This was a great interview before Rick Beato’s. He asked the questions (before Rick) and Pat gave the same answers consistently. I mine these interviews for everything they’re worth. We are living in the presence of a modern genius composer. He has said that the guitar is just a tool, but Pat is a musician. Lyle was a guitar player and Pat composes on piano. His guitar synth is a horn he hears in his ear from his dad and brother. How lucky are we to live when Bach is present in modern day?
Lyle and Pat are, for me, music in it’s highest and most relatable form. No diss to Chopin, Satie, Stravinsky and the masters of a previous age, but this is the highest music of our time, and I believe will stand the test of time along with those classical icons. Notes and rhythm affect the human spirit and that is timeless. Pat and Lyle found the secret key that put them inside the vault, they are unparalleled masters of the art and stand with the best of any epoch.
I saw Pat on March 26 here in Atlanta at Symphony Hall, and it was such a blast! I still haven't met him, and I wonder how I may go about meeting him the next time he comes to Atlanta? I've even tried going through the Kurland Agency, and I've never heard back from them. I've been trying since 1982 to meet him, and it's been near impossible. I was never invited backstage, either. I hope you can help me arrange this, because we're not getting any younger, and when I asked some of the people who saw him that day, they didn't know. I feel so blessed to have been helped so much by his music over the years, and I've met other musicians/singers over the years, but I just haven't met Pat. I know he's got his family, too, and this year he had a tour bus at the show. In fact, there was somebody standing outside by the bus before and after the show, and he was smoking a pipe, and the tobacco he used smelled exactly like my late Grandfather's favorite tobacco on my mom's side of the family. (I just lost my mother last October, and catching a couple whiffs of that tobacco nearly brought me to tears, because Grandpa Clifford was like a father to me. In fact, he saaved my life when I was five after my own father hurt me seriously during and after an incident earlier during the afternoon and evening. He was a very violent man, and he didn't have the best childhood either. One song in particular, "If I Could", helped me finally put my anger and sadness to flight, so I could finally forgive my dad. I also believe that God used Pat to initiate that through that song, especially when he played it right in front of me during his concert here at Chastain Park with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. My twin sister and I both experienced this on that night, and it helped me find the words I needed to say to embark on that journey to forgiveness. I really hope I haven't asked too much, and I know Pat's starting his European tour on October 1, so I know it'll probably be a wile before he comes back here to Atlanta, and even just to talk to Pat would help, but I'd really love to shake his hand, ttoo. I'm also trying to get Skype back, and I don't want to include my personally identifying information here in the comments, so if you could reply to me, I'd sincerely appreciate it very much. I also hope you get to do another interview with him soon. I love hearing him talk. Also, I'm totally blind, and I usually have a friend with me at the concert, or if he/she can't attend, we work together to arrange transportation too and from the show. I tried to meet him in 2022, but with the pandemic, that wasn't possible. Again, thank you in advance for uploading this interview and for any helpful feedback. Heather
Pat Metheny is a musical genius, one of the best in the business And this interview was one of the best ever seen vary thought-provoking questions Absolutely amazing
Clearly I'm surrounded by Pat Fans. Well let me say: Once upon a time in the late 2000s 8 or 9? I just happened to be camping with my ex-wife in Sardinia (I think)(I'm a jazz pianist btw) and our campgrounds were above a large Ampitheatre where just by coincidence there was a jazz concert with Italian jazz trumpeter Enrico Rava. (You could never plan this,) guess who their guest was? OK so I was lucky to see Pat Matheny sit in with Enrico Rava's Band playing their book! He was visionary he legitimately owned the stage musically. Not because he was the most famous. But because of his tireless work ethic and 25, 30 years? of nonstop touring. He was never showboating he was always at service to the music in the moment. It was epic. I never use that word. It was revealing that this was Pat playing their tunes yet blindingly well.
I've never been tired of Pat Metheny Group music even though certain songs bring back memory of certain points of history in my life. A truly exceptional band and musicians. I was fortunate to see Pat on this tour.
Me too! Exquisite Love the vocalese. Richard Bona,ChongVu vocals on” Another Life”, I remember sitting up all night in a hotel lobby, because I missed the last train,in order to stay until the end of their set. PMG with Lyle and Mark Ledford( RIP) once in a lifetime!!!
Loved the segment with Pat, Lyle, Jaco Pastorius and Joni Mitchell.phenomenal; great interview! Pat is a genius with great humility. So glad he is of our time!!
Great interview and interviewer. Pat also has the skill of succinctly addressing each question respectfully, honestly and directly (much like his music) Would love to have seen him explore his relationship with Lyle Mays as both a call writer and arranger/improviser
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for uploading this! I've been listening to Pat since late 1978, but he connected in a way with me when I heard an interview that Russ Davis had with him back in 1982. I think it was April 28, and Russ interviewed him via the telephone, and I was hooked. Ever since then, Pat's music has inspired, challenged and allowed me to learn so much more about myself than I ever thought possible! I would really like to go to his concert on Feb. 12, 2022 here in Atlanta, because it's been so long since I've been to one of his performances, and I hope I can afford it. I also just purchased the limited edition box set featuring "Road to the Sun". I'm looking forward to receiving it on or around the 26th of this month. It was announced today via email, so if you're on the list with PORT Merchandise, you should have received the email by now. My favorite memory of him was when I attended the "First Circle" tour in October, 1983 when he performed at Café 290 in Sandy Springs, Ga. I'd taken 2 years of music theory, and I wanted to figure out what time the title track was in which was quite a challenge. My twin sister was with me, and I asked her to write "18, 8?" on a napkin. Also, because I'm totally blind, I had her help me sign it, and we passed it down through the audience to Pat. After he finished the set featuring "The First Circle", he called out to me. (I was in the back of the audience.) He mentioned my guess and told me I was closer than anyone else at that point. He told me to give myself a pat on the back and that it is 22, 8! Needless to say, I was on cloud 9 for quite a wile! Later on in 1984, he came back to Atlanta and played at the Fox Theatre, and I had to go again, this time with my new Guide Dog, Kiev. I'd graduated with her in August, 1984, and she was my first of 4 Guide Dogs. (Unfortunately, I had to retire my last one in April of 2017, and I can't get another one yet.) I knew he and the group were going to start the concert with "Forward March", and I also knew they were going to start at the very back of the audience and march down to the stage. Kiev wore a red bandana around her neck with her collar over it which I had the groomer draw a circle and put the number 1 in the middle of it. Then, I waited for the group to pass and began my march forward behind them until I couldn't go any further. When Pedro blew the whistle, I did a 180 and promptly made my way back to my seat. I praised Kiev for staying in line and doing such a good job of getting me back to my seat, with a little help from a gentleman who was sitting next to me. Whhhhoooo! Oh yes, I must mention that Kiev was a Black Lab, and I've had another Black Lab named Rosetta. I've also had two Yellow Labs named Tapestry and Zahara. Have you done anymore interviews with Pat since this one? I just subscribed. I really want to meet Pat and tell him just how much his music has helped me through some of the best and worst experiences of my life, and there were many times I nearly abandoned music altogether. Still, I kept coming back to his music, because it always gave me hope. My favorite album is "Letter From Home", but my favorite song is still "The First Circle". Now that Pat has aged so well and has worked with some of the most gifted musicians of this era, he's truly been recognized and has been honored as he truly is, a Jazz Master. He's also acquiring fans of the current generation, and this is a good sign that people are listening to someone who has experienced much through the years, and he deserves their and our respect and admiration. He's certainly a tough act to follow, and I mean that in the best way.
Really great interview, thanks for sharing this. What I think people mean when they are saying Speaking of now somewhat resembles the "old PMG" is not perse the focus on melody. It's a sound, a feel, a specific kind of vocabulary which was very dominant on the ECM records. There is a particular kind of compositional language which has some influence from European music (which is kind of what that ECM label was about ), with some influences of Folk and Americana. But also slightly more towards the sounds of ambient and soundscaping (like on Witchita falls). Speaking of now has a quietness about the music. Very acoustic and organic in nature. Also refined and balanced in a particular way. After Travels, the PMG had three albums with heavy latin influences which brought a particular vocabulary and sound. The records from the 90ies were very experimental and unique in their sounds as they all had different goals and intents (as Pat already explained). It is exactly what makes Speaking of now being compared to the older material because in one way, a lot of it just seems to have more in common with those records than the 84-98 period. Minuano, Third Wind, Beat 70, We live here, Language of time, Heat of the day, those tunes would just be so out of place if they were somewhere in the running order of that record. They are completely different concepts and language. Personally, I prefer how these songs evolved over the course of the tour. It is played with more intensity and brings the material very much to life. I think that is true to a certain extent for a lot of PMG material, but especially with this. Now I completely sympathise with the idea that Pat's music (or music in general) demands attention and listening in order to get it. And I always give that. However, I also know from experience that if one would have to pick a record from Pat to play as "background music" for a relax social event where the people don't care about music, this record fits the bill pretty well because on low volume, there is nothing which really sticks out and just screams for attention. The arrangements are really balanced, the organic sounds and textures feel good. It's like a warm bath where you can forget about the water.
I'm not a musician, but when I hear Pat speak in interviews, I realize that what I don't even know what I don't know about music is infinitely deep and wide.
Really good interview. Well done. Been a fan since the late 70s. Recently saw him on his current tour. HIGHLY recommend it. Playing with a great group of guys.
Hi there! Just discovered this, and am so thankful! You asked amazing questions, and I am sure that Pat really appreciated having real thoughts to bounce off. Thanks again; be well
This is one of the best Pat Metheny interviews I've ever heard. Really tough questions! Is there more footage from this 2002 concert that's spliced in here? I'd love to see more of that.
Mark Jeffery! Such a great interview. J. Vella here (remember me?). You and Matt Bruno were so great to help green light all of that Speaking of Now Windows Media stuff. Thank you. Can you hit me back. Let's catch up and I have a question or two for you. thx!
Hey Joe. Always good to hear from you. Do. You still have your Jazzonline email account? I’ll ping you there…. Oops. That email got bounced back. Reach me at mjmail@mac.com
The most articulate musician anywhere he encapsulated the whole ethos in a way that should be a benchmark template that all musicians everywhere should employ A zero tolerance for bullshit... But thats Pat... ...the rest nowhere in terms of compositional purity arrangements and musical integrity
This interviewer is 💯! Flawless.
This was a great interview before Rick Beato’s. He asked the questions (before Rick) and Pat gave the same answers consistently. I mine these interviews for everything they’re worth. We are living in the presence of a modern genius composer. He has said that the guitar is just a tool, but Pat is a musician. Lyle was a guitar player and Pat composes on piano. His guitar synth is a horn he hears in his ear from his dad and brother. How lucky are we to live when Bach is present in modern day?
Speaking of Now is one of the most beautiful, melodic, jazz albums ever. One of Pat’s best. Nothing has ever been as great without Lyle. RIP.
As it is it's amazing, a beautiful trip
Lyle and Pat are, for me, music in it’s highest and most relatable form. No diss to Chopin, Satie, Stravinsky and the masters of a previous age, but this is the highest music of our time, and I believe will stand the test of time along with those classical icons. Notes and rhythm affect the human spirit and that is timeless. Pat and Lyle found the secret key that put them inside the vault, they are unparalleled masters of the art and stand with the best of any epoch.
🖤🎶 melody and soul is amazing
Nope! PMG had more than one best album!
I saw Pat on March 26 here in Atlanta at Symphony Hall, and it was such a blast! I still haven't met him, and I wonder how I may go about meeting him the next time he comes to Atlanta? I've even tried going through the Kurland Agency, and I've never heard back from them. I've been trying since 1982 to meet him, and it's been near impossible. I was never invited backstage, either. I hope you can help me arrange this, because we're not getting any younger, and when I asked some of the people who saw him that day, they didn't know. I feel so blessed to have been helped so much by his music over the years, and I've met other musicians/singers over the years, but I just haven't met Pat. I know he's got his family, too, and this year he had a tour bus at the show. In fact, there was somebody standing outside by the bus before and after the show, and he was smoking a pipe, and the tobacco he used smelled exactly like my late Grandfather's favorite tobacco on my mom's side of the family. (I just lost my mother last October, and catching a couple whiffs of that tobacco nearly brought me to tears, because Grandpa Clifford was like a father to me. In fact, he saaved my life when I was five after my own father hurt me seriously during and after an incident earlier during the afternoon and evening. He was a very violent man, and he didn't have the best childhood either. One song in particular, "If I Could", helped me finally put my anger and sadness to flight, so I could finally forgive my dad. I also believe that God used Pat to initiate that through that song, especially when he played it right in front of me during his concert here at Chastain Park with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. My twin sister and I both experienced this on that night, and it helped me find the words I needed to say to embark on that journey to forgiveness.
I really hope I haven't asked too much, and I know Pat's starting his European tour on October 1, so I know it'll probably be a wile before he comes back here to Atlanta, and even just to talk to Pat would help, but I'd really love to shake his hand, ttoo. I'm also trying to get Skype back, and I don't want to include my personally identifying information here in the comments, so if you could reply to me, I'd sincerely appreciate it very much.
I also hope you get to do another interview with him soon. I love hearing him talk. Also, I'm totally blind, and I usually have a friend with me at the concert, or if he/she can't attend, we work together to arrange transportation too and from the show. I tried to meet him in 2022, but with the pandemic, that wasn't possible.
Again, thank you in advance for uploading this interview and for any helpful feedback.
Heather
Pat Metheny is a musical genius, one of the best in the business And this interview was one of the best ever seen vary thought-provoking questions Absolutely amazing
The interviewer asks thoughtful, substantive questions. Breath of fresh air!
That's one of the best interviews I've heard with ANY musician. Pat is amazing.
Clearly I'm surrounded by Pat Fans. Well let me say: Once upon a time in the late 2000s 8 or 9? I just happened to be camping with my ex-wife in Sardinia (I think)(I'm a jazz pianist btw) and our campgrounds were above a large Ampitheatre where just by coincidence there was a jazz concert with Italian jazz trumpeter Enrico Rava. (You could never plan this,) guess who their guest was? OK so I was lucky to see Pat Matheny sit in with Enrico Rava's Band playing their book! He was visionary he legitimately owned the stage musically. Not because he was the most famous. But because of his tireless work ethic and 25, 30 years? of nonstop touring. He was never showboating he was always at service to the music in the moment. It was epic. I never use that word. It was revealing that this was Pat playing their tunes yet blindingly well.
I've never been tired of Pat Metheny Group music even though certain songs bring back memory of certain points of history in my life. A truly exceptional band and musicians. I was fortunate to see Pat on this tour.
Me too! Exquisite
Love the vocalese.
Richard Bona,ChongVu vocals on” Another Life”, I remember sitting up all night in a hotel lobby, because I missed the last train,in order to stay until the end of their set.
PMG with Lyle and Mark Ledford( RIP) once in a lifetime!!!
Loved the segment with Pat, Lyle, Jaco Pastorius and Joni Mitchell.phenomenal; great interview!
Pat is a genius with great humility. So glad he is of our time!!
Wonderfully informative interview with Maestro Metheny. Excellent questions and answers. Thank you!
Great interview and interviewer. Pat also has the skill of succinctly addressing each question respectfully, honestly and directly (much like his music)
Would love to have seen him explore his relationship with Lyle Mays as both a call writer and arranger/improviser
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for uploading this! I've been listening to Pat since late 1978, but he connected in a way with me when I heard an interview that Russ Davis had with him back in 1982. I think it was April 28, and Russ interviewed him via the telephone, and I was hooked. Ever since then, Pat's music has inspired, challenged and allowed me to learn so much more about myself than I ever thought possible! I would really like to go to his concert on Feb. 12, 2022 here in Atlanta, because it's been so long since I've been to one of his performances, and I hope I can afford it. I also just purchased the limited edition box set featuring "Road to the Sun". I'm looking forward to receiving it on or around the 26th of this month. It was announced today via email, so if you're on the list with PORT Merchandise, you should have received the email by now.
My favorite memory of him was when I attended the "First Circle" tour in October, 1983 when he performed at Café 290 in Sandy Springs, Ga. I'd taken 2 years of music theory, and I wanted to figure out what time the title track was in which was quite a challenge. My twin sister was with me, and I asked her to write "18, 8?" on a napkin. Also, because I'm totally blind, I had her help me sign it, and we passed it down through the audience to Pat. After he finished the set featuring "The First Circle", he called out to me. (I was in the back of the audience.) He mentioned my guess and told me I was closer than anyone else at that point. He told me to give myself a pat on the back and that it is 22, 8! Needless to say, I was on cloud 9 for quite a wile!
Later on in 1984, he came back to Atlanta and played at the Fox Theatre, and I had to go again, this time with my new Guide Dog, Kiev. I'd graduated with her in August, 1984, and she was my first of 4 Guide Dogs. (Unfortunately, I had to retire my last one in April of 2017, and I can't get another one yet.) I knew he and the group were going to start the concert with "Forward March", and I also knew they were going to start at the very back of the audience and march down to the stage. Kiev wore a red bandana around her neck with her collar over it which I had the groomer draw a circle and put the number 1 in the middle of it. Then, I waited for the group to pass and began my march forward behind them until I couldn't go any further. When Pedro blew the whistle, I did a 180 and promptly made my way back to my seat. I praised Kiev for staying in line and doing such a good job of getting me back to my seat, with a little help from a gentleman who was sitting next to me. Whhhhoooo! Oh yes, I must mention that Kiev was a Black Lab, and I've had another Black Lab named Rosetta. I've also had two Yellow Labs named Tapestry and Zahara.
Have you done anymore interviews with Pat since this one? I just subscribed. I really want to meet Pat and tell him just how much his music has helped me through some of the best and worst experiences of my life, and there were many times I nearly abandoned music altogether. Still, I kept coming back to his music, because it always gave me hope. My favorite album is "Letter From Home", but my favorite song is still "The First Circle". Now that Pat has aged so well and has worked with some of the most gifted musicians of this era, he's truly been recognized and has been honored as he truly is, a Jazz Master. He's also acquiring fans of the current generation, and this is a good sign that people are listening to someone who has experienced much through the years, and he deserves their and our respect and admiration. He's certainly a tough act to follow, and I mean that in the best way.
Really good interview. When Pat talks music I get so inspired. He does such a
great job explaining musical concepts, ideas and life as a musician.
Really great interview, thanks for sharing this.
What I think people mean when they are saying Speaking of now somewhat resembles the "old PMG" is not perse the focus on melody. It's a sound, a feel, a specific kind of vocabulary which was very dominant on the ECM records. There is a particular kind of compositional language which has some influence from European music (which is kind of what that ECM label was about ), with some influences of Folk and Americana. But also slightly more towards the sounds of ambient and soundscaping (like on Witchita falls). Speaking of now has a quietness about the music. Very acoustic and organic in nature. Also refined and balanced in a particular way.
After Travels, the PMG had three albums with heavy latin influences which brought a particular vocabulary and sound. The records from the 90ies were very experimental and unique in their sounds as they all had different goals and intents (as Pat already explained). It is exactly what makes Speaking of now being compared to the older material because in one way, a lot of it just seems to have more in common with those records than the 84-98 period. Minuano, Third Wind, Beat 70, We live here, Language of time, Heat of the day, those tunes would just be so out of place if they were somewhere in the running order of that record. They are completely different concepts and language.
Personally, I prefer how these songs evolved over the course of the tour. It is played with more intensity and brings the material very much to life. I think that is true to a certain extent for a lot of PMG material, but especially with this.
Now I completely sympathise with the idea that Pat's music (or music in general) demands attention and listening in order to get it. And I always give that. However, I also know from experience that if one would have to pick a record from Pat to play as "background music" for a relax social event where the people don't care about music, this record fits the bill pretty well because on low volume, there is nothing which really sticks out and just screams for attention. The arrangements are really balanced, the organic sounds and textures feel good. It's like a warm bath where you can forget about the water.
I'm not a musician, but when I hear Pat speak in interviews, I realize that what I don't even know what I don't know about music is infinitely deep and wide.
Pat is always willing to talk about his music in detail. Just needs a great interviewer. Excellent.
Thank you so much for the upload.
I always listen when the Master speaks.
Really good interview. Well done. Been a fan since the late 70s.
Recently saw him on his current tour. HIGHLY recommend it.
Playing with a great group of guys.
Hi there! Just discovered this, and am so thankful! You asked amazing questions, and I am sure that Pat really appreciated having real thoughts to bounce off. Thanks again; be well
Great interview! Thank you for asking awesome questions and letting Pat speak his mind.... Such a rare thing these days 😊😊😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
I remember seeing Pat in Dallas years ago and it was a phenomenal show.
7:28 find someone who looks at you the way Pat looks at Lyle after his Phase Dance solo.
This is one of the best Pat Metheny interviews I've ever heard. Really tough questions!
Is there more footage from this 2002 concert that's spliced in here? I'd love to see more of that.
Thank you! That’s the only surviving footage from 2002. Recorded in Santa Cruz, CA.
@@MJ1 Thanks for letting me know. This tour was the best one I had seen.
Mark Jeffery! Such a great interview. J. Vella here (remember me?). You and Matt Bruno were so great to help green light all of that Speaking of Now Windows Media stuff. Thank you. Can you hit me back. Let's catch up and I have a question or two for you. thx!
Hey Joe. Always good to hear from you. Do. You still have your Jazzonline email account? I’ll ping you there…. Oops. That email got bounced back. Reach me at mjmail@mac.com
I love Pat Metheny.....Very underrated. But who knows are in the know. Special ears.
How tf is he underrated?
@@ifeelsick258 I don't think Pat's underrated others do!! WTF?
Antonio, the best!
great interview. his thoughts on melody were really interesting
Wonderful interview !!
Two things : Wow and Thanks !
Amazing interview!
Great questions. Now I know a few more things about him and his music. Thank you.
Besides being an insane musician, he shares TONS of knowledge and experiences. PRICELESS.
Amazing
The most articulate musician anywhere he encapsulated the whole ethos in a way that should be a benchmark template that all musicians everywhere should employ
A zero tolerance for bullshit... But thats Pat... ...the rest nowhere in terms of compositional purity arrangements and musical integrity
hahahha! zero tollerance….what a (?????) record 🤣😂😅 but yeah man, that‘s pat…
Here's my question - where did the 2002 tour footage come from? Those were not from the Speaking Of Now DVD.
Good eye. That was from the same tour in Santa Cruz. It was supposed to receive a wider release, but those plans were canceled at the last moment.
Best interviewer ever!
The best musician of all time. No other term to describe him
Great insightful interview. I SO agree with his important point on HOW to LISTEN to music and attention required. 🎶35:16
Does the title need some punctuation - thought Pat might be interviewing himself 😂
I think I accidentally met Pat at my work a couple of years ago.
Wish i met him accidentally
Great interview!!
Excellent interview
Simply peerless......there pat and in the distance the rest
Great questions.
36:40 so true
Legend
Pat later said that to him the bassist is the band leader.
I think that was because he was being interviewed by Ron Carter, the bass player.
Dynomite
Introduce Pat to conditioner
🤣😂😅
Who's the numbskull with the reject button
H O T