artist: Pat Metheny country of origin: USA style(s): Jazz, ambient, new acoustic, world beat essential releases: Pat Metheny Group (1978, ECM) New Chautauqua (1979, ECM) As Falls Wichita, So Falls Whichita Falls (1981, ECM) Question And Answer (1990, Geffen) Secret Story (1992, Geffen)

Few guitarists associated with modern jazz in the 70's and 80's could match the melodic appeal and lyrical beauty of Pat Metheny’s music, which explains why he's also popular amongst fans of easy-listening ambient, pop and new age. Metheny emerged in the mid-1970’s at a time when jazz-rock, a collision of styles kick-started by Miles Davis in the late 60’s, was dying in popularity. He takes jazz-rock’s love of fusion while leaving behind some of its tunelessness and self-indulgence, offering a welcome dose of warmth and melody and colouring his music with folk and ethnic elements. He regularly uses an ensemble and while his freestyle improvising may be the mark of a jazz musician, his guitar playing - whether acoustic or electric - can be highly tonal.

Many of Metheny’s albums are worth hearing, though be warned that many of those are primarily of interest to contemporary jazz fans; lots of angular melodies, wandering time signatures and plenty of soloing. On the other hand, anyone with an ear for intelligent guitar music will find Matheny at his most transcendent on the utterly exquisite guitar pieces of New Chautauqua, while some of his most lyrical and accessible music can be found on Pat Metheny Group and As Falls Wichita with their soaring guitar lines and lovely keyboard accompaniments by Lyle Mays.

By the end of the 80’s Metheny left ECM for Geffen Records and enjoyed a creative renaissance on Question And Answer and the stunning Secret Story. On the latter album Metheny and a talented cast take world fusion to new heights, drawing on Indian, Middle Eastern and South American sources. Deeply felt, rich in texture and embracing many moods, Secret Story is perhaps the finest and most eclectic album he’s ever recorded.

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