Pat
Metheny to Close Montreal Jazz Festival June
17, 2005 - Those planning to attend the annual Montreal
International Jazz Festival are in for a treat. Jazz favorite The
Pat Metheny Group will close the 26th edition of the festival from the Main
General Motors Stage, with a free concert on July 10th. Metheny's 1989 performance
at the Festival captivated festival goers, and proved to be a major turning point
in the guitarist's career. The concert, presented in collaboration with Radio
Canada and CBC Television will be broadcast on July 24th at 8pm. - by Cheryl
Philips
Former
Pat Metheny Vocalist Mark Ledford Dead at 44 November
4, 2004 - Mark Ledford who was a big part of the Pat
Metheny sound on albums like "Still Life (Talking)" and "Secret
Story" died of a heart attack on November 1. The vocalist and trumpeter was
raised in Detroit and was once a Michael Jackson vocal imitator before studying
at the Berklee School of Music. He had also played with Alex Bugnon, Michael
Brecker, Brenda Russell, Eliane Elias,
Bill Evans, the Rippingtons,
Special EFX, Walter
Beasley, Najee, Bobby McFerrin and Doc Powell.
Ledford's specialty with Metheny was his haunting vocalese style which was featured
on the hit "Last Train Home." The singer was not scheduled to appear
on the next Metheny CD "The Way Up" scheduled for release on January
11, 2005.
Pat
Metheny Group Returns January 2005 October
25, 2004 - Pat Metheny fans will have to
wait until January 11, 2005 for a new Metheny group album. "The Way Up"
on Nonesuch Records is an interesting project, it's one single continuous 68 minute
composition written by guitarist Metheny and longtime collaborator/pianist Lyle
Mays. On the bands official website Metheny says, "This is our most ambitious
undertaking ever as a group - and we have never been so excited about a project.
This record takes every aspect of the band to a new level." Also on the album
are Steve Rodby (acoustic and electric bass, cello) Cuong Vu (trumpet, voice)
Gregoire Maret (harmonica) and Antonio Sanchez (drums). "The Way Up"
tour will kick off in Toronto, Canada February 18 and wrap up April 30 in Seoul,
Korea. Click
here for tour dates
Pat
Metheny Wishes He Could Play Better October
29, 2003 - Here's proof that everything's relative. Pat Metheny wishes he could
play the guitar better! The Jazz guitar legend says, "The more you learn,
the more you realize that there's stuff you've really just kind of skated over."
Metheny adds, "For me, the impulse to try to get better, improve and try
to learn more about music is identical and amplified from the way it was earlier
on in my life. That's still the main thing." With fifteen Grammy wins behind
him the guitarist continues to reinvent himself having played with Jaco Pastorius,
Joni Mitchell, Gary Burton, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins and Joshua Redman. Pat
Metheny Hits the road in October May
27, 2003 - The New Pat Metheny album "One Quiet Night" is out today
but he won't be touring until October. His U.S. tour of theaters and colleges
kicks off Oct 10th in Pittsburgh and features just the trio of Metheny with bassist
Christian McBride and drummer Antonio Sanchez. The new album recorded at home
alone with an acoustic guitar was a low key affair according to Metheny. In a
statement Metheny said "Unlike most of our recordings that have involved
lots of planning and sophisticated recording studios," Metheny adds, "this
one started and ended with just a single guitar and a mic. This record is about
essentially one sound, basically one mood, and taking the time to go deep inside
that single world." Pat
Metheny's Tour Dates
October
2003 10-12 - Pittsburgh, PA - Manchester Craftsmen's Guild
14, 15 - Annapolis, MD - Ram's Head 17 - Atlanta, GA - University of Georgia
18 - Birmingham, AL - University of Alabama 20 - Lawrence, KS - Liberty
Hall 23 - Melbourne, FL - King Center 26 - Gainesville, FL - University
of Florida 27 - St. Petersburg, FL - Mahaffey Theater 28 - Jacksonville,
FL - Florida Theatre 30 - Richmond, VA - University of Richmond
November
2003 1 - Hanover, NH - Dartmouth College 2 - New Brunswick,
NJ - New Jersey State Theatre 6 - Wilmington, DE - The Grand Opera House
7 - Bethlehem, PA - Lehigh University 9 - Cleveland, OH - Severance
Hall 10 - Hamilton, OH - Miami University
New
Pat Metheny Solo album In May April
8, 2003 - Warner Brothers will release the new Pat Metheny album 'One Quiet Night'
on May 20th. Metheny says "This record is about essentially one sound, basically
one mood, and taking the time to go deep inside that single world." His official
web site calls the album a 'solo baritone guitar' album. Fans can pre-order the
new album on Amazon. click
here to order
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