Ticket 2 Ride

It’s been awhile jazz guitar virtuoso Pat Metheny has been back in his hometown (Lee’s Summit, MO) Kansas City area.

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him in several different venues around the area over the past 40 years. He’s won 20 Grammy Awards in ten different categories, and teamed up with the biggest names in jazz. Bio

Metheny began his career as a teenager, a guitar prodigy, studying and then teaching, then joining vibraphonist Gary Burton playing and touring, before recording his first album under his own name in 1976. He’s played with and recorded with top jazz artists, even backing Joni Mitchell on a mid-1970s tour, and collaborated with David Bowie on a film soundtrack. My favorite Metheny albums are the solo and group recordings with pianist Lyle Mays.

Metheny is not only a superb guitarist, but he’s one of the first jazz-fusion players to embrace technology such as the Roland guitar synthesizer and early Synclavier. The Orchestrion, a mechanized device of various percussion, autoharps, xylophones and other player-piano type instruments programmed into Metheny’s guitar or his pianist’s keyboard. The effect is a bit like a player piano of beats, bells and swooshes.

About the concert

Pat Metheny played a variety of guitars, including the 42-string Pikasso guitar. Keyboardist James Francies moved around several banks of keyboard: piano, organ and various other instruments. Drummer Nate Smith was spectacular, he reminded me of Ginger Baker, playing with power and purpose. He has incredible versatility, sounding like a small percussion orchestra at times. These three musicians filled the concert hall layers, textures and worldly rhythms.

The venue was fabulous, comfortable with an excellent view. Not a bad seat in this performance hall. Given that he’s a native son, I expected a sellout. There were good seats not filled.

The audience was reminded twice, that no photograph or video was allowed. I’ve noticed that Pat Metheny is quite guarded about any photography, and especially any video of performances. There aren’t many available online.

The sound was incredibly clear and great separation of instruments. A few songs were solo acoustic guitar and each tone was crystal clear. The lighting was not elaborate, it was mostly spotlighting elements of the performance.

The two hours passed quickly, one of the fastest moving concerts in recent memory. These three musicians are masterful on their instruments and blend seamlessly. It was quite the jazz symphony.

The only oddity was that the times Metheny spoke to the audience was to introduce his two colleagues. He made no song introductions or provided any banter with the audience. Certainly, Metheny is a private man who seems to avoid the spotlight, but in his own backyard, one might expect him to let down his guard and embrace the loyal following.

Setlist

“Pikasso” (Metheny playing the 42-string guitar)

“So May It Secretly Begin”
(Pat Metheny Group song) Still Life (Talking) (1987)

“Bright Size Life” Bright Sized Life (1975)

“Better Days Ahead”
(Pat Metheny Group song) Letter From Home (1989)

“Timeline”
(Michael Brecker cover)

“Always and Forever” Secret Story (1992)

“Jaco”
(Pat Methane Group song) Pat Metheny Group (1978)

“When We Were Free”
(Pat Metheny Group song) Day Trip (2008)

“Farmer’s Trust”
(Pat Metheny Group song) Travels (1983)

“It Starts When We Disappear” SIDE-EYE NYC (V1.IV) (2021)

“Phase Dance”
(Pat Metheny Group song) Pat Metheny Group (1978)

“Trigonometry/Broadway Blues” Song X (1986)

“Zenith Blue” SIDE-EYE NYC (V1.IV) (2021)

Encore:
“Minuano (Six Eight)” / “As It Is” / “September Fifteenth” / “The Sun in Montreal” / “Midwestern Nights Dream” / “Antonia” / “This Is Not America” / “Last Train Home”

Encore 2:
“Are You Going With Me?”
(Pat Metheny Group song) Offramp (1982)