Country : United States / USA Label : Nonesuch Genres and styles : Contemporary Jazz / Jazz Year : 2020

From This Place

· by Michel Rondeau

Pat Metheny – Pat la mitaine, as my friend Henri nicknamed him on a snowstorm night when the pair of us were half the crowd who came to hear him and his band at El Casino – has an instantly recognizable sound, a timbre with an almost too bright clarity, it’s also a style, equally unique, with vertiginous flights in search of the paroxysmal note, his elaborate constructions becoming more and more complex over the years while remaining fundamentally the same, much like his tousled hair and striped t-shirts. Now, after a few years of silence, Metheny’s new album  is undoubtedly his most ambitious. Inspired by Creed Taylor’s productions on the CTI label in the ’70s, which used Don Sebesky’s orchestrations mixing jazz and big band, he serves up Metheny “with strings” in a big way. And he did not skimp on resources. He called on two top arrangers for the scores, and on an orchestra experienced in recording Hollywood soundtracks. The result is even denser and busier music, where the strings serve as a showcase for Metheny and his musicians, who shine with all their energy. It’s all there, just like in the movies: action, drama and tender moments. As a bonus, there’s even MeShell Ndegeocello singing a bittersweet ballad. He’s really put on a show. In the moment, you get an earful, but afterwards, strangely enough, as with some films, nothing seems to really stick.

Latest 360 Content

Transforming Hiroshima mon amour into contemporary opera: Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind tell the story

Transforming Hiroshima mon amour into contemporary opera: Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind tell the story

Sparks – MAD!

Sparks – MAD!

Peter Murphy – Silver Shade

Peter Murphy – Silver Shade

Ken Pomeroy – Cruel World

Ken Pomeroy – Cruel World

Art of the Line: Klangkarussell’s Euro Vision at SAT

Art of the Line: Klangkarussell’s Euro Vision at SAT

Centroamérica – a powerful docu-play about truth and connection in an age of distance and denial

Centroamérica – a powerful docu-play about truth and connection in an age of distance and denial

Lido Pimienta – La Belleza

Lido Pimienta – La Belleza

Tamir Barzilay – Phosphene Journal

Tamir Barzilay – Phosphene Journal

The best ‘’Candlelight concert‘’ ever.

The best ‘’Candlelight concert‘’ ever.

Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

Men I Trust – Equus Caballus

The Halluci Nation – Path of the Baby Face

The Halluci Nation – Path of the Baby Face

A lap steel guitar choir and an angel to end the Innovations en concert 24-25 season

A lap steel guitar choir and an angel to end the Innovations en concert 24-25 season

The OSM and Abel Selaocoe: Evenings When You’d Like to Stop Time

The OSM and Abel Selaocoe: Evenings When You’d Like to Stop Time

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Reaching for the sky: Francis Choinière’s challenge to end his OPCM’s 10th season

Piknic 3: A Little Bit of Everything Under the Sun

Piknic 3: A Little Bit of Everything Under the Sun

Cazzu – Latinaje

Cazzu – Latinaje

Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film

Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film

SMCQ | In memoriam Jocelyn Morlock

SMCQ | In memoriam Jocelyn Morlock

Abbey Road at Festival Classica

Abbey Road at Festival Classica

Mira Choquette – Hier encore

Mira Choquette – Hier encore

Jared Dunn; Anna Gorecka – Gorecki’s World of the Piano

Jared Dunn; Anna Gorecka – Gorecki’s World of the Piano

Cyrille Dubois; Tristan Raës – Dupont : The Complete Songs

Cyrille Dubois; Tristan Raës – Dupont : The Complete Songs

Subscribe to our newsletter