Sept (1) 2021: Pat Metheny Group - 'First Circle' (1984)
Sept 9, 2021 17:22:10 GMT
ChrisB likes this
Post by ajski2fly on Sept 9, 2021 17:22:10 GMT
I don't quite get some of the comments about this one, I have several Pat Metheny albums and this is one of them.
By track this is what I hear:-
Forward March - this is quite a clever composition, it is obviously a tongue in cheek march which is emulating what seems to be bad playing of an inexperienced marching band, but far from it it is a carefully and cleverly executed study. It must have been quite tricky to play without it all falling apart, with shifting dissonant chords, and timings.
Yolanda, You Learn - A great up-tempo composition, a happy light-hearted piece with a vibrant feel, there is quite a bit of interplay between the instruments if you listen carefully.
The First Circle - This for me is a beautiful piece of music, a great hand clap intro which is then countered with an unexpected vocal with synth harmony, leading into with some wonderful acoustic guitar playing, and then an expressive section with splash cymbals and bells, it has echoes of a track from Off Ramp for me. The bass line drives it along with very tight and expressive percussion and then builds to a vibrant finale.
If I Could - A moody and reflective number, it has a wonderful feel, giving an air of completely relaxed playing by the musicians, the integration between the bass the guitar, and supporting synth harmonies, make it rather special, along with very understated brush drumming on the snare and cymbals. All very cool.
Tell It All - this is a fast foot tapping composition with a driving beat, some lovely guitar licks, and some clever keyboard harmonies from Like Mays, and some very nice drumming and percussion, there's a lovely subtle cross-over section with Agogo Bells in the mix.
End Of The Game - A reflective and laid back piece, with Metheny experimenting on Synth Guitar, it reminds me in parts of the interplay between Metheny and Mays on 'As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls', to my ears it has a lovely floating and relaxed feel. Metheny's synth guitar in parts giving echoes of a trumpet solo.
Mas Alla (Beyond) - Delicate piano on this track, and a nice vocal from Pedro
Praise - Not obvious on a first listen but is written as an uplifting piece, expressing exaltation, although the style it is presented in does not make it that obvious.
For those of you who do not know 'First Circle' it was a Grammy Award Winner for Best Jazz Fusion Performance, and who am I to argue. I suppose Pat Metheny is probably not everyones cup of tea and if you listen to his stuff casually then it can come across as rather laid back or even bland, but in my experience most of his compositions are quite expressive and have depth to them.
It's a 5/5 from me because I think it is damn good.
By the way there is only one Pat Metheny album I could not get on with so far and that is "Pat Metheny; Ornette Coleman - Song X"(Free Jazz)
By track this is what I hear:-
Forward March - this is quite a clever composition, it is obviously a tongue in cheek march which is emulating what seems to be bad playing of an inexperienced marching band, but far from it it is a carefully and cleverly executed study. It must have been quite tricky to play without it all falling apart, with shifting dissonant chords, and timings.
Yolanda, You Learn - A great up-tempo composition, a happy light-hearted piece with a vibrant feel, there is quite a bit of interplay between the instruments if you listen carefully.
The First Circle - This for me is a beautiful piece of music, a great hand clap intro which is then countered with an unexpected vocal with synth harmony, leading into with some wonderful acoustic guitar playing, and then an expressive section with splash cymbals and bells, it has echoes of a track from Off Ramp for me. The bass line drives it along with very tight and expressive percussion and then builds to a vibrant finale.
If I Could - A moody and reflective number, it has a wonderful feel, giving an air of completely relaxed playing by the musicians, the integration between the bass the guitar, and supporting synth harmonies, make it rather special, along with very understated brush drumming on the snare and cymbals. All very cool.
Tell It All - this is a fast foot tapping composition with a driving beat, some lovely guitar licks, and some clever keyboard harmonies from Like Mays, and some very nice drumming and percussion, there's a lovely subtle cross-over section with Agogo Bells in the mix.
End Of The Game - A reflective and laid back piece, with Metheny experimenting on Synth Guitar, it reminds me in parts of the interplay between Metheny and Mays on 'As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls', to my ears it has a lovely floating and relaxed feel. Metheny's synth guitar in parts giving echoes of a trumpet solo.
Mas Alla (Beyond) - Delicate piano on this track, and a nice vocal from Pedro
Praise - Not obvious on a first listen but is written as an uplifting piece, expressing exaltation, although the style it is presented in does not make it that obvious.
For those of you who do not know 'First Circle' it was a Grammy Award Winner for Best Jazz Fusion Performance, and who am I to argue. I suppose Pat Metheny is probably not everyones cup of tea and if you listen to his stuff casually then it can come across as rather laid back or even bland, but in my experience most of his compositions are quite expressive and have depth to them.
It's a 5/5 from me because I think it is damn good.
By the way there is only one Pat Metheny album I could not get on with so far and that is "Pat Metheny; Ornette Coleman - Song X"(Free Jazz)
