School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Pat Metheny Group

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Pat Metheny Group was an American jazz fusion band founded in 1977 by the guitarist and composer Pat Metheny together with the pianist and keyboard player Lyle Mays. Metheny had made his name in the mid-1970s with two solo albums. For his own group he brought in Mays, who wrote most of the repertoire with him. The bassist Steve Rodby joined in 1981 and stayed until the end in 2010. The drummer Paul Wertico played with the group from 1983 to 2001.

Music and breakthrough

The debut Pat Metheny Group was released in 1978. American Garage from 1979 reached number one on Billboard's jazz chart. With Offramp (1982), the Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos entered the picture, and with him the influence of South American music. That influence grew with First Circle (1984), on which the Argentine multi-instrumentalist Pedro Aznar played, and remained strongly present through Still Life (Talking) (1987) and Letter From Home (1989), with bossa nova and samba rhythms. In 1985 the group made This Is Not America with David Bowie for the film music of The Falcon and the Snowman. The single reached number one in the Netherlands.

Influence

The sound revolves around Metheny's lyrical guitar, often with a guitar synthesizer, and around Mays's piano and synthesizers. In the 1990s hip hop drum loops, free improvisation and symphonic passages were added, on albums such as Quartet and Imaginary Day. The final album, The Way Up from 2005, is a single through-composed piece lasting 68 minutes. The group showed that jazz fusion could sound melodic, world-music-minded and accessible.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Minuano (Six Eight) from Still Life (Talking). Notice how a sombre minor-key passage turns into a jubilant melody, and how the guitar solo leads into an intricate marimba section.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists