Pat Metheny Group - Speaking of Now Live

Starring:Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Steve Rodby
Studio: Eagle Vision USA
Product Type: DVD

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There's nary a flaw to be found in this lengthy (135 minutes) concert performance by guitarist Pat Metheny and his sextet, recorded in Tokyo in 2002. The musicianship is superb, the material (much of it drawn from the Metheny Group album of the same name) strong, the sound and visuals impeccable, the audience respectful... and therein lies the problem, such as it is. The whole effect is a bit sterile; there's little of the communication between listeners and players that can ignite jazz or rock shows in more intimate, less formal settings. Co-founders Metheny and keyboardist Lyle Mays, longtime bassist/co-producer Steve Rodby, and the three more recent members (multi-instrumentalists Richard Bona and Cuong Vu and drummer Antonio Sanchez) are all brilliant, versatile players. And it's nice to hear their interpretations of Jobim's "How Insensitive" and Metheny's lovely title tune from the film A Map of the World. But unless you get off on seeing a lot of close-ups of Metheny's facial contortions, listening to the PMG's recordings should suffice. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

A Masterstroke.......2007-06-30

Just got this today and haven't finished watching it yet (Another Life is playing as I write this). I have only been a fan since Still Life Talking was released, but slowly discovering Pat Metheny's music has been a great experience. This concert is great and the musicians are top notch. The camera work is great with no weird angles, and the focus is on whoever is prominently playing at that moment. The DTS mix is very clean as well. There are no extras on this DVD, but 2 hours and 15 minutes of jazz well played is enough. This is the second Eagle Eye media concert I have purchased with Diana Krall's DVD being the first. Their production of both of these concerts is superb! Turn the lights down, crank up the surround sound, and enjoy!

Brilliant Music.......2007-03-15

Pat Metheny, like many Jazz musicians, is not for everybody -- especially those brought up on radio music. Personally I love a lot of what he does and what he has to offer a lister. While he enjoys taking his listeners on what can sometimes be long arduous journeys that may not be necessary, rarely will someone who appreciates music in its truest form have so many opportunities to hear something that they have never heard before. But with Metheny, it's not so much about hearing him play as it is seeing him play. He is seriously into his playing in a way that few guitarists are. And that is what makes this DVD special.

The DVD features the concert only, no interviews or extras. In this case, it is more than enough. The concert starts with Metheny alone playing his solo acoustic version of Last Train Home. And it is well worth listening to. It is quintessential Metheny in a lot of ways, ambient, complex, and filled with deceptive resolutions, particularly one towards the end. Listen to it, you'll know it when you hear it. Proof, The Gathering Sky, and Insensatez are other nice tracks that are well suited for general listening. Those that enjoy Metheny in his more bazaar and chaotic moments should enjoy A Place In This World, Scrap Metal, and The Roots of Coincidence. And those that run when they hear Metheny's name should promptly exit the room during these tracks.

One cannot talk about The Pat Metheny Group without mentioning Lyle Mays on piano and keyboards. Personally, the more I listen to Metheny, the more I wonder which one I like more, Pat or Lyle. It's a close call, but since both are fantastic I don't worry much about it. Mays' playing is nicely showcased throughout the concert. While all of the supporting musicians are fantastic, it's Lyle Mays who really make a lot of the music happen.

Speaking of the supporting musicians, this DVD also features some of the most moving vocal work I have ever heard from Richard Bona. The two songs that showcase his voice are You and On Her Way. Listen to these. They will change your life for the better. I usually do not respond to the male voice. But there is something about Bona singing in his native tongue (Cameroon) that positively angelic, haunting, and beautiful. Again, listen to these songs. And, as if they needed more, both transition nicely into Metheny's guitar playing. Bona is primarily a Bass player. However in the Metheny Group the Bass duties are covered by longtime Metheny Bassist Steve Rodby. Bona plays a variety of instruments throughout the concert including acoustic guitar, percussion, and brass. When Metheny introduces his band members by instrument at the shows end he appropriately credits, "Richard Bona on Everything."

As a rather crude guitarist myself I have always know about Metheny and gave him some brief listening time, but always found the work too complicated. This DVD really went a long way towards making me a Pat Metheny fan. As I mentioned earlier, one needs to see Metheny play as well as opposed to just hearing him play. For those wanting to take that step, this DVD comes highly recommended. It should have no trouble earning a spot amongst your favorite concert DVDs.

You gotta hear the last track...SWEET.......2006-12-10

Several weeks ago, I posted a review of the PMG's "We Live Here" DVD and remarked that many of the songs performed live by the group on the DVD were almost indistinguishable from their studio performance on the CD of the same title. The selection of songs on the DVD also closely mirrored those on the CD. With that DVD, the only thing you are really getting is the chance to see the performers (not just hear them). You're also treated to some short interviews from the band's members.

In contrast, this DVD is a significant departure from the CD of the same title. Although 7 of the 9 songs from the CD are included here, we're also treated to 9 other songs. Overall it's a very different experience from the CD, and for that reason alone I can recommend this DVD. But there are plenty of other reasons as well (particularly the last track).

As with other PMG live concerts captured on DVD, the audio is outstanding. As on the "We Live Here" DVD, this concert was recorded live in Tokyo and appears to use essentially the same videography team. The videography was a bit better this time around, but frankly it's nothing special and it's the audio rather than video that makes these DVDs worthwhile. My primary interest in watching, rather than just listening, was to get a better feel for the performers themselves...what they look like, how they interact with each other and their instruments, and who plays what on various songs.

One thing I liked about this DVD compared to "We Live Here" was that it captured a feel for the performance better, abandoning the annoyingly abrupt segues and interspersed interviews, and just letting the music roll exactly as if you were at the concert. It felt more cohesive to me.

PMG newcomers Richard Bona and Cuong Vu are smokin' here and each brings his own influences that, while retaining that classic sound we've come to expect from the PMG, also evolve it into something that reflects their fingerprints as well.

Bona, originally from Cameroon, is a truly gifted performer and were there nothing else worthwhile on the video, I'd still recommend it just to see him. His fretless bass/vocal scat solo on "Song for Bilbao" is phenomenal and an otherwise docile crowd comes alive for it. Second only to Pat himself, Bona is featured numerous times on the video as a spotlight performer. This guy is a major talent. He plays too many instruments to mention here. Suffice to say, they all play a part in giving a full, intricate sound to the group.

As a trumpet player myself, I was particularly impressed with Vu. I remarked elsewhere that his playing reminds me of a minimalist painting - nothing wasted, everything counts. He reminds me of the proverbial "man of few words." When he speaks, you're advised to listen...he's got something to say, something worth hearing. His playing often has a mesmerizing, haunting quality to it - sometimes almost like the midnight keening of a bird over the lake. It's also a very mellow sound, not unlike a flugelhorn in some ways. And as with previous incarnations of the PMG where the players outside "core" members of the group played a multitude of instruments, Vu adds to the sonic texture of the group with things like the marimba, bells, vocals, and percussion.

Next, let's talk about the drums. As a Paul Wertico fan, I was not sure what to expect from Antonio Sanchez. But let's put it this way: I was not disappointed. He knows his way around a drum set. Big time. I enjoyed his playing every bit as much as Wertico. Actually seeing him play, rather than just listening, was interesting for me. He's an extremely serious guy. Wertico strikes me as more of a "free spirit" when he plays - having fun, a bit of a wild child. In contrast, with Sanchez you get the impression of somebody at work ... almost a Carl's Jr. "don't bother me - I'm drumming" vibe eminates from the guy. He takes his craft very, very seriously. And he's very, very good at it. We're treated to a tasty solo from him on the last track, "Song for Bilbao." It's the epitome of what I think of when I think "jazz."

As usual, Rodby is rock-solid on the bass. When you take the time to tune out the rest of the instruments and just listen to the bass lines, he's as much a driving force in grooving the band as Sanchez. On one of the songs, "Roots of Coincidence," Rodby uses the bow on the upright bass, rather than the usual plucking - giving a symphonic-like sound to an especially dramatic section of the piece.

Lyle Mays as usual is terrific and he solos quite a few times on this DVD. Never known as being a real animated fellow, he does manage to crack a smile or two and lets us know that behind the poker face there lives somebody who really does enjoy what he does for a living. I've spoke of his talents in my other reviews, and won't repeat them here. Bottom line: he and Metheny form one of the most prolific and talented teams in jazz today, and Mays is huge part of what makes the PMG special. He even picks up the guitar and joins Pat for one of the tracks ("On Her Way")...I didn't even know Mays played the instrument.

Striped-shirt Metheny himself spends quite a bit of time on acoustic instruments on this DVD, and I have remarked before on his ability to deliver a poetic, poignant experience on those instruments. He does so here on numerous occasions. We even get to see that really strange-looking custom-made 42-string guitar commissioned by Pat to Canadian instrument maker Linda Manzer - dubbed the Pikasso guitar - that sounds like a cross between a zither and a sitar. He uses it on "Are You Going With Me" and it sounds so different than the version on the album "Offramp" that I had trouble recognizing it was the same tune. The same can be said for many of the other 8 songs that appear on this DVD and aren't from the "Speaking of Now" CD. They appear on other PMG CDs, but you have to listen carefully because they are orchestrated and performed totally differently here. They feel like entirely new songs rather than old friends. One song in particular, "Roots of Coincidence" has moments that have a distinctly hard rock feel to them - something I've never heard from Metheny before.

All in all, I enjoyed the DVD. If you're a Metheny fan, this DVD is worth checking out. You'll get things here you won't get elsewhere, not even on the CD of the same title. If you're new to the PMG, it's worth noting that the selections on this DVD were a bit more eclectic than what you'll find on most of the group's CDs, so you might want to listen to some of their other CDs before rendering an overall verdict on their music. I recommend "Still Life Talking." It's their all-time best seller and I've never met anyone who doesn't like it.

In closing, my pick of the litter for the DVD was the last track: "Song for Bilbao." It captures the signature PMG sound, putting them squarely in that sweet spot where they groove the best. The tune showcases the whole band, including a Gillespie-like solo from Vu, an amazing bass/vocal scat from Bona that I already mentioned above, and a chance for Sanchez to really show us his chops. I must have played that track 10 times in a row and still couldn't get enough of it. Indeed, that one alone was worth the price of admission as far as I'm concerned. If for no other reason, get the DVD so you can experience that tune.

Cool concert.......2006-11-27

I am a hit and miss Metheny fan. I think some of his music is excellent and some just loses me in the voice/synthesizer ooo-aaa sea. However, this is a superb performance even though it contains a few elevator music tunes.

It starts with the accoustic guitar piece "Last Train Home" done solo that is really awesome. Next it rolls into this insanely fast, million note jazz jam with Pat and the drummer. At this point I was impressed and realized Pat's a better guitar player than I thought, and the drummer is awesome. Then he rolls on the rest of his band. I'll just make comments on some of my favorites: The next song that really grabs me is "Proof". It has great solos by Pat and Cuong. "How Insensitive" is next and is with the trio - Pat, Steve and Antonio. This contains some really beautiful playing by Pat. Next song that catches my ear is "A Place in the World". I like the main melody line. "On Her Way" has a really cool intro done by Richard Bona using voice, delay and various odds and ends that he layers together. Next Pat plays this solo song on this guitar that has 4 guitars in one - looks like it includes a sitar and 2 harp guitars.

All in all, this group delivers a very dynamic and complex performance. I'm especially impressed with Antonio and Richard. I'm no drummer but I think Antonio is an awesome jazz percussionist - he plays these complex syncopated patterns on cymbals and drums that totally lay in a groove and liven up the music. Richard adds in many great voice parts and effects and accompaniment that rounds out the performance.

My only disappointment was that Pat didn't talk at all, or even acknowledge his band at the conclusion of the show. Come on guys, come up front and take a bow and show some love.

The audio quality of the DVD is high and it sounds good on a good 2 channel stereo system. The video quality and editing is pretty good too. If you like the Pat Metheny Group, you'll love this DVD.

Uniquely Talented.......2006-11-11

I've been encouraged by Pat Metheny's music since 1980... that's a long time to follow one guy's music track, but through it all he has always grown and done more than you would expect. His trio record set the standard in the early days, with Bright Size Life (w. Jaco and Bob Moses), and his PMG work has been unusual and different and refreshing. One reviewer mentions "cheesy tunes" - in what sense? In the sense that they don't conform to a rigid set of jazz sounds that we've come to expect (swing+sax+trumpet+upright bass + x y and z=jazz)? Great jazz musicians are innovators, and what PMG has done consistently through its life and continues to do is to create it's own genre of music unto itself - completely unique. Are you going to find 14 other groups sounding like this? No way. Not even one. I know cheesy music when I hear it, and there are plenty of so-called mainstream jazz artists that are guilty of it in addition to the usual suspects. Most jazz musicians will be remembered as that guy or gal that sounded kind of like Miles or kind of like Coltrane or Brecker or whatever. The great ones are the ones others are compared TO, and Pat Metheny falls in that category.

If you are open-minded to creative music and want to enjoy great musicians at the top of their game, creating art together as a team listening well and bringing fresh new ideas to life, then buy or rent this DVD. If you want to hear what one kid from Missouri who was by age 15 determined to play with Gary Burton (and he did) was able to do with the guitar by just doggedly pursuing it year after year, creating fresh new material, taking the beauty of the guitar to new levels each and every year, then listen to this DVD and be a part of his history. Because Pat is one of the true geniuses of our age. His relationship with Lyle Mays persists to this day - what a story of loyalty working together though a lifetime.

And Pat is able to draw more talent out of his musicians than most bandleaders. A lot of jazz artists have used Richard Bona over the years as a talented fretless bass player, but Pat Metheny gave him a stage to share the whole range of his talent. He does a solo with himself and some percussion and a delay pedal that is amazing - he harmonizes with himself and creates a tapestry of sound... Cuong Vu did something similar on this DVD with his trumpet.

The drummer and bass player (Antonio Sanchez and Steve Rodby)are just on it - this is a great band. If you get a chance to hear their Austin City Limits performance, I think it is slightly better in the sense of how raw it is; this performance is more polished, and of course a lot more time was taken in the mastering of this. Both live performances are worth checking out.

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