In 84 I was in the post apocalyptic desert burnt out from metal, punk, and progressive rock. I turned a show in Boston called the fuse box 88.9 and heard the opening line of San Lorenzo and never looked back .
I love...LOVE how you ended this. Thank you so much. San Lorenzo is a song I played for my children when they were very young. I asked them to make up stories based on it as well as on Last Train Home. We would listen as we drove them to school each morning and I would describe what the music made me imagine and then they would take turns as well. I love These two PMG songs more than almost any other because they are so lyric and narrative. This breakdown is particularly poignant during this time. Thank you again.
Thanks Kimberly, The whole album is such a dream. and about the ending, I said.. what the heck, I usually don't talk about the solos, Let's go through it just a little bit... :) And thanks for sharing the memories.
Honestly it is maybe the first time that I see (and hear) someone playing that with the same intensity and nuances than the master. This song is a little bit sacred for me. It is like the definition of joy or happiness. It is important to notice that this was written in an era where Fusion were on top and speed performance the standard. Here we have all the power of genius in feeling, hamonic surprises, rhythmic melodic patterns. It is complex but not demonstration. Thanks a lot Guy to made a video on this tune. And once again, well done for the interpretation !
I bet Pat watches Guy's analyses and says to himself, "Hell yes, THAT is exactly what I meant". The other thing about these videos which is often unsaid is that your playing, Doctor Guy, your reproduction of every nuance, is incredible. Thank you.
You think? Maybe he should say hi for once haha! Seriously, Thank you. I pay as much attention as I can to details, and believe me, It doesn't sound like that when I start working on it. It takes some serious practicing sometimes.. Thank you!! :)
I absolutely love the song already… ❤but, with your beautiful and comprehensive insights, i am now amazed( still),with the absolute genius of Lyle Mays…🙏thank you, man.
I must say that, while Pat Metheney and Lyle Mays were truly amazing as composers, you are equally as amazing for your ability to hear and interperet the language of music, break it down and narrate these beautiful songs in a way that in itself is a most beautifying form of art. I also must thank TH-cam for providing a channel to allow you to create these wonderful videos you make for us. Thank you.
Thank you, and so true! That what Mozart wrote his dad in a letter concerning his piano concertos: the musicians appreciated the details, and the amateurs simply loved them :)
I've been a Metheny Group fan for years and I'm loving your breakdown of their tunes... by far the best and most thoughtful analysis of this great music on TH-cam. I'm on a mission to watch all of your videos. :D Looking forward to the next one!
Hi Brandon, their music has raised so many thoughts and questions in me over the years, These videos are the reflections of that. I’m glad you like them, thank you :)
Wow. Just discovered your channel. I guess it was only a matter of time that I would find analyses of my top two favorite music groups in one channel: Pat Metheny and Radiohead. I first discovered Metheny in 1987 when a fellow employee at a piano store popped a cassette of The First Circle in my car stereo on the way to lunch. I thought he was playing a joke on me because "Forward March", we can all agree, is like a drill to the head. I'm like, "Dude, get that shit out of my car." But he's like, "No, no, just hold on, trust me." Then came "Yolanda, You Learn". Smooth, fast, rockin'. Okay. Yup. Me gusta. Then came the title track, and the rest is history. I had been learning Zeppelin and Floyd on guitar already, but that track just blew me away. It was just so different, so enigmatic to me. Letter From Home took it up a few more notches. My summer of '92 is defined by Secret Story. It still fascinates me. Anyway...I would like to respectfully request analyses of "Song For Bilbao" and "Au Lait" if it pleases you. And while we're at it, I believe Radiohead's "Everything In Its Right Place" deserves a proper Shkolnik desconstruction at some point. No pressure! Thanks so much for all this. Very cool.
Adam, thanks! Straight to Au Lait and everything in it's right place, huh? what's next? Mozart's Don Giovanni, and we can call it a day... :) Amazing suggestions, at least one of them is on my radar for quite a while now, I'll get to it soon. I'm glad you discovered the channel :)
Guy, I was thrilled to see you take on this piece, which is one of my favorite Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays compositions. I am an amateur musician, mainly a horn player, but I have followed Pat Metheny for quite a while. I have always loved this song, but after getting involved in a couple of handbell groups, it suddenly struck me that this piece was meant to be played by a large handbell choir (especially the motif you started this video with, and the opening and closing motif on the original recording). Thanks!
Dr. Guy - you are rocking my world with your incredible video analyses. I started playing classical piano when I was probably in 2nd grade. I could play written music pretty well and was a good sight reader. But when I was in my early teens (I am 60 years old now), I wanted to learn to play without reading music. I didn’t know jazz at the time. There was no TH-cam. I loved Pink Floyd and I wanted to play like Richard Wright. But I couldn’t find a teacher other than a classical music teacher. And I am not good at transcribing music or just playing by ear. I studied music theory on my own, and learned as much as I could without a teacher. What you are teaching is on a level I could never even imagine. I am still fascinated by music theory. Pat Metheny is one of my musical heroes.(and Lyle of course. I am glad I found your channel.
Thanks Alan! When I was working on My doctorate work on the fugues of Bach, what my supervisor and I were trying to do is simplify the music - so we can see what's going on in the music. I'm bringing this approach here - trying to make it as clear as possible, avoiding fancy terms etc. I find that the knowledge that musicians have is often enough to get the point. I'm so glad you like these videos :)
This tune is GORGEOUS ! And you capture the essence so nicely. Nice to hear these piano parts so clearly. Wish the original PMG recording was of better quality. Right on !
Wow! Thank you for this great video, Guy. I love how you've explained everything. It's a wonderfully thought-out tune, but at the same time it's much simpler than what Lyle would write just a few years later. The tune is all about Lyle, apart from those iconic opening chords that Pat wrote and played on the 12-string. Despite all of Lyle's contributions, Pat's opening chords are what I think define the character of the tune.
Hey Matt! Thank you! From Reading the songbook I learned that Pat was responsible for the Db Major part. Maybe the one that follows too. But yes, Lyle took those short ideas, organized them (these basslines as usual) and wrote a lot of new material. But yes Pat's guitar... :)
You have no idea how much I love your videos. I've been wanting to play this song since a long time ago but I can't read music, so thanks to your videos I can play the song just by imitating what you do. Many thanks!
Ezequiel I'm so glad to hear that! Thank you, I know you will enjoy learning this great music - clear, sophisticated and just beautiful! (Follow me also on IG, I got many music theory videos)
You've chosen to explain my favourite lyle performence and as a non musician I am amazed and somewhat sad. Lyle was a majestic musician and I saw the pmg in GB play this tune amongst many others the audience were rapturous.happy days, well done
Thanks Guy. This album is beautiful, San Lorenzo is my favorite track. When I listen to this particular song I see myself in San Sebastian beach, with some friends, good drinks and music, just before the sun goes down. On the 'Travels' version, Mays shines. I like the 12 string guitar Pat uses as well. When I started to learn San Lorenzo on piano, It felt like a Zawinul-Pastorius composition, as you mentioned. An exotic point of view, I suppose.
Thank you Alioth I'm going to listen to the Travels version later tonight, I remember they played it a bit slower, elevating it to something truly spiritual..
@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer The Travels/live version is slower and adds ~2.5 minutes to the piece. The best part of the live version is Lyle Mays' piano solo, which ascends to a first climax, then comes back to earth, only to rise like a phoenix from the ashes. I liken the latter part to testifying in a church service. We shall miss Lyle Mays.
I lost track of how many times I watched this, particularly from the PIANO SOLO section. Very fascinating how to put together very simple phrases into something expressive and musically interesting. Thank-you for the analysis and performance!
Thanks Mike, I'll be doing more of these, I just have less free time, I'm zooming a college course, and writing stuff. But I got more coming up ,and from the same years first years.
In this piece Lyle Mays improvises one of the most inspiring, beautiful and emblematic solos in his way of playing the piano, at least for me. You do a magnificent job! ✨
Great analysis as usual Guy. I've always enjoyed this piece. It starts off like a primordial soup of possibility, and then its tempo quickens and it takes off from 1.49 - 3.40 leading into an emotional rollercoaster, then winds down from there with Pat on Electric (I believe), and then we get Lyle's solo (on the album version, Lyle's first notes always echo "Amazing Grace" to me). I get excited listening to the song each time. I wish you hadn't omitted that funky 2 minute section (1.49 - 3.40) which showed us that this group wasn't playing around. However, as usual, I've enjoyed your insight into this group's works. Thanks for the upload.
But I did include the first part of 1:49! :) And yes exactly - primordial soup, it is also how Wagner opens his opera Rheingold by the way... I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Richard, Thanks!
Thank you. This is brilliant. I believe Lyle was influenced by Jaco Pastorius. He uses bass notes the way Jaco would, even with a wild-eyed flair to his playing. Genius recognizes genius.
It is *so* amazingly easy to hear *both* Pat's and Lyle's contributions in this piece. Really enjoyed listening to your observations, insights, and interpretations, Guy. Thanks for yet another informative and enjoyable discussion, especially regarding the wonderful rhythmic and harmonic characteristics of "San Lorenzo" and of "early Pat and Lyle" in general. And, I only *very clearly* heard Weather Report, another of the greatest bands of all-time, *after* you pointed it out ... "very cool beans" on that. Also, very "nice touch" on the ending of this video! :-)
Thanks Jim! :) My good friend Avi Adrian (who's a great pianist!) is a huge WR fan, he once had Zawinul at his home for a whole week. He was the one who pointed it out to me :)
I subscribed after seeing your videos the first time and should have thanked you then. As a guitarist and PM fan forever I was always curious how the “magic” was put together. For me every album was special and still is. I never tire of them. It didn’t take long to realize how important Lyle Mays was to that process. You’ve given me deeper understanding of their music. Thanks again but now I might have to take up piano lessons. Keep the videos coming!
After watching and listening to several of the Mays/Metheny arrangements, I’ve gotta say, this is the most insightful endeavor into the spirit of Lyle Mayes’ music. Bravo Doc. I’ll be working through this and many of your tutorials for some time to come. The overhead camera angle is so very helpful..
Thank you very much for sharing your work, Guy! This song means a lot to me, and the fact that you posted this on my birthday makes it a really special gift :-)
Hey Guy... again a grat video.... I'll never forget the day, I saw the PMG 0.1 at german TV NDR3 ... they broadcasted a gig the PMG gave @ legendary Hamburg Club " Onkel Pö".... the set opened with San Lorenzo and I could'nt believe what I heard.... now you will "explain" me, why I became immediately "stucked to"....thanxs Guy...:-)
It's fun and valuable information at the same time watching your videos - thank you! I love how you show the phenomenon of Lyle's way of composing harmonic-rhythmical irregularities that finally sum up to a power of 2. I firstly did notice it consciously when transcribing "The Ascent" from "Alaskan Suite" - otherwise i probably would not have recognized that the coda - repeating 5(?) times before reaching the climax - does consist of exactly 16 bars ... that's only one of Lyle's ingenious aspects as a composer! May favorite recording of "San Lorenzo" is the rendering on the "Travels" album - the pentatonic motif at the beginning has something floating as it is rather a 5tuplet than the syncopated version on the studio album. Lyle's entry to the solo on the studio album is ingenious ... but the one on "Travels" is even magic ... as the whole solo - instantly touching the heart! Would appreciate your subscription to my channel, too (even if I am much less active there) - thank you!
For me, the best part of this video is that the Playing swings better with the 2 and 4 click than the original does with Gottlieb’s drums. Really good work!
Thank you! :) I mean... Danny and Lyle forever, but It is possible to be somewhat musical with a machine (with some micro tuning of the timing of the 2 and the 4)
Thanks Stefan :) Making the videos help me understand the music too. There's Au Lait by Lyle (Offramp) that I don't want to analyze. This one is so magical - I want to keep it that way. Thanks for watching, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! :)
Wow! I dont exactly know much about music theory but your analyses does help me to understand a bit. And btw. I am a huge PMG fan and the late Lyle Mays is my favourite keyboardist. RIP. From Malaysia
Thank you! I always have in mind the lovers of this music who are not theory experts. A close friend of Lyle told me recently that for Lyle the process was to feel something and then use his musical tools to pass it on to his listeners. So it all starts and ends with communicating a vision, a certain emotion. By the way, Shahar in Hebrew means morning:)
what is said at 3:45 reminds me of getting the songbook for future reference (not having learnt to play...yet?); showing this piece to my dad, amateur organist, who in reading the intro was puzzled by unclear tempo and asked "is this red indian music?". years later, i still haven't learnt to play but I tried creating a little midi-controller track drawing on "something" from this haunting intro
Dr Guy, thanks and congratulations for one more great video. I'll keep watching each and every one. BTW, I always say in my comments how great you played the pieces you are analyzing, don't I?... Thank you, and greetings from Brazil!
You're a brilliant pianist. I love what you do. Thank you. Why am I suddenly thinking about the Steely Dan's song Dr. Wu? Maybe just because it's brilliant as well.
Great job, I always follow you with a lot of interest, I would like to know if it is possible to have the transcripts to have a more correct view of what you do. Thanks
Hi Guy - I have really enjoyed your analysis and playing of the early Pat Metheny songs. Not sure if this would be a topic of interest, but I would like to know more about that 'country American' vibe in the early Pat Metheny work. This album that includes San Lorenzo, as well as the American Garage album have a certain American country quality that seems to not be so apparent in later works.
Thank you Alan. Yes I know exactly what you mean, Brazilian music became the sound signature of this band gradually.After these two albums. I love this sound to!!
Alan, I just wanted to reply to your comment because that is my favorite period of PMG. I stuck with them through Letter From Home but found things getting farther and farther from the sound/aesthetic that drew me to them originally. Nothing they did is without its brilliance, but I just prefer the albums with Dan Gottlieb. I think within that "country' sound as you describe it, there was also more American roots influence overall. "Travels" and "Goodbye" are standouts as are "Eighteen" and "Are You Going With Me". Anyway, that's my two cents! Great to connect with other fans.
@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer Guy - I forgot to add below that I very much enjoy your videos...almost TOO much!! hahaha Seriously, the way you've structured these and your delivery of the information and the insights....just stellar.. FYI, I got a degree in Jazz Studies from North Texas (Lyle went there for a bit!) and I would loved to have you as a professor when i was in school. Especially with your appreciation of Pat/Lyle. Thanks to youtube, I get to pretend! : ) Looking forward to more. Best to you...
@@haysfordays Thank you! I mean, these days I'm liking the social media giants a little more than usual, for letting people like us connect. There will be more videos on Pat and Lyle's music! I'm also starting a new series of tackling music theory stuff. Best to you too! Guy.
@@haysfordays Appreciate your reply and I agree that the early work still has some qualities that I often return to. I will checkout those songs you mention. I really like some of the tunes on the Watercolors album also. There are elements about Pat's technique and phrasing that I really like in the early recordings. In later recordings other elements in his technique kind of masked that early sound to some degree. I was living in Dallas in 1981 and would often hear North Texas students playing jazz and fusion locally. Cool that you were able to go there as a student.
I don't know what type of person you are... But they are all great. the first album of PMG has San Lorenzo in it It's a lovely album. My favourite probably is Offramp because of the mix of shadows and lights. Fantastic album. Both are from their time at the ECM label, when recordings were done in only 2 days (that was the usual ECM process).
So you REALLY have to tour. I miss the classic PMG, and that will never come back. Your heart and soul has that feel that will fill that void that Lyle left. Interest????
Have you done one on have you heard? I love Lyle's solo on the road to you. It really sounds like he is hitting the keys hard at the end. But I have seen him live many times and he always appeared to have a light touch?
Thanks for this! Love this song!! Takes you to a different place. The recording quality could have been better on the record which leads me to my next point...you should record this over and get it out! I'll play the guitar. Where are you located? Hit me up
Hey Alan! thanks! I just listened to House on Rivka Rd... loved it! I'm located in Israel now. I'm not sure about covering this, this but I do have new original music we can talk about! I'm on Facebook and Instagram by the same name.
If you want to support my work - ko-fi.com/guyshkolnik
Thanks! :)
In 84 I was in the post apocalyptic desert burnt out from metal, punk, and progressive rock. I turned a show in Boston called the fuse box 88.9 and heard the opening line of San Lorenzo and never looked back .
I love...LOVE how you ended this. Thank you so much. San Lorenzo is a song I played for my children when they were very young. I asked them to make up stories based on it as well as on Last Train Home. We would listen as we drove them to school each morning and I would describe what the music made me imagine and then they would take turns as well. I love These two PMG songs more than almost any other because they are so lyric and narrative. This breakdown is particularly poignant during this time. Thank you again.
Thanks Kimberly, The whole album is such a dream. and about the ending, I said.. what the heck, I usually don't talk about the solos, Let's go through it just a little bit... :) And thanks for sharing the memories.
I'm so happy for your children. 🌍✌️💜
Honestly it is maybe the first time that I see (and hear) someone playing that with the same intensity and nuances than the master. This song is a little bit sacred for me. It is like the definition of joy or happiness. It is important to notice that this was written in an era where Fusion were on top and speed performance the standard. Here we have all the power of genius in feeling, hamonic surprises, rhythmic melodic patterns. It is complex but not demonstration. Thanks a lot Guy to made a video on this tune. And once again, well done for the interpretation !
Lyle's solo on the live Travel's version is just perfect, this track is something else completely.
I bet Pat watches Guy's analyses and says to himself, "Hell yes, THAT is exactly what I meant". The other thing about these videos which is often unsaid is that your playing, Doctor Guy, your reproduction of every nuance, is incredible. Thank you.
You think? Maybe he should say hi for once haha! Seriously, Thank you. I pay as much attention as I can to details, and believe me, It doesn't sound like that when I start working on it. It takes some serious practicing sometimes.. Thank you!! :)
Agree!!!
I’m guessing “Hell yes that is exactly what I meant” is what Pat Metheny said to Lyle Mays more than once over the years!
I could listen to a breakdown of Lyle solo all day. It’s a lovely, ethereal piece.
I absolutely love the song already… ❤but, with your beautiful and comprehensive insights, i am now amazed( still),with the absolute genius of Lyle Mays…🙏thank you, man.
heard this in 1978 in NY record store...changed my musical life forever...love your work and comments
Thanks Bob! I love this album ( this was my favorite video of the series btw)
I must say that, while Pat Metheney and Lyle Mays were truly amazing as composers, you are equally as amazing for your ability to hear and interperet the language of music, break it down and narrate these beautiful songs in a way that in itself is a most beautifying form of art. I also must thank TH-cam for providing a channel to allow you to create these wonderful videos you make for us. Thank you.
What can I say Daniel...Thank you :)
Thanks for sharing your insights. Pat and Lyle created music that’s beauty can be appreciated on multiple levels.
Thank you, and so true! That what Mozart wrote his dad in a letter concerning his piano concertos: the musicians appreciated the details, and the amateurs simply loved them :)
I've been a Metheny Group fan for years and I'm loving your breakdown of their tunes... by far the best and most thoughtful analysis of this great music on TH-cam. I'm on a mission to watch all of your videos. :D Looking forward to the next one!
Hi Brandon, their music has raised so many thoughts and questions in me over the years, These videos are the reflections of that. I’m glad you like them, thank you :)
Wow. Just discovered your channel. I guess it was only a matter of time that I would find analyses of my top two favorite music groups in one channel: Pat Metheny and Radiohead. I first discovered Metheny in 1987 when a fellow employee at a piano store popped a cassette of The First Circle in my car stereo on the way to lunch. I thought he was playing a joke on me because "Forward March", we can all agree, is like a drill to the head. I'm like, "Dude, get that shit out of my car." But he's like, "No, no, just hold on, trust me." Then came "Yolanda, You Learn". Smooth, fast, rockin'. Okay. Yup. Me gusta. Then came the title track, and the rest is history. I had been learning Zeppelin and Floyd on guitar already, but that track just blew me away. It was just so different, so enigmatic to me. Letter From Home took it up a few more notches. My summer of '92 is defined by Secret Story. It still fascinates me. Anyway...I would like to respectfully request analyses of "Song For Bilbao" and "Au Lait" if it pleases you. And while we're at it, I believe Radiohead's "Everything In Its Right Place" deserves a proper Shkolnik desconstruction at some point. No pressure! Thanks so much for all this. Very cool.
Adam, thanks! Straight to Au Lait and everything in it's right place, huh? what's next? Mozart's Don Giovanni, and we can call it a day... :)
Amazing suggestions, at least one of them is on my radar for quite a while now, I'll get to it soon.
I'm glad you discovered the channel :)
Guy, I was thrilled to see you take on this piece, which is one of my favorite Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays compositions. I am an amateur musician, mainly a horn player, but I have followed Pat Metheny for quite a while. I have always loved this song, but after getting involved in a couple of handbell groups, it suddenly struck me that this piece was meant to be played by a large handbell choir (especially the motif you started this video with, and the opening and closing motif on the original recording). Thanks!
Jay, this whole album is great. I'm glad you liked the video thanks!
💚 Beautiful PMG's piece ! , Great play ! and Instructive !... Awesome ! Thank you Guy 😃
Thank you Nabil, My pleasure!! :)
Dr. Guy - you are rocking my world with your incredible video analyses. I started playing classical piano when I was probably in 2nd grade. I could play written music pretty well and was a good sight reader. But when I was in my early teens (I am 60 years old now), I wanted to learn to play without reading music. I didn’t know jazz at the time. There was no TH-cam. I loved Pink Floyd and I wanted to play like Richard Wright. But I couldn’t find a teacher other than a classical music teacher. And I am not good at transcribing music or just playing by ear. I studied music theory on my own, and learned as much as I could without a teacher. What you are teaching is on a level I could never even imagine. I am still fascinated by music theory. Pat Metheny is one of my musical heroes.(and Lyle of course. I am glad I found your channel.
Thanks Alan! When I was working on My doctorate work on the fugues of Bach, what my supervisor and I were trying to do is simplify the music - so we can see what's going on in the music. I'm bringing this approach here - trying to make it as clear as possible, avoiding fancy terms etc. I find that the knowledge that musicians have is often enough to get the point.
I'm so glad you like these videos :)
This tune is GORGEOUS ! And you capture the essence so nicely. Nice to hear these piano parts so clearly. Wish the original PMG recording was of better quality.
Right on !
Beautiful, just beautiful. Thanks once again for a great analysis, I enjoyed this one a lot!
This is my favorite song.
Probably listened to a thousand times.
You added to my enjoyment.
Thanks
Wow! Thank you for this great video, Guy. I love how you've explained everything. It's a wonderfully thought-out tune, but at the same time it's much simpler than what Lyle would write just a few years later. The tune is all about Lyle, apart from those iconic opening chords that Pat wrote and played on the 12-string. Despite all of Lyle's contributions, Pat's opening chords are what I think define the character of the tune.
Hey Matt! Thank you!
From Reading the songbook I learned that Pat was responsible for the Db Major part. Maybe the one that follows too. But yes, Lyle took those short ideas, organized them (these basslines as usual) and wrote a lot of new material. But yes Pat's guitar... :)
Always an interesting musical perspective from you. Thank you.
Thank you Loren
You have no idea how much I love your videos. I've been wanting to play this song since a long time ago but I can't read music, so thanks to your videos I can play the song just by imitating what you do. Many thanks!
Ezequiel I'm so glad to hear that! Thank you, I know you will enjoy learning this great music - clear, sophisticated and just beautiful!
(Follow me also on IG, I got many music theory videos)
You've chosen to explain my favourite lyle performence and as a non musician I am amazed and somewhat sad. Lyle was a majestic musician and I saw the pmg in GB play this tune amongst many others the audience were rapturous.happy days, well done
He was Majestic, that's the word. I'm glad we can share these memories Ian. Thank you.
Thanks Guy. This album is beautiful, San Lorenzo is my favorite track. When I listen to this particular song I see myself in San Sebastian beach, with some friends, good drinks and music, just before the sun goes down. On the 'Travels' version, Mays shines. I like the 12 string guitar Pat uses as well. When I started to learn San Lorenzo on piano, It felt like a Zawinul-Pastorius composition, as you mentioned. An exotic point of view, I suppose.
Thank you Alioth I'm going to listen to the Travels version later tonight, I remember they played it a bit slower, elevating it to something truly spiritual..
@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer The Travels/live version is slower and adds ~2.5 minutes to the piece. The best part of the live version is Lyle Mays' piano solo, which ascends to a first climax, then comes back to earth, only to rise like a phoenix from the ashes. I liken the latter part to testifying in a church service. We shall miss Lyle Mays.
I lost track of how many times I watched this, particularly from the PIANO SOLO section. Very fascinating how to put together very simple phrases into something expressive and musically interesting. Thank-you for the analysis and performance!
Glad you’re back and with a breakdown of one my all time favorites. Couldn’t have come at a better time. Thanks Guy!
Thanks Mike, I'll be doing more of these, I just have less free time, I'm zooming a college course, and writing stuff. But I got more coming up ,and from the same years first years.
I really appreciate the content of these videos. Excellent work! 🤗
Hey Dan! Thank you :)
In this piece Lyle Mays improvises one of the most inspiring, beautiful and emblematic solos in his way of playing the piano, at least for me. You do a magnificent job! ✨
Thanks Dan. From day one of this band he was all about improvising complete compositions on the spot. I agree with every word you said.
Excellent explanation!!
Lyle is modern Morzalt!
I got it!
Thank you very much! yes, genius.
Great analysis as usual Guy. I've always enjoyed this piece. It starts off like a primordial soup of possibility, and then its tempo quickens and it takes off from 1.49 - 3.40 leading into an emotional rollercoaster, then winds down from there with Pat on Electric (I believe), and then we get Lyle's solo (on the album version, Lyle's first notes always echo "Amazing Grace" to me).
I get excited listening to the song each time. I wish you hadn't omitted that funky 2 minute section (1.49 - 3.40) which showed us that this group wasn't playing around. However, as usual, I've enjoyed your insight into this group's works. Thanks for the upload.
But I did include the first part of 1:49! :)
And yes exactly - primordial soup, it is also how Wagner opens his opera Rheingold by the way...
I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Richard, Thanks!
Thanks a lot for your interesting analyses, Guy! San Lorenzo is an amazing song and one of favorite PMG songs!
Thanks Per! One of my favorites too!
What a beautiful learning experience. Thank you Dr. Guy.
Thank you. This is brilliant. I believe Lyle was influenced by Jaco Pastorius. He uses bass notes the way Jaco would, even with a wild-eyed flair to his playing. Genius recognizes genius.
It is *so* amazingly easy to hear *both* Pat's and Lyle's contributions in this piece. Really enjoyed listening to your observations, insights, and interpretations, Guy. Thanks for yet another informative and enjoyable discussion, especially regarding the wonderful rhythmic and harmonic characteristics of "San Lorenzo" and of "early Pat and Lyle" in general. And, I only *very clearly* heard Weather Report, another of the greatest bands of all-time, *after* you pointed it out ... "very cool beans" on that. Also, very "nice touch" on the ending of this video! :-)
Thanks Jim! :) My good friend Avi Adrian (who's a great pianist!) is a huge WR fan, he once had Zawinul at his home for a whole week. He was the one who pointed it out to me :)
I subscribed after seeing your videos the first time and should have thanked you then. As a guitarist and PM fan forever I was always curious how the “magic” was put together. For me every album was special and still is. I never tire of them. It didn’t take long to realize how important Lyle Mays was to that process. You’ve given me deeper understanding of their music. Thanks again but now I might have to take up piano lessons. Keep the videos coming!
Just watched this to refresh my Lyle Mays studies. I hope with the envirement that you and your family are safe❤
Thank you! This is probably my personal favorite of the whole Metheny/Mays series 😊
After watching and listening to several of the Mays/Metheny arrangements, I’ve gotta say, this is the most insightful endeavor into the spirit of Lyle Mayes’ music. Bravo Doc. I’ll be working through this and many of your tutorials for some time to come. The overhead camera angle is so very helpful..
Thanks, Rick! I appreciate it very much!
I think this particular one might be my personal favorite of the series.
This is one of the bestsongs ever...thanks for the time and effort you are the guy...dr.Guy
Thank you Nino :)
Thank you for making these videos. The piano solo in San Lorenzo in Travels is my favorite of Lyle's solos.
Many thanks for these, sir. Much appreciated.😷🙏😷
Thank you :)
Thank you very much for sharing your work, Guy! This song means a lot to me, and the fact that you posted this on my birthday makes it a really special gift :-)
I just discovered this channel, and I'm hooked! Thank you so much.
Hi Heather! Thank you! 🤗
Outstanding. Never tweaked on the Jaco/Weather Report bassline, but it is so there ❤
Hey Guy... again a grat video.... I'll never forget the day, I saw the PMG 0.1 at german TV NDR3 ... they broadcasted a gig the PMG gave @ legendary Hamburg Club " Onkel Pö".... the set opened with San Lorenzo and I could'nt believe what I heard.... now you will "explain" me, why I became immediately "stucked to"....thanxs Guy...:-)
Werner? I think this gig is on TH-cam?, Lyle with the yellow t shirt... Yes, what a distinct sound... and Thank you :)
it's me Guy: Andreas... Werner must be someone else...:-)@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer
@@bella201288 Oh yes :)
Love this and other analysis of the beautiful music Metheny/Mays wrote. Thank you
It's fun and valuable information at the same time watching your videos - thank you! I love how you show the phenomenon of Lyle's way of composing harmonic-rhythmical irregularities that finally sum up to a power of 2. I firstly did notice it consciously when transcribing "The Ascent" from "Alaskan Suite" - otherwise i probably would not have recognized that the coda - repeating 5(?) times before reaching the climax - does consist of exactly 16 bars ... that's only one of Lyle's ingenious aspects as a composer!
May favorite recording of "San Lorenzo" is the rendering on the "Travels" album - the pentatonic motif at the beginning has something floating as it is rather a 5tuplet than the syncopated version on the studio album. Lyle's entry to the solo on the studio album is ingenious ... but the one on "Travels" is even magic ... as the whole solo - instantly touching the heart!
Would appreciate your subscription to my channel, too (even if I am much less active there) - thank you!
For me, the best part of this video is that the Playing swings better with the 2 and 4 click than the original does with Gottlieb’s drums. Really good work!
Thank you! :) I mean... Danny and Lyle forever, but It is possible to be somewhat musical with a machine (with some micro tuning of the timing of the 2 and the 4)
Thanks for all the info and your piano playing, beautiful 🤙
My favorite song.
Your explanation helps me to understand it more.
I’m glad to hear that! That’s my favorite video of the Metheny/Mays series :)
Very nice breakdown of this timeless masterpiece, thank you!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it! It’s may personal favorite of the series!
First Pat Metheny Group album I bought and it still blows me away.
the "White Album"... a dream
Doc!
I’m speechless!
Thank You.😁
Thanks Roland :)
Wow. What a beautiful piece. Great lesson. Thank you!
Thank you so much! It is a beautiful piece!
thank you for allways caring on lyles legacy i so look forward to it
Thanks Ricky! 😊
Thanks for the analysis, as a non musician I can now understand some of the theory behind the music
Thanks for this beautiful analysis, you are incredible!
Thank you Josafath! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Learning so much from these - and it's a very pleasant process. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks David! I waited with San Lorenzo, It's just so who Pat and Lyle are... so authentic!
Sublime. Thanks for sharing 👌🏻🕶✌🏻
Thanks Steve!
Beautifully done. Thank you.
Thank you :)
I have always just liked this music, since the first album, but you give such a good explanation to everything, really fun to learn,
Thanks Stefan :) Making the videos help me understand the music too. There's Au Lait by Lyle (Offramp) that I don't want to analyze. This one is so magical - I want to keep it that way. Thanks for watching, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! :)
Wow! I dont exactly know much about music theory but your analyses does help me to understand a bit. And btw. I am a huge PMG fan and the late Lyle Mays is my favourite keyboardist. RIP. From Malaysia
Thank you! I always have in mind the lovers of this music who are not theory experts. A close friend of Lyle told me recently that for Lyle the process was to feel something and then use his musical tools to pass it on to his listeners. So it all starts and ends with communicating a vision, a certain emotion. By the way, Shahar in Hebrew means morning:)
what is said at 3:45 reminds me of getting the songbook for future reference (not having learnt to play...yet?); showing this piece to my dad, amateur organist, who in reading the intro was puzzled by unclear tempo and asked "is this red indian music?". years later, i still haven't learnt to play but I tried creating a little midi-controller track drawing on "something" from this haunting intro
Beautiful mr. Guy, perfect explaination, for me, usualy thanks💙🎶
Oh my favorite of the series... Thank you! :)
Dr Guy, thanks and congratulations for one more great video. I'll keep watching each and every one. BTW, I always say in my comments how great you played the pieces you are analyzing, don't I?... Thank you, and greetings from Brazil!
Thank you Cassio! This one I really had to practice for a few days, Lyle's rhythms... Greetings back from Israel :)
Thank you so much for sharing this Master Class it makes my day.
Christian thank you! Of all the Mays/Metheny series - that’s my favorite video. Thanks for watching!
Excellent analysis and fantastic playing!
Thank you! I miss your comment somehow - thanks again :)
Thanks for the analysis, this song is wonderful
Thank you Emerson!
Thanks for sharing. 🎸🥃
It's my pleasure! and If I may say this is maybe my favourite video in this series - I can watch it without feeling "oh no.." here and there :)
Dude. Awesome channel.
Had to come back again. Hope you are well! 💪🏻❤️
Kimberly I’m honored. It’s btw my favorite video of the whole series, going back to where it all started, the first track of the first album 😊
your touch feel and knowledge are amazing you should go on the road with pat
Thanks Ricky! That would be amazing ☺️
Thank you for this analysis! You heard the lake, too!
I did hear it... you did too? :)
@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer In fact, I can still picture the shimmer of light on the water!
@@whateverhappens1140 Oh yeah... :)
keep covering lyle my fav keyboard player along with bill evans and keith jarret also tony banks you do such a great job
You're a brilliant pianist. I love what you do. Thank you.
Why am I suddenly thinking about the Steely Dan's song Dr. Wu? Maybe just because it's brilliant as well.
Dr. Wu is a good song! :) This is my favorite video of the series on Pat and Lyle, the first track on their first PMG album! I'm glad you liked it! 🙏
Thank you, Dr. Guy!
Thank you! :)
I’m a beginner pianist, and through dozens of viewings learning to play this!!
Hey Len! that's how you do it! Bravo!!
Great job, I always follow you with a lot of interest, I would like to know if it is possible to have the transcripts to have a more correct view of what you do. Thanks
this song is magical
It's one of my top favorites by this band!
gracias DR GUY
Hey Juan Pablo! I'm glad you liked the video! Thanks you!
Yes!
Thank you Daniel :)
8:07 *_THE PIANO SOLO!_* ✧*。٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و✧*。 One of the most beautiful moments of Lyle Mays' career!
Absolutely! ❤️
Hi Guy - I have really enjoyed your analysis and playing of the early Pat Metheny songs. Not sure if this would be a topic of interest, but I would like to know more about that 'country American' vibe in the early Pat Metheny work. This album that includes San Lorenzo, as well as the American Garage album have a certain American country quality that seems to not be so apparent in later works.
Thank you Alan. Yes I know exactly what you mean, Brazilian music became the sound signature of this band gradually.After these two albums. I love this sound to!!
Alan, I just wanted to reply to your comment because that is my favorite period of PMG. I stuck with them through Letter From Home but found things getting farther and farther from the sound/aesthetic that drew me to them originally. Nothing they did is without its brilliance, but I just prefer the albums with Dan Gottlieb. I think within that "country' sound as you describe it, there was also more American roots influence overall. "Travels" and "Goodbye" are standouts as are "Eighteen" and "Are You Going With Me". Anyway, that's my two cents! Great to connect with other fans.
@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer Guy - I forgot to add below that I very much enjoy your videos...almost TOO much!! hahaha Seriously, the way you've structured these and your delivery of the information and the insights....just stellar.. FYI, I got a degree in Jazz Studies from North Texas (Lyle went there for a bit!) and I would loved to have you as a professor when i was in school. Especially with your appreciation of Pat/Lyle. Thanks to youtube, I get to pretend! : ) Looking forward to more. Best to you...
@@haysfordays Thank you! I mean, these days I'm liking the social media giants a little more than usual, for letting people like us connect. There will be more videos on Pat and Lyle's music! I'm also starting a new series of tackling music theory stuff.
Best to you too! Guy.
@@haysfordays Appreciate your reply and I agree that the early work still has some qualities that I often return to. I will checkout those songs you mention. I really like some of the tunes on the Watercolors album also. There are elements about Pat's technique and phrasing that I really like in the early recordings. In later recordings other elements in his technique kind of masked that early sound to some degree. I was living in Dallas in 1981 and would often hear North Texas students playing jazz and fusion locally. Cool that you were able to go there as a student.
What's a good PMG album to start with? I like this song, I also enjoyed playing Have You Heard with a combo in the past. Also really like James.
I don't know what type of person you are... But they are all great. the first album of PMG has San Lorenzo in it It's a lovely album. My favourite probably is Offramp because of the mix of shadows and lights. Fantastic album. Both are from their time at the ECM label, when recordings were done in only 2 days (that was the usual ECM process).
Wonderful
So you REALLY have to tour. I miss the classic PMG, and that will never come back. Your heart and soul has that feel that will fill that void that Lyle left. Interest????
Awesome
Thank you Flavio! :)
Dr. Guy Shkolnik Composer my pleasure! Congrats from Rio de Janeiro
Hi everyone, what is your favorite Pat Methey Group song if you were to pick just one? Mine is Minuano from Still life (Talking).
imaginarytube that’s not an easy question 😅. But I made like 4 videos on Minuano. I do love Cross the Heartland very much ...
I know it's not an easy question :)
Love the dynamics of this tune.
@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer Cross the Heartland reminds me of Weather Report during the Jaco years.
See The World. It soars.
still one of the best albums ever, I wish I could play it on piano.. sheet music??
That was great...
Diallo, thank you (this is my favourite video :))
Hey! Do you by any chance have a TH-cam video about how lo fi music works?
@11:00 one of my fav lyle movements
Oh yeah :)
⭐️
Thanks Donato :)
Have you done one on have you heard? I love Lyle's solo on the road to you. It really sounds like he is hitting the keys hard at the end. But I have seen him live many times and he always appeared to have a light touch?
Lingerffxi hi! Yes I made a video on have you heard! Lyle could play from very soft to hard he was a complete piano virtuoso.
Liquid universe…..yup 😌🎶🌌
grazie
brillant
would greatly appreciate it if you added your analysis of "Jaco" to your long list of PMG tune videos
Can anyone tell me where he got the Title name from? San Lorenzo?
I ask myself the same question 😉
It refers to a place .... The river San Lorenzo which delimits the borders from Canada to the Usa🙂
my bad you already did september 15th brilliant as usal
How could I not do a video on September 15th? :) Thank you!
San Lorenzo is a quarter, a zone of Rome where i was born ..too😁😁
☺️
Thanks for this! Love this song!! Takes you to a different place. The recording quality could have been better on the record which leads me to my next point...you should record this over and get it out! I'll play the guitar. Where are you located? Hit me up
Hey Alan! thanks! I just listened to House on Rivka Rd... loved it!
I'm located in Israel now.
I'm not sure about covering this, this but I do have new original music we can talk about! I'm on Facebook and Instagram by the same name.