Pat Metheny as a Person?

[mertas]

Over 20 years is Pat Metheny my favorite musician.
I love his music, arrangements, sound, feeling.
He is only rarely in interviews. Did someone attend his workshop? Did someone meet him and spoke to him?
Is in introvert? I know he is perfectionists.
Please share your experience with him. I would like to deeper understand his music.

[mertas]

and are these interviews only about music or also about his feelings and life?

the reason I placed this topic is to understand to my life.
I believe there is huge mirroring. If I love someones music for decades, his music is part of me.
And part of me resonates with him. Understanding this, can help me to orientate myself not only in music.
He is light years ahead and can express my feelings in his playing and compositions.
I can't do it , so I follow - learn, thankful for his existence.
His music has SOUL, songs are stories from A to Z.
I would say, it is difficult to reach his level without staying in silence,
without deep spirituality, with highest organization and concentration of his work /music/.
Therefore I try to understand all this behind. Without this, he wouldn't sound, how he sounds for years.
He is giging couple of month a year with new album and the rest? Relax with his wife? Silence? Hardwork - composing? Fishing by lake?
He is one of the people, who FEELS. And that's something what we as WESTERN civilization forgot to do.

I think Pat, Keith Jarrett, Bill Frisel etc will have many similarities in theirs "way of living".
Don't borrow theirs licks and compositions. Letś understand them completely.
I hope, I clarified a bit more my reason for topic.

[lawson-stone]

I think the most revealing statement by Pat Metheny is his commencement address at Berklee School of Music some years ago. As a professor, I have heard more than my fair share of commencement addresses. Pat Metheny's stands alongside that given by David Foster Wallace as one of the best ever.

[Gearhead]

I think that Pat as an interviewee is as articulate as he is as a musician.
The interview book is mostly about music and very interesting - personally I don't really care about his personal life. His music speaks for itself, he once said that some people ask him about a specific composition and think that he must have gone through some very similar experience they went through when he wrote that. But he said that this is definitely not true, when he composes it's only about the music and not specific emotions.
So no comparisons to once own personal life, I guess.

He's the Mozart of our time!

In comparable, time will tell, that he is probably the most important composer in jazz/contemporary music....

Merry Christmas everybody! xx

[Sam Sherry]

I've never met Pat Metheny but please indulge me in this:

Through good luck and bravado I've been able to interact with some of the musicians who I grew up idolizing. Each time I learn again that extraordinary skill and even unique artistic ability does not make someone extraordinary in every aspect of his or her existence.

The great artists create great art. Then they grab a sandwich, brush their teeth, shop on EBay, haul the trash and tell a joke at their own expense or somebody else's. Then they get back to creating great art.

Peoples' remarks about what they would be doing if they weren't giving an interview can be interesting and even inspiring. I'm as much of a fan as anybody else. But ultimately, most of it has little bearing on the essential transformative beauty of great art.

[lawson-stone]

I've never met Pat Metheny but please indulge me in this:

Through good luck and bravado I've been able to interact with some of the musicians who I grew up idolizing. Each time I learn again that extraordinary skill and even unique artistic ability does not make someone extraordinary in every aspect of his or her existence.

The great artists create great art. Then they grab a sandwich, brush their teeth, shop on EBay, haul the trash and tell a joke at their own expense or somebody else's. Then they get back to creating great art.

Peoples' remarks about what they would be doing if they weren't giving an interview can be interesting and even inspiring. I'm as much of a fan as anybody else. But ultimately, most of it has little bearing on the essential transformative beauty of great art.

True indeed. From time to time, you get the rare person who philosophically and in their lifestyle somehow mirror the music they make. But in jazz, especially, it seems that the makers of some of the most compelling music turn out to be far less than admirable, and sometimes even execrable, in their life and conduct. We read of great jazz musicians who beat up their girlfriends repeatedly, compelled them to service their every sexual whim, exploited others to feed their drug habit… sometimes it is the very broken person who creates the most amazing art.

One of the heart-breaking mysteries of life.

[pkirk]

I don't agree with the premise that great music mirrors any kind of philosophy or lifestyle. Sure, there are clichés about the sensitive artist type, but in my experience, the stereotype applies mostly to the mediocre who use it to bolster their creds. It's a lot easier to act creative than to be creative.

In my view, the OP's post proves that Metheny is a great artist, but I doubt that any information about Methemy the person is likely to provide much insight into his music, beyond the obvious fact that Metheny is obsessed and incredibly hard working.

[coolvinny]

For one thing, he's funny and well spoken. I recall an excerpt from one of his interviews when he emphasizes his love of pure, straight-ahead jazz as a teenager by saying he "made even the most conservative jazz snobs appear liberal", or something like that. Which I can relate to, as I totally go through snobby periods of music appreciation - Chicago blues once upon a time, then bebop, etc.

[Doctor Jeff]

I don't know many specifics about Pat other than the interviews about music referenced above. To me he seems more like a musical nerd than anything else (kind of like Joe Bonamassa, Chick Corea, YoYo Ma), and I mean that in a good way--obsessed with his sound and his music.

I have never heard anything negative about him in a personal sense, other than his fairly strong opinions about certain other musicians like Kenny G, which can be excusable given the fact Pat is pretty much on the money...

I have seen Pat twice in concert, and have nothing but the highest respect for him personally and professionally.

[Eric Rowland]

Dr. Wayne Goins is a fine player and real nice guy. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Has anyone here reviewed the book?

[Stuart Elliott]

Dr. Wayne Goins is a fine player and real nice guy. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Has anyone here reviewed the book?

sold for $140 (publisher's price)!

[Cunamara]

I think the most revealing statement by Pat Metheny is his commencement address at Berklee School of Music some years ago. As a professor, I have heard more than my fair share of commencement addresses. Pat Metheny's stands alongside that given by David Foster Wallace as one of the best ever.

Very good speech. Granted since he is a prominent musician I am perhaps more attuned to what he is saying than the general public might be, compared to say Steve Jobs's excellent commencement address at Stanford or Joss Whedon's at Wesleyan (check 'em out), but he does embed music within life and life within music in this speech.

https://www.berklee.edu/commencement/past/metheny.html

[Cunamara]

I think that Pat as an interviewee is as articulate as he is as a musician.
The interview book is mostly about music and very interesting - personally I don't really care about his personal life. His music speaks for itself, he once said that some people ask him about a specific composition and think that he must have gone through some very similar experience they went through when he wrote that. But he said that this is definitely not true, when he composes it's only about the music and not specific emotions.
So no comparisons to once own personal life, I guess.

Your comments sparked some thoughts in my mind about this. In terms of Pat Metheny's personal life- his marriage, his kids, what his home is like, etc.- I am not really interested in that aspect of him or pretty much any other musician. And yet playing improvised music is incredibly personal and revealing, all the more so when done at a high level, and from that perspective it is of great interest.

And yet the experience the musician has with the music is often completely different than the experience the audience has with the music. You refer to Pat having said something like this and I have heard it from other musicians in interviews. I think this is going to be true in probably any art form.

Many musicians are not especially linguistically articulate in interviews despite being very articulate in their music. Pat is one of the ones who is highly articulate both ways.

[Bobalou]

Well actually his personal life is his personal business and no one else's. For me as long as someone isn't a bigot against other ethnic groups or not involved with acts that threaten American liberty, his personal life is his private right; as far as I'm concerned. Weather he's straight or gay/lesbian, votes for Repubs or Demos, wether he's atheist or religious, Muslim, Jew, or agnostic. whatever. That's his personal business and he has a right to his life and his views on those personal matters. So I don't care about that stuff. I have to respect his right to his personal views on those kinds of personal matters. And he should respect mine as well, or my right to have my personal views protected.

What I can say is his music is beautiful man. He's done some things musically that really inspired me. Actually reminded me of some sounds/ideas that I had been hearing in my head for a long time. So I instantly felt connected to them, in musical terms. I didn't know how to get some of those sounds initially which inspired me to learn everything I could about music.

Now I can do a lot of those techniques. But I'm no hack or musical wannabe clone. I always strive to have my own musical voice. Even though I may be inspired by (insert many musicians names here) I still "got to be me."

Anyway I always seem to agree or strongly relate to anything he's said about music in interviews too. I do know from his website and interviews that he's stated his music is not at all inspired by any spiritual or religious beliefs. He's firmly stated that he does not believe in any of that. He loves music, RESPECTS music, is extremely knowledgeable about music, and whether he admits it or not is a very gifted musician.

I think it's fine and actually commendable that he firmly states he does not belive in god. As that should have nothing to with his musical prowess. It comes from his love for, respect for, understanding of, and much hard work on perfecting his talent IN MUSIC. That's where it comes from!!!! He's said in an interview that he has friends who are religious but he is NOT religious at all. That's actually the kind of person I admire. Who can accept others personal views even if they don't parallel their own beliefs. Yup, always perplexes me how some expect that acceptance on racial matters but are to hypocritical to be opposite that on belief matters.

Wow I went on about it. It's become an issue with me actually. As my own forays into the music business being saddened to find people who wanna make being in the music biz about anything else but being a super talented musician. That's so sad to me. They wouldn't do that with doctor's would they? No! Then they just want the most qualified/talented person to get the job, when its their butt on the line!! Self centered hypocritical people. Some try to do that with musicians because they want a piece of the action on those musician dollars. Hey don't know if you know anything about SPIN. Good Salesman and journalists do.So no matter how they try to SPIN IT. I've seen its really all about some trying to get a piece of the musicians dollars. They can try and SPIN it but the reality is they want a piece of the action. Don't buy the SPIN move LOL. That's the misdirection play but all they really care about is getting their hands some of your musician money, PERIOD end of story.

Yes Pat is right up there with George Benson and Jimi as among the best and most influential guitarist's in history.

[Rob MacKillop]

"And he should respect mine as well, or my right to have my personal views protected."

Really? What if you - hypothetically - were, say, a fascist? Some people are. I worry about your term "protected" - presumably you mean by law? This is, of course, not an attack on you personally. You also say he "should" respect you. Why? Again, if you were a fascist and/or racist.

Just curious.

[mertas]

thanks for giving advice about his interview book.
everything is really there. also the fact, that all his life is reflected in music.
And thanks to that it has its depth, sould and true.
no separation music and rest of the life. Everything is merged together.
Fantastic explanations, why is he so great.
He thinks in extremely wide context and trusting to his internal voice.

[Bobalou]

"And he should respect mine as well, or my right to have my personal views protected."

Really? What if you - hypothetically - were, say, a fascist? Some people are. I worry about your term "protected" - presumably you mean by law? This is, of course, not an attack on you personally. You also say he "should" respect you. Why? Again, if you were a fascist and/or racist.

Just curious.

Webster's Dictionary definition of a fascism:

• a way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government.
  
• : very harsh control or authority
  
  Well I can see what your saying on that. Fascists/fascism is a very bad thing, an anathema to freedom and self-determination. I don't see how that would apply to Pat though. He's a musician not some fascist dictator.

[Rob MacKillop]

Hmm...you missed my point. It had nothing whatsoever to do with Pat. Never mind.

[Groyniad]

i'm fanatical about jazz - in particular about be-bop - and in particular about charlie parker and bud powell - i am also crazy about sonny rollins early-ish work and almost all of bill evans.

and i have never been able to get into pm at all. i positively dislike his folksy - open - unstructured - aimless melodic sense - his over-lush arrangements - and his almost complete lack of swing (even in the records with holland and haynes)

so i am totally stumped about the amount of jazz-love there is for him

i wonder how many of the people who adore him are into be-bop at all. i suspect they come to his music through rock or fusion rather jazz.

i have listened to e.g. 'question and answer' a lot (though i've never really liked anything but the drumming). but can someone recommend an album that represents his signature style rather than him doing a 'straight-ahead' album? obviously i don't hold out much hope of coming to like his stuff - but i'm genuinely confused as things stand.

[Endorphins]

i'm fanatical about jazz - in particular about be-bop - and in particular about charlie parker and bud powell - i am also crazy about sonny rollins early-ish work and almost all of bill evans.

and i have never been able to get into pm at all. i positively dislike his folksy - open - unstructured - aimless melodic sense - his over-lush arrangements - and his almost complete lack of swing (even in the records with holland and haynes)

so i am totally stumped about the amount of jazz-love there is for him

i wonder how many of the people who adore him are into be-bop at all. i suspect they come to his music through rock or fusion rather jazz.

i have listened to e.g. 'question and answer' a lot (though i've never really liked anything but the drumming). but can someone recommend an album that represents his signature style rather than him doing a 'straight-ahead' album? obviously i don't hold out much hope of coming to like his stuff - but i'm genuinely confused as things stand.

Bright Size Life

[Frethack]

Sometimes its better to just enjoy the music.

[55bar]

Bright Size Life

There are no rules saying you have to like him, spend time on things you like unless you see value in studying or listening to someone.

FWIW I love PM and am also a huge Wes, Jimmy R, Emily R, Charlie P fan too.

[Groyniad]

There are no rules saying you have to like him, spend time on things you like unless you see value in studying or listening to someone.

FWIW I love PM and am also a huge Wes, Jimmy R, Emily R, Charlie P fan too.

of course this is right - but i respect a great number of my fellow jazz lovers (mainly because they clearly love jazz) - and the fact that many are so enthusiastic about pm is significant to me.

but i've more than enough to be getting on with...

i appreciate the recommendation - and am listening to the first tune as i type this. i'm not having quite my typical pm experience - thanks!

[AlsoRan]

Watch your hero worship with people you really don't know.

I was a big fan of Bill Cosby.

He got me.

[eddy b.]

Bright Size Life. I'm not a devotee of Pat Metheny though I do acknowledge that he is a jazz guitar icon of a generation or two and has made several CD's that I really like. Bright Size Life is an amazing record it is the one Metheny record that I adore. If he only made this record he would have made his bones for the rest of his life. It is that great in my opinion.