojenie which combines Polish singer Anna Maria Jopek's vocals with Pat Metheny Group tunes is now available in the US. Previously it was an import only title, which is how I got it way back in 2005 after 'Bugman' Rudd Kleinpaste played it. 

You can hear previews on the site but to be honest the short clips don't do the long format building themes of Pat Metheny's material much favour.

It's in Polish but don't let that put you off. Even though I don't understand them Anna's vocals just add another texture and work wonderfully with the tunes. Recommended.

 

Tags: Rudd+Kleinpaste, Pat+Metheny+Group, Anna+Maria+Jopek

Reminds me of Pat Metheny

The Central Otago landscape on the "Otago Traverse Cycle" reminded me of "Pat Metheny Country". The sort of images you see on his album covers appeared everywhere you look. This scene captures some that mood and reminded me of this disc cover.

Reminds me of Pat Metheny, originally uploaded by RobiNZ.

"The Way Up - Live" DVD hits New Zealand

I should be saying buy it at Amazon so I get some commission or at The Warehouse so helps my salary but if you’re in NZ you can click below to get the local Region 4 DVD version of  "The Way Up - Live".

I’ve been watching an imported disc for months, which cost way up more than the local version, and it’s brilliant. If you like Pat Metheny Group you’ll love it!

Pat Metheny Group – The Way Up – Live - Marbecks DVD
Release Date: Monday, 12 February, 2007
Pre-order your copy NOW

Pat Metheny is one of the most original and distinctive guitarists of modern times. Together with long-time collaborator and keyboards player, Lyle Mays, he founded the Pat Metheny Group in 1978. Instantly successful, they have established themselves at the forefront of jazz-rock fusion with a succession of best-selling albums and sell-out world tours. This show, filmed in late 2005, features the full concert version of his album 'The Way Up', which earned Pat Metheny Group their 10th Grammy Award and Metheny personally his 17th.

Tags: The+Way+Up+-+Live

I Missed The Way Up!

This arrived today but nobody was home

So it sits in the courier depot overnight  

It’s a long weekend 

The weather forecast isn’t great

Perfect DVD watching weather…

Saturday delivery is a wonderful thing!

Tags: The+Way+Up, Pat+Metheny+Group

Pat Metheny's Flash New Home Page

Pat Metheny Group have a new home page and it’s great. Loads of content but by far the best feature: 

Pat Metheny Radio – All Pat Metheny music, Streaming all day!

Pat Metheny: Home Page - www.patmetheny.com

Tags: Pat+Metheny+Group

J.B. Spins "The Way Up Live" DVD - Pat Metheny Group

Back in February 2005 I seriously considered flying to Tokyo, Seoul or San Diego just to see a concert. At that stage I hadn’t seen Pat Metheny perform other than on DVD. Pat Metheny Group’s “The Way Up” tour was getting rave reviews and that was the nearest it would get to New Zealand.

Since then I’ve seen Pat Metheny (Trio) perform in New Zealand and also, unexpectedly, have visited Seoul but not to see PMG. The Seoul performance I would have seen, funds allowing, has just been released on DVD. J.B. has a great review which is some comfort while I wait for the courier to deliver my copy. It’s been on pre-order from the day I found out about the release & it’s not far away…

J.B. Spins: The Way Up Live
One reason The Way Up was such an important recording when it was released, is that it seemed to synthesize everything the guitarist has previously explored, into a coherent, album-length statement. It was also great music, so The Way Up Live, featuring the Pat Metheny Group performing this extended piece in Seoul, is a welcome DVD arrival.

Pat Metheny Group "The Way Up" Live DVD due in October

I found the following item at CDJapan and thought you might be interested in it… 

IT’S THE DVD OF THE CONCERT OF THE BEST PAT METHENY GROUP RECORDING EVER RELEASED* 

c h a n d r a s u t r a: Pat Metheny Group The Way Up Tour Review
“Even James Joyce, music lover that he was, couldn't help me come up with the adjectives to describe the experience of seeing Pat Metheny Group, on tour”

Pat Metheny Group – "The Way Up" Live DVD
Release Date:2006/10/18
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VABG-1216

Running Time: 90mins, NTSC Format, Layers: single-sided/dual-layered,

Aspect Ratio(s): 16:9LB, Regional Encoding: 2, Color, Encoding: MPEG-2, Subtitles: Japanese ,

Audio Track : DTS 5.1ch &  Dolby Digital 5.1ch

 

* Until the next one

 

Track & more details at the Pat Metheny Group MySpace Blog

Pat Metheny - Are You Going With Me

Another Pat Metheny masterpiece, thanks to jazzmannl for sharing these. Compare this, more faithful to the original on the album Offramp, with Anna Maria Jopek's impressive vocal version.

Pat Metheny - Minuano with the Metropole Orchestra

Pat Metheny - Minuano - with the Metropole Orchestra (Live from North Sea Jazz 2003) is just awesome. It’s one of Pat’s best tracks and works nicely with the orchestra. Can you buy this on DVD somewhere????

For comparison, there is a clip of the original Minuano (Six Eight) from the album Still Life (Talking) at Amazon.

42 strings, not an orchestra, just a guitar

Over on “A Welsh View” Robert Gale asks “Think you can play this?” (42 string guitar).

Well, no, but I’ve seen someone who can!  One the highlights of Pat Metheny’s recent New Zealand concert was a solo on the 42 String Pikasso Guitar. You can see a brief clip of it in action, not sure where it was filmed, below…

Anna Maria Jopek & Pat Metheny

The beautiful Anna Maria Jopek with Pat Metheny  -  Are You Going With Me?

Quote from Anna Maria Jopek interview by Marco Losavio  about making UPOJENIE

“This was the most rewarding and beautiful time in our lives, yet at the same time the most exhausting, we hardly survived the tension and the suspense. When Pat eventually arrived in Warsaw for a week in October 2002 it all vanished – and the purest joy of making music with your greatest hero of all time remained. How he works is another story. It would be wise to publish a book on that one day. It's unlikely we will ever meet someone like him again. He's from another world.”

Pat Metheny Group Podcast

Seems like today is podcast discovery day as discovered the Pat Metheny Group podcast. The first discusses the re-mastered SONG X and there are iTunes and RSS subscriptions for future editions.

I have to admit I tried to like SONG X when it was released but never really got it. Perhaps it’s time for another attempt.

Pat Metheny Group Listener Network - Podcasts
Celebrating the Twentieth Anniversary of the historic recording SONG X featuring Pat Metheny, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden, Jack DeJohnette & Denardo Coleman

1575 km in 3 days in an Uno

I can’t pretend the drive (red map route) to Wellington for the Pat Metheny Trio concert was an economy run but I had the Etrex GPS running all the time so it was interesting to see how the numbers added up.

I matched the traffic flow, running at the speed limit where possible, managing a moving average of 79.8 km/h over the 1575km distance. Given that included getting in & out of Auckland, a couple of commuter type trips around Wellington and a slow crawl through Waikanae, 5km took about an hour thanks to a traffic jam caused by a roadside fire, it was a respectable speed.

The hills were tackled at full throttle when required which is quite often! The haul onto the volcanic plateau around Mt Ruapehu, with 1000m altitude knocking a few kilowatts off the usual massive 34kw (45hp!) available, is full throttle all the way yet the mighty 1 litre Ferrari still managed to average 5.7 l/100km (49.3mpg). Not bad for an old car!

The big 32.8l fill (Wiri to Foxton) + only having 98 octane, can’t use 91 and no 96, meant it was the first time I’ve managed to fit in more than $50

TRIP Km	FUEL l	l/100 km	mpg	km/l
592.5	32.8	5.5	51.0	18.1
482.4	29.6	6.1	46.1	16.3
500.5	27.9	5.6	50.7	18.0
1575.4	90.3	5.7	49.3	17.4

Pat Metheny Trio rocks in Wellington

This isn’t a comprehensive review, I was far to busy enjoying the performance to remember all the detail required to document a stunning event but here goes with a few memories…

Pat Metheny walked onto the stage of the Michael Fowler Centre and began his first ever New Zealand performance with a baritone guitar solo. I didn’t recognise the tune at first, he later said was an improvisation, but it evolved into a variation of Last Train Home that set the scene for an awesome evening. I was sitting close enough to see the delicate finger-work & complex techniques that result in that unique Metheny sound. As much as I enjoy the DVD’s it was wonderful to finally see Pat perform without a director intruding!

From intimate solo’s, including one on the 42 String Pikasso Guitar, to powerful electro-acoustic tours, accompanied by the excellent Antonio Sanchez (Drums) and Christian McBride (Acoustic Bass), every aspect of this Trio’s combined talents were revealed. The performance ranged from some of Pat’s earliest works, Bright Size Life, to “group tracks” like So May It Secretly Begin, from Still Life (Talking), artfully rearranged for the Trio.  I was rapt when they played Always and Forever, a favourite of mine from Secret Story. Pat mentioned a new track, as yet unnamed other than “No 13”, was written for the Trio & maybe a new CD “if they get time in the studio”. I hope they do.

I was expecting a more “traditional jazz trio” sound, which was there at times, but this combination also rocked with sound levels that threatened to blast open the theatre doors! A standing ovation led to a blues’ey encore, with Christian on electric bass for the first time, followed by another standing ovation as a happy looking Trio left the stage. It appeared they had a good time, it was apparent the audience certainly did.

I chose to drive down to Wellington for the weekend. Monday was a stunning day and the nine hour drive home, with a Metheny soundtrack all the way (Travels, One Quiet Night, The Way Up, First Circle and more), was a memorable end to a wonderful weekend (just look at Mt Ruapehu right).

Live, the Pat Metheny Trio was electrifying, just as the festival promotion promised – now we have to lure him back to New Zealand with the group!

Related Links:

NZ Performance discussion, and “kiwihead”s posting of Tyler Hersey’s much more comprehensive review, at the Pat Metheny Group Listener Network.

Pat Metheny Trio Bio

Finally, Pat Metheny Live in New Zealand!

First there was a circle….

About 20 years ago I picked up a CD in the library. CD’s were still fairly new, & expensive in New Zealand, so it was a good way to audition before buying. I’d never heard of the artist but liked the design of the cover. It’s not the best way to choose music but a brief audition showed Pat Metheny was no ordinary musician and there began a lifetime of pleasure.

Not, it must be said, always instant pleasure as Pat’s music can be “challenging” at times. However, some tracks I’ve not liked at first later became long term favourites. I now own most of his catalog, CD and DVD, and listen to them all, often.

Pat Metheny Group has won an unprecedented 10 Grammys beginning in 1982 for the record, OFFRAMP, to last years release “The Way Up”. Pat, himself, has won 17 Grammy awards in 10 different categories ranging from Best Instrumental Composition to Best Rock Performance.

This weekend I’m heading to Wellington to hear the Pat Metheny perform, for the first time ever, in New Zealand!

Pat Metheny Trio - NZ International Arts Festival 2006
Pat Metheny with Christian McBride and Antonio Sanchez
12 Mar, 8:00pm, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

http://www.patmethenygroup.com/ (official Website)

Pat Metheny Group wins a Grammy for "The Way Up"

My favourite Pat Metheny Group album wins a Grammy!

The Way Up wins Best Contemporary Jazz Album. That’s the 17th Grammy for Pat, 11th for the group!

Can’t wait to see Pat in his first ever New Zealand performance next month!

Best Contemporary Jazz Album ~ www.grammy.com

Pat Metheny Group Listener Network.

Pat Metheny Trio - NZ International Arts Festival 2006

Pat Metheny, in New Zealand!

Nothing more to say other than see you in Wellington!

Pat Metheny Trio - NZ International Arts Festival 2006
Pat Metheny with Christian McBride and Antonio Sanchez, United States
12 Mar, 8:00pm, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

Pat Metheny at Festival International de Jazz de Montreal 2005

A review of Pat Metheny Group’s outdoor performance of The Way Up at the Montreal Jazz Festival. It was filmed, hopefully there will be a DVD of this.

Festival International de Jazz de Montreal 2005, Day 11, July 10, 2005

Pat Metheny talks...

c h a n d r a s u t r a found this interview with Pat Metheny in which he discusses the creative process and  “The Way Up”:

“It's a reaction, he says, to a world where things are getting shorter, dumber, less interesting, less detailed and more predictable.”

c h a n d r a s u t r a: Pat Metheny talks about his music and form on NPR

Pat inspires many, including a Porsche Designer;

“Some years ago I asked Porsche’s Tony Hatter about the mysterious source and said modern sculpture and animal forms, getting a high while running, basketball shoes, running shoes, ski boots, sports gear in general, the peak train in Hong Kong, the strong plastic smell from car seat covers, elevators, escalators, and the album As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls by Pat Metheny.

Artistic inspiration is a source of wonder and awe…”

Stephen Bayley writing in Car Magazine ~ March 2005

The Pat Metheny Group Is A Jazz Dynamo

I found another review of PMG’s The Way Up tour, this time from Houston, which I hadn’t seen listed on the PMG.com site.

After reading Chandrasutra’s review of the Toronto performance and now this one I’m almost tempted to max out the credit card and buy a ticket to Europe where the remaining performances are scheduled. The nearest tour venue was 9,000km away but there is no other way to see it unless more Asia Pacific performances are planned.

Other than that my only hope is that there will be a DVD. It’s not like being there but better than nothing. Please release a “The Way Up tour DVD” Pat!

Jazz Concert Review - The Pat Metheny Group Is A Jazz Dynamo @ jazzreview.com

"The Way Up" down to New Plymouth

It sounds like a nightmare; a 5 hour solo drive and only one CD. Recently I drove from Auckland to New Plymouth, about 360km (220m), and for the entire trip listened to only one disc – Pat Metheny Group’s new CD “The Way Up”

As I left Auckland it provided a sound-track for Friday “motorway” traffic that rarely exceeded 60–80km/h due to people cruising along in all the lanes – brain in neutral. With no choice other than to follow (keep left is a concept not commonly understood it seems) at least I had stimulating music to pass the time.

I don’t really feel I’ve escaped until crossing the one-way bridge at Rangiriri, 70km south of the city. Here you leave “State Highway One” for country roads and finally feel free.

It still puzzles me why so few people do this but the roads that run down the west bank of the Waikato River are generally empty and free of the painful road improvement works that currently blight State Highway One on the other side.

By this time I had heard the disc once and as I crossed the river “Opening”  faded into “Part One” (trk2) for the second time. Flat straight roads pass by dairy farms and fields of maise ready for harvest. By now up to a more comfortable 100 km/h the scenery rolled by as if it part of a great road film. The mood of the music ebbs and flows and seemed to match the road as it follows the river through Huntly and Ngaruawahia before heading inland to Pirongia.

You leave the river valley and travel over rolling farm county towards Otorohanga and Te Kuiti. As I rounded a corner or crested a hill another variation of the scenery unfurled and the music seemed to match with an appropriate change of pace or tone. By this time it was probably on its third play but with the CD on infinite repeat it had become one long virtuoso performance.

The track markers on this disc are superfluous as it should, no it demands, to be listened to as a whole. Break it into tracks and you loose an essential aspect that an uninterrupted session provides. That it is rich and varied enough to stand five repeats without becoming repetitive yet still hangs together as a cohesive piece is a tribute to both the writing and performance.

The trip down the Awakino Gorge was fun, stunning scenery and nice clear roads, until near the end where I caught a line of traffic behind a cattle truck. It was empty, so light, and as the road straightened near the coast was travelling reasonably quickly. However, rather than follow it I decided a pit-stop was due and diverted to explore Mokau.

Its a delightful “old fashioned” holiday settlement where the “baches” (Northern Kiwi term for holiday homes, they are “Cribs” in the South) are just that and not the pretentious mansions that form “suburbs by the sea” in some other places. Its good to know the traditional Kiwi holiday atmosphere survives somewhere.

The Tasman Sea was unusually calm and the evening sun made for stunning views. At the end of “Point Rd” Part Two (tk3) played softly while taking I was photos and two surfers debated where, if anywhere, it would be possible to get a wave. I suspect thats a rare problem on this coast!

Mokau has an interesting history and is worthy of a longer visit. There is a river cruise on a classic boat that looked interesting and nearby walks to the Tongaporutu “White Cliffs” and “Three Sisters” coastal features. Unfortunately time was short and I had to drive on to New Plymouth – something for next time.

It wasn’t intended to provide the sound-track for a trip down south in New Zealand but nice drive was dramatically enhanced by the best Pat Metheny Group album to date – “The Way Up”.

Anna Maria Jopek & Pat Metheny

Just heard a nice track by Anna Maria Jopek from the disc Upojenie.

'Bugman' Rudd Kleinpaste (he’s an entomologist) was the guest on “Playing Favourites”. Its a section of the “Saturday Morning” program, on Radio NZ’s National Radio, where guests get the chance to share some of their musical favourites. Rudd chose one of Anna’s and I liked what I heard.

Anna Maria Jopek is a Polish singer and collaborated with Pat Metheny adding lyrics (in Polish) to some of his tracks. It was the first time I’d heard this disc and will have to get it.

Anna Maria Jopek Website

Quote from her Bio page:

“I couldn't think of anything more inspiring, motivating and ear opening than working with Pat. He's been my first and most important mentor for years, but to actually make music with him was the most thrilling experience in my life..." - Anna Maria Jopek commented on their project.

"Anna Maria Jopek and Friends with Pat Metheny: Upojenie" - the unique, one of the kind tribute to the master composer, guitarist, 15 time Grammy Award Winner became an instant classic, selling over 80,000 copies in thirty days.

All about Jazz Review: Anna Maria Jopek and Friends with Pat Metheny | Upojenie

UPDATE 31–03–05: Have just got the CD and really like it. Will post more about it soon.

BlogJet music detection

BlogJet has a detect current music feature. I’m listening to San Lorenzo ~ Pat Metheny and it just created that link so it seems to work!

It works for Apple iTunes, Winamp and Windows Media Player (download a plug-in) but you can read about that in the BlogJet Wiki

Review of The Way Up Tour - Toronto - Pat Metheny Group

c h a n d r a s u t r a has superb reviews of Pat Metheny Group’s "The Way Up Tour - Toronto"” and the CD. While you are there, or if not a PMG fan, check out the other content and photo albums. It’s a lovely blog.

c h a n d r a s u t r a: Pat Metheny Group takes Toronto all The Way Up

“Even James Joyce, music lover that he was, couldn't help me come up with the adjectives to describe the experience of seeing Pat Metheny Group, on tour”

c h a n d r a s u t r a: Going all The Way Up with Pat Metheny Group

“For those of us who love jazz as a living thing, as an organic and vital form, TWU represents an epic achievement in jazz form”

The Way Up tour is extensive

but, unfortunately, comes nowhere near New Zealand. Tokyo is the closest however 8,809km is a long way to go for a concert. The only way I’ve seen PMG perform to date is on DVD & I hope there will be one of this tour. Experiencing PMG Live is high on my “Must do before I die” list but arranging to be on the other side of the world at the right time is tricky.

A long way to “The Way Up” for me!
Auckland to Tokyo 8809 km  332° true
Auckland to Seoul 9597 km  324° true
Auckland to San Diego 10462 km  51° true

PS: This post is green with envy

Learning to love "The Way Up" - Pat Metheny Group

The first time I heard “The Way Up” from Pat Metheny Group my reaction was not “I love it”.

Its a 68 minute single piece which starts with a manic feel (Jazz meets MTV?) then goes off on tangents and through many variations of mood. It’s been in the car CD player for more than two weeks so I’ve heard it many times, plus several end to end home & headphone sessions, and now I do love it.

There are aspects of many previous releases but this is far from a rehash. It’s a piece that continues to reward as you discover something new every time you listen. The form reminds me a little of As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, one of my favourite early PMG albums/tracks, but there are many other influences apparent. There are some short samples on the Amazon page but 4 minutes give you little idea of the real impact of the complete work. If you like PMG its worth a listen, and another, and another, and another…. just don’t judge and dismiss it the first time. “The Way Up” will be high on my PMG favourites list, maybe even at the top.

PS: One member missing from the PMG line-up is Mark Ledford who was wonderful on the CD/DVD’s We Live Here and Secret Story. Tonight I was sad to learn that he died late last year. What a loss. There is a obituary by Todd S Jenkins here.

New Pat Metheny Group recording coming

Looking at my music favourites you notice Pat Metheny (solo & group) appears more than a few times. Great news is that another release is coming soon to add to the collection.

The new record by the Pat Metheny Group is called “The Way Up” and will be released in January 2005 with a world tour to immediately follow.
“ The Way Up” is a single continuous 68 minute composition written by guitarist Metheny and longtime collaborator/pianist Lyle Mays to feature the latest PMG lineup. See full details at Pat Metheny Group Listener Network Website