This being Jazz Month here at Blogcritics, I thought I'd spend the next several Fridays chatting up some of my favorite jazz records. At the end of the month, I'll reveal my choice for favorite jazz album.
And of course you knew I'd have to start with Pat Metheny.
I've always been amazed that Bright Size Life was Metheny's debut recording. With Bob Moses on drums and Jaco Pastorius on bass, Metheny produced an album that was both unique and instantly timeless. It's one of those "stars in alignment" sort of things. And now, thirty-something years later, the music is still fresh.
The title track gives you almost all you need to know about this group of musicians. Pat begins unaccompanied for a quick ascending line before Jaco drops in with a single low note followed by one of his trademark ringing artificial harmonics. As Metheny continues to flesh out each chorus, the bass moves beyond a mere supporting role, becoming a parallel source of improvisation. When Pat drops back mid-tune to let Jaco take a solo, it's clear that Pastorius and Metheny are of like minds. Let's not forget Bob Moses here, who brilliantly fills in any harmonic empty spaces with the most musical cymbal and rimshot work you're ever likely to hear. Bright Size Live is laced with so many instances of this type of magical interplay that they're just too numerous to mention, though "Missouri Uncompromised" is worth noting for its breathtaking "unison soloing."
What I've always found interesting about this album is that many parts of Pat's musical future are telegraphed by the compositions. There's the Midwestern openness of "Unity Village", highly angular approaches to melodic lines ("Omaha Celebration"), and of course: Ornette. Bright Size Life ends with an exhilarating run through Coleman's "Round Trip/Broadway Blues." A stunning conclusion to one of my favorite jazz albums.
Though this music has a lot of years on it, Pat has in no way abandoned it. Check out this version of "Bright Size Life" with Richard Bona on bass and Antonio Sanchez on the kit.
Article comments
1 - Connie Phillips
Wow! The video certainly makes an impression. So, I guess this is another artist I have to seek out and hear more of.
2 - Mark Saleski
this is how i get other people to spend their money (just ask tom johnson)
3 - Pico
This album was under consideration on my "best jazz debuts" list. It's not just that the music is good but when you consider that it went compeletely against the grain in the world of jazz at that time, it's even more amazing. And in the end, that album ended up sounding a lot more timeless than other jazz records of 1976.
Thanks for the reminder, Mark, I'm going to have to pull this one out tonight.
4 - Methuselah
Metheny is on the Ramsey Lewis PBS jazz show this week with Jim Hall.
5 - run dogg
Pat has some incredible guitar tunes - they are on my fav. play list and I never get tired of them, excellent mood setters for mind tripping.