Pat Metheny and band in a flawless performance of “The First Circle,” from the album First Circle, on Italian television in 1988. (Dig Pat’s Italian leather pants.)
1 |
lostlakehiker Sun, Mar 8, 2009 11:34:38am |
Can’t see “First Circle” without thinking of Solzhenitsyn’s book with that title, about life in the least-bad-part of the hell that was the Gulag. They actually had scientific research establishments inside the camps, so that politically incorrect scientists could be used to best advantage.
| 2 |
Cognito Sun, Mar 8, 2009 11:35:18am |
I dunno, man. If you’re not racing a Ducati on a track through the Italian Alps, I think Italian leather pants look a little funny…
| 4 |
Charles Johnson Sun, Mar 8, 2009 11:43:47am |
It’s palmas - a Brazilian clapping technique.
| 5 |
notutopia Sun, Mar 8, 2009 11:48:02am |
Stunning palmas. Soothing rhythm. Flawless indeed.
WOW.
| 6 |
Killgore Trout Sun, Mar 8, 2009 11:48:06am |
I haven’t listened to Metheny in many years. It’s odd that the rhythms and even the melodies are pretty challenging but the harmonies are a little weak and tame. Strange combination.
| 7 |
Killgore Trout Sun, Mar 8, 2009 11:51:43am |
OT: Today Pamela refers to Daniel pipes as a “damaging propagandist” with “tired” and “fallacious” opinions.
| 8 |
Charles Johnson Sun, Mar 8, 2009 11:52:14am |
re: #7 Killgore Trout
OT: Today Pamela refers to Daniel pipes as a “damaging propagandist” with “tired” and “fallacious” opinions.
Hmm.
| 9 |
Killgore Trout Sun, Mar 8, 2009 11:54:50am |
re: #8 Charles
I wasn’t aware there was that much animosity there. Not surprising, I guess.
| 10 |
Timbre Sun, Mar 8, 2009 11:58:09am |
I badly want to see John McLaughlin and Chick Corea in Dallas this month, but tickets plus gas plus having to take a day off from work are just too much. Drat!
| 11 |
notutopia Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:00:47pm |
re: #2 Cognito
There is nothing more sensuous or exquisite than having quality soft buttery Italian leather against your skin Cog. Try it, I bet you’d love it too.
| 12 |
Macker Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:02:19pm |
re: #8 Charles
Like you really needed to hear that about Pamela, eh.
| 13 |
Killgore Trout Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:03:24pm |
re: #12 Macker
Yeah, it was an early ot on a music thread too. My bad.
| 14 |
chicagodudewhotrades Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:05:30pm |
Charles, speaking of musicans, I’m sure you have heard of the late Bill Russo?
[Link: en.wikipedia.org…]
Mr. Russo was a downstairs neighbor of mine when I was a teenager growing up on the North side. He was a good guy, He had back problems , so I spent a couple hours on the weekends running errands for him. He taught me a lot, including some Latin. Just wondering if you had ever worked with him.
| 15 |
Gang of One Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:15:41pm |
Have loved Pat’s music since I first heard San Lorenzo back around 1977 or ‘78. Have a whole lot of his stuff — love Imaginary Day.
Heard a guy named Etan Haziza a few months back in a tiny little jazz lounge in Teaneck, NJ — when I asked him if he was influenced by Pat Metheny, he gave me an autographed copy of his CD! He has no youtube video, unfortunately.
| 16 |
Cognito Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:16:52pm |
re: #11 notutopia
There is nothing more sensuous or exquisite than having quality soft buttery Italian leather against your skin Cog. Try it, I bet you’d love it too.
When someone else is wearing it, sure.
| 18 |
Killgore Trout Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:18:50pm |
re: #17 Cognito
Maybe he’s just not radical enough for them.
| 19 |
MrPaulRevere Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:18:53pm |
re: #9 Killgore Trout
It sounds like she is forming a hedgehog with Spencer and Bostom.
| 20 |
Cognito Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:21:18pm |
re: #18 Killgore Trout
Maybe he’s just not radical enough for them.
He’s thoughtful.
Which is regarded as a hindrance, in some quarters.
| 21 |
Killgore Trout Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:23:41pm |
re: #19 MrPaulRevere
It seems to revolve around Geert…..
Mar, 8, 2009 update: Here is
Wilders’ take on his and my disagreement, expressed in an interview with the Boston Globe’s Jeff Jacoby:
…..
(1) Wilders’ argument echoes Pope Benedict XVI’s, that Koran interpretation has no history. This argument is plain mistaken; see “Jihad through History” for the evolution of one key concept and see “[The Issue of Compulsion in Religion:] Islam is What Its Followers Make of It” for the range of understandings over time of one single Koranic phrase. (2) The last line, “It’s the Koran that’s saying” that more liberal interpretations of Islam are non-Islamic has no validity at all. (3) Despite these differences in outlook, the Legal Project that I founded in 2007 has to date raised funds well into the six figures (U.S.) to support Wilders’ court costs to protect his right to speak his views. .
| 23 |
MrPaulRevere Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:30:52pm |
re: #21 Killgore Trout
I’ve been a huge Daniel Pipes fan ever since I picked up his book “Militant Islam reaches America”. He always struck me as one of the more educated critics of radical Islam. And one who breathes through his nose, if you get my drift.
| 24 |
MrPaulRevere Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:36:49pm |
re: #23 MrPaulRevere
Its available on Amazon for only $4.19. A great buy and a great read: [Link: www.amazon.com…]
| 26 |
Fat Bastard Vegetarian Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:44:28pm |
| 27 |
Desert Dog Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:48:14pm |
re: #26 Fat Bastard Vegetarian
Dude and his mommy got arrested for stealing paintings in The Netherlands (22 years ago).
re: #26 Fat Bastard Vegetarian
Dude and his mommy got arrested for stealing paintings in The Netherlands (22 years ago).
They folded them up? aaahhhhhh! They should give the culprits the same treatment
| 28 |
Desert Dog Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:49:11pm |
re: #25 FrogMarch
Maui tea party. who’s going?
I would prefer a Long Island Iced Tea Party…after an hour or so, you just don’t care about politics any longer….until the morning
| 29 |
Earth56 Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:49:31pm |
Thanks Charles for Pat Meheny
I remember his album “New Chatauqua ” especially side 1 as one of the best pieces of music. I still have it on tape in my truck when I’m driving.
Was that really put out in 1979 ?
30 years ?
I thought I was still 32
| 30 |
Fat Bastard Vegetarian Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:50:34pm |
re: #27 Desert Dog
Yeah. Steal a Renoir, fold it up and shove it down in your pants. Great. Who is he? Sandy Berger?
| 31 |
Pietr Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:52:46pm |
Today’s word is LIQUIDITY.
Definition:
Liquidity - when you look at your retirement funds and wet your pants!
| 32 |
Fat Bastard Vegetarian Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:52:50pm |
re: #29 Earth56
If you’d like, I’ll believe you were driving around in a truck at the age of two.
| 33 |
Earth56 Sun, Mar 8, 2009 12:54:09pm |
re: #32 Fat Bastard Vegetarian
If you’d like, I’ll believe you were driving around in a truck at the age of two.
Actually, come to think about it I was..one of those red plastic or metal fire engines
| 35 |
neocon hippie Sun, Mar 8, 2009 1:00:26pm |
What a great piece, always fun to see live.
| 36 |
godfrey Sun, Mar 8, 2009 1:25:42pm |
That’s vivid, exciting music. Great crashing waves in that one, like a subtropical sea.
| 37 |
Sharmuta Sun, Mar 8, 2009 2:05:08pm |
That was great. I liked the pants.
re: #18 Killgore Trout
Maybe he’s just not radical enough for them.
I think that goes without saying.
| 38 |
oneman Sun, Mar 8, 2009 2:09:45pm |
Thanks, Charles. That’s always been one of my favorites.
| 39 |
Lib Wingnut Sun, Mar 8, 2009 2:10:42pm |
Charles:
Have you listened to the song “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” from In Rainbows by Radiohead? The guitar work is genuinely beautiful. The composition & arrangement make the 3 guitars sound as if they are a dream or a subconscious rhythm. Flawless.
| 40 |
Irish Rose Sun, Mar 8, 2009 2:27:19pm |
*sigh*
Enjoying this with a nice, peaceful cup of afternoon tea… beautiful.
| 41 |
Strike Hornet Sun, Mar 8, 2009 2:42:42pm |
Metheny Rocks!
“Are You Going With Me” from “Offramp” is a Modern Masterpiece…
His (and Lyle Mays’) scoring of the Movie “The Falcon & The Snowman” was brilliant as well…
| 42 |
bruxellesblog Sun, Mar 8, 2009 3:12:58pm |
re: #6 Killgore Trout
harmonies are a little weak and tame.
A lot has to do with the mix. Too much acoustic guitar at the top, you can’t hear the keys. The harmonies are much thicker when you can hear keys, there is A LOT going on in the inner harmonies that are lost in this recording. Also, I’ve never heard his vocalists flat that much in the opening so I’m guessing the mix wasn’t great on stage either.
First Circle is a landmark album, quite complex, some superb dada-ist touches as well with the tune “Forward March”. Kurt Schwitters would be proud.
I saw the 1987/88 tour at the Berkeley Greek Theater. Hell of a show. I hadn’t listened to much Pat Metheny for quite a few years, but recently have been getting back into him. I’m finding I really enjoy the album We Live Here, I always found it to be far less epic that First Circle, but now it is really growing on me.
Age I guess…
| 43 |
So? Sun, Mar 8, 2009 3:23:21pm |
Over the years I have seem Metheny perform live about 8 times. Always a treat. However, there are 2 flawless shows that stand out in memory. One was his performance of the White LP, “The Pat Metheny Group album. I was mesmerized only 15 feet from the stage. It’s the first time I think I ever heard a band live that sounded exactly like the LP. I mean flawless and incredible sounding. The guys just hung out having beer after the show, could’ve gone up and said hello, but was just too shy and awed by the performance.
The second memorable flawless show what Metheny’s performance of Secret Story. Many Metheny fans don’t like that LP. They say it’s typical Pat. But I adore that album. He brought along a cast of 12 musicians and again, it was note for note perfect. Actually, those 2 LPs and Offramp are my favorite Metheney recordings. After being an avid fan for 15 or 20 years I began to lose interest when he got into this Brazilian shtick with the singers and it just started sounded repetitive. In Full Circle that was his first vocal - instrumental collaboration and I loved the LP. But then he kept on and on and on.
I really don’t know why the Metheny fans I’ve spoken to, don’t like Secret Story. I think its his masterpiece. Different stylings and yes, the greatest use of a synthesizer guitar. Only John McLauhlin matches Metheny when it come to knowing how to play a sythn guitar.
I’ve always wondered how Hendrix would have loved playing a synth guitar and how he would have blown a hole through right through the earth.
| 44 |
Dustoff-507 Sun, Mar 8, 2009 3:48:15pm |
WOW Charles.
I didn’t know you liked Pat M. Heck I saw him in the early 1980’s at UC nSan Diego. Great music.
| 45 |
Dustoff-507 Sun, Mar 8, 2009 3:51:42pm |
re: #43 So?
Secret Story is good, but it does have a few low points, but still damn good.
Jezzz I really feel old now. LOL
| 46 |
Dustoff-507 Sun, Mar 8, 2009 3:54:57pm |
Hell you guys.
I’m from the John Klemmer days. (Touch)
(-:
| 47 |
BruxellesBlog Sun, Mar 8, 2009 3:57:53pm |
re: #43 So?
For me, the problem with Secret Story is that too much of it sounds like background music. It is too static for my taste.
Finding and Believing is a tune I like, but I find myself going to the track button way too much on a lot of the rest of the tracks…and there are a lot of tracks.
I guess this is why I’ve been warming up to We Live Here, it has a lot of straight up jamming and some excellent solos. To The End of the World holds the lid on for 7 minutes until it opens up to a jam, and keeps going for another 6 minutes. Nice stuff.
Great synth axe too on that.
| 48 |
Clutch Sun, Mar 8, 2009 5:28:56pm |
re: #43 So?
Allan Holdsworth also plays a very mean SynthAxe. And if you are into weird stringed instruments, how about this 40-stringed beauty?
And since this thread is about the PMG, I have to plug my favorite PMG soundalike, Brian Hughes.
(PM/PMG fan since AMERICAN GARAGE and FIRST CIRCLE is great, well except for “Forward March” which is a throwaway tune, but I absolutely adore “End Of The Game”! Also agree on the excellent WE LIVE HERE. Like a lot of others, it seems, I’m not a huge fan of SECRET STORY, but it has its moments.)
| 49 |
coloradobuff Sun, Mar 8, 2009 6:38:12pm |
re: #4 Charles
It’s palmas - a Brazilian clapping technique.
I didn’t know it had a name. I just thought it was very cool - kind of a six-then-five time signature with a cool handclap on top, filling in between the notes Pat eventually plays a few measures in. Hard as heck to get down, though. (At least, for this old man.)
| 50 |
Noah's Arrrgh Sun, Mar 8, 2009 7:23:15pm |
I only caught a glimpse, but could that be Vinnie Colaiuta on drums?
| 51 |
Hucbald Mon, Mar 9, 2009 1:12:38am |
That takes me back to a cool time in my life: Living in NYC, coolest band I was ever in, and the best GF I ever had.
Thanks for that.
Charles, do you have Pat’s solo album, “One Quiet Night”? I listened to almost nothing else for three years after that came out in ‘02. He used an amazing Linda Manzer baritone guitar tuned Nashville: Middle two strings up an octave. Mesmerizing stuff. Or, perhaps it should be “Manzmerizing” stuff. LOL!
Pat used to play at a jazz club in Cambridge called Ryles back in the early 80’s. Just a trio playing straight ahead jazz out of the Real Book. Awesome. Almost every Thursday, if I recall correctly.
| 52 |
lerxt Mon, Mar 9, 2009 5:55:52am |
Wow. It’s been a long time since I heard that. I’ll have to dig out my First Circle CD. Good stuff.
| 53 |
RoughRider Mon, Mar 9, 2009 8:00:40am |
My most favoritest song ever! Excellent choice, Lizard King!
Former Stan Kenton trombonist and arranger Bob Curnow arranged a bunch of Metheny’s work, including First Circle, for big band about 20 years ago and got a bunch of first-call L.A. jazz pros to record them with stunning awe-inspiring results. “The Music of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays” Go get it now.
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