Pat Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He has released over 50 albums and won 20 Grammy Awards. Metheny is known for his innovative and distinctive style, which blends elements of jazz, rock and folk music. He has been a member of the jazz fusion group, the Pat Metheny Group, since 1977.
Metheny was born in Washington, DC, on November 10, 1954. His mother’s family were German immigrants; his father’s family came from Ireland and England. Metheny began playing guitar at the age of six, learning from his father, a jazz guitarist. Metheny’s first major influence was the classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach. As a teenager, he heard Bach’s “The Well-Tempered Clavier” and listened to it on an endless loop while practicing the guitar. It was this piece that made him decide to become a composer after playing jazz guitar.
His career
Metheny recorded his first album at the age of 18. From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, he played in a number of groups, including Jack Bruce’s House Band and Miles Davis’ band.
In 1971, Metheny joined Weather Report, which lasted until 1978. Metheny received his first Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrument al Performance in 1978.
In the late 1970s, Metheny left jazz and embarked on a solo career. During this period, he experimented with guitar synthesizers and rock in a series of albums.
In the 1980s, after the dissolution of Weather Report, he returned to jazz, recording two more albums with Davis, including “Decoy” (1981). His next album was released on the ECM label in 1984.
In 1986, he formed the Pat Metheny Group with bassist/vocalist Lyle Mays and drummer Joey Baron, which underwent several personnel changes in addition to ongoing releases. His late-career output includes albums such as “Still Life” (1991), “Orchestrion” (1999), and “Phenomenology” (2004), the latter featuring his version of the classic tunes “Airegin” and “In Walked Bud”.
Metheny’s first album as leader, “Bright Size Life”, was released in 1977. It features performances by Metheny himself, Mays, Baron and other members of Davis’ band. In 2011, Metheny released a solo album entitled “Gossip”.
The album includes appearances by David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Brian Wilson and many other notable guests. In 1977, composer-pianist Pat Metheny released his first album, “Bright Size Life”. The album features performances by Metheny himself, Mays, Baron and other members of Davis’ band. In 2011, Metheny released a solo album entitled “Gossip”. The album features guest appearances by David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Brian Wilson and others.
Highlights
In 1975, Pat Metheny released his first solo album, “Bright Size Life”. It’s a jazz fusion album that showcases his inimitable style of guitar playing. The album is considered a classic of the genre, and has received rave reviews from the critics.
Metheny has continued to explore new musical territories throughout his career, collaborating with numerous jazz and rock artists. He has also released several solo albums, including the Grammy-nominated “Offramp”. Metheny is considered one of the finest jazz guitarists of all time, and has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career.
His most popular albums
Pat Metheny is a hugely popular jazz guitarist. His most popular albums are Offramp and The Way Up . Metheny is known for his melodic playing style and inventive use of harmony. His albums are favorites among jazz fans, and he is considered one of the finest jazz guitarists of his generation.
His private life
Pat Metheny’s private life is relatively unknown. He grew up in Missouri and began his musical career at the age of 18. Metheny has been married twice and has three children. Outside of music, he enjoys nature and sports.
Awards and honors
Pat Metheny is an American jazz guitarist who has received numerous awards and honors over the course of his career. In 1980, he won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Album for “Offramp”, and was named Guitar Player Magazine’s Guitarist of the Year for five consecutive years from 1977 to 1981.
In 2000, he was awarded the Légion d’honneur by President Jacques Chirac.
Metheny was also inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003, and received the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Fellowship in 2005. In June 2007, Metheny was awarded the Polar Music Prize “for his distinguished musical career as a highly creative and influential artist”.