Pat Metheny Group - We Live Here

Starring:Pat Metheny Group
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Guitarist, composer, and bandleader Pat Metheny has done it all in the course of his career, and on his own terms. He's recorded in solo, duo, and trio formats and with groups of various sizes; he's composed film soundtracks, led bands with the likes of Ornette Coleman, made a variety of guest appearances, and toured all over the world. Yet it's with his own Pat Metheny Group, an outfit that he and keyboardist Lyle Mays began some 25 years ago, that he has made much of his arguably best and certainly most popular music. So it is, then, that any Metheny Group concert recording is a welcome addition to his catalog.

That's certainly true in the case of this 1995 Japanese show, even though much of the material (five of 13 songs) on We Live Here is drawn from the album of that name, which was not one of the group's finest. At its best (as on Metheny "classics" like "First Circle" and "Minuano"), the Metheny Group's music isn't really jazz, or what's usually called fusion, or world music, but rather a fluid, distinctive blend of them all; it's improvised yet composed, often quite beautiful ("Farmer's Trust," "Antonia") but also frequently challenging ("Scrap Metal"). Metheny, Mays, and the five other members of the group are all superb players, and play is exactly what they do--this is a no-frills enterprise, with some brief musician interviews between tracks (plus superb Dolby 5.1 digital or stereo sound) but no bonus DVD features. That's no surprise. With Pat Metheny it's always been strictly about the music, and that's enough. --Sam Graham
Description
Led by Pat Metheny--virtuoso guitarist, composer and producer--the eight member Pat Metheny Group perform their jazz fusion stylings live in Japan. Nominated for 23 Grammys in his career, Metheny and his group continue to push the envelope of jazz, leaving true believers in their wake. Tracks: Have You Heard, And Then I Knew, Here to Stay, First Circle, Scrap Metal, Farmer's Trust, Episode D'Azur, Third Wind, This Is Not America, Antonia, To the End of the World, Minuano (Six-Eight), Stranger in Town. 110 minutes.

Pat Metheny Group - We Live Here
Average customer rating:

Fantastic!

Yes, I can live here too!

Pat's oldest concert available on DVD is great

Great music, but video so-so

Captures the "Live Metheny Experience" very well

Pat Metheny Group - We Live Here
Starring: Pat Metheny Group
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00005IA89
Release Date: 2001-06-19

Amazon.com

Guitarist, composer, and bandleader Pat Metheny has done it all in the course of his career, and on his own terms. He's recorded in solo, duo, and trio formats and with groups of various sizes; he's composed film soundtracks, led bands with the likes of Ornette Coleman, made a variety of guest appearances, and toured all over the world. Yet it's with his own Pat Metheny Group, an outfit that he and keyboardist Lyle Mays began some 25 years ago, that he has made much of his arguably best and certainly most popular music. So it is, then, that any Metheny Group concert recording is a welcome addition to his catalog.

That's certainly true in the case of this 1995 Japanese show, even though much of the material (five of 13 songs) on We Live Here is drawn from the album of that name, which was not one of the group's finest. At its best (as on Metheny "classics" like "First Circle" and "Minuano"), the Metheny Group's music isn't really jazz, or what's usually called fusion, or world music, but rather a fluid, distinctive blend of them all; it's improvised yet composed, often quite beautiful ("Farmer's Trust," "Antonia") but also frequently challenging ("Scrap Metal"). Metheny, Mays, and the five other members of the group are all superb players, and play is exactly what they do--this is a no-frills enterprise, with some brief musician interviews between tracks (plus superb Dolby 5.1 digital or stereo sound) but no bonus DVD features. That's no surprise. With Pat Metheny it's always been strictly about the music, and that's enough. --Sam Graham

Description

Led by Pat Metheny--virtuoso guitarist, composer and producer--the eight member Pat Metheny Group perform their jazz fusion stylings live in Japan. Nominated for 23 Grammys in his career, Metheny and his group continue to push the envelope of jazz, leaving true believers in their wake. Tracks: Have You Heard, And Then I Knew, Here to Stay, First Circle, Scrap Metal, Farmer's Trust, Episode D'Azur, Third Wind, This Is Not America, Antonia, To the End of the World, Minuano (Six-Eight), Stranger in Town. 110 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!.......2007-03-07

Simply put, this is a must have DVD for any Pat Metheny fan, incredible perfomance from top to bottom!

Yes, I can live here too!.......2007-02-14

I love this DVD. Having listened for years to the CD's and not seen a lot of Metheny work on video, I was eager to see Pat and crew in action. To see whether studio album material could work live. Of course it does work and these guys are dedicated to the task. The video production uses a number of cameras to get in to the action, but is not over produced. The concert feel is preserved

The interviews between tracks are especially good for those new to the group, with a reminder of the vision for long term fans, but they are a little bothersome on subsequent plays (blessed be the skip button).

A stand out for me is "This is not America" when the vocalists get a real go at singing. That said the symbiotic connection between Pat and Lyle Mays and the rhythm section are the reason to sit in. If you like Pat Metheny at all, this is a must have.

Pat's oldest concert available on DVD is great.......2007-01-12

The Pat Metheny Group. Just as they are. Musical perfection, Great songs, wonderful guitar and piano, amazing voices.

Great music, but video so-so.......2006-12-03

As a HUGE Pat Metheny Group fan (I own 8 of their CDs and listen to them regularly), I have always wanted to see the PMG live, but this video was the closest I've gotten. Also, Pat has most recently been traveling as part of a trio or even just a duet...and I'm not sure if his days of traveling with the full 6- or 7-piece PMG ensemble will ever be resurrected or not. I just love the sonic textures that the larger group is able to achieve. Hence, my desire to see the "old" PMG in full force via this video.

The audio production for this DVD was superb and follows amazingly close to the production values and orchestrations on the CD. With some album versus live performances, what you hear live is never as richly orchestrated or layered...as though it can only be produced in the confines of a studio rather than on the stage. Not so with this live performance. With the exception of the applause, you'd never know it was a live performance and has only minor departures from the CD, such as on some of the solos and a few endings.

However, like other reviewers have mentioned here, I found the video portion to be a bit lacking and not up to the standards of excellence that you would expect from Pat. I would have liked to see the interviews put into an "extra features" section at the end...rather than interspersed with the music. I also didn't like that the applause was often cut short...there were sort of abrupt and unnatural segues from one song to the next. I think just letting the cameras roll from one song to the next would have captured the feel of the concert better.

I've always known Pat was serious about his music, but watching him play is a thing of beauty. His facial expressions leave no doubt that the connection from what he hears in his head to what he plays with his fingers is instantaneous and flawless. It's a part of his playing that you never experience until you actually see it. It just adds an interesting extra dimension that makes you appreciate his mastery of the instrument all the more.

From a purely musical perspective, I still enjoy the CD better than the DVD. However, the DVD gave me better insight into how the group creates such a large sonic presence...who plays what instruments during various parts of the songs...such as where the horns come in, or some of the background rhythm guitar work. It was also a joy to watch Paul Wertico on drums. The guy is simply amazing and I love his cymbal work.

One thing I particularly like about Metheny/Mays compositions is the rhythmic complexity. Unlike so much popular music, they always mix things up with some interesting time signatures beyond the predictable 4/4, 6/8, and 3/4. Wertico navigates it all masterfully.

The DVD does include a few songs not on the "We Live Here" CD such as Antonia (from the album "Secret Story") and This is Not America (from "The Falcon and the Snowman" soundtrack). Antonia is a particularly beautiful song...and Blamires comments in the video that Pat had him learn the accordian specifically so they could perform it in concert.

One other thing the video did for me is connect names from the CD liner notes with actual faces and personalities. I feel like I know the group better now...guys like Steve Rodby, David Blamires, and Mark Ledford.

In conclusion, although I'm planning to rent several other PMG videos as a result watching this one (I'm curious to see some of the newer members of the group like Antonio Sanchez, Cuong Vu and Richard Bona), unless the other DVDs are better than this one, I probably won't purchase any of them. For me, the CDs deliver a more rewarding musical experience and the videos served mostly to fulfill a curiosity about what the group members looked like / played like.

Captures the "Live Metheny Experience" very well.......2005-09-08

For fans of the familiar Blue and White stripped shirt performer, you will not be disappointed! I have had the pleasure to see PMG live only about 6 times and each time I wished I could see a little closer. This DVD brings you very close to the musicians. The sound is quite good as well.
For the new listener, this is a great way to be introduced to PMG and what it offers.
Buy it.

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