In the Pat Metheny Group, there is always one musician who plays the role of “utility man.” The basic instrumentation is guitar, piano/keys, acoustic and electric bass, drums, trumpet, and (sometimes) harmonica. The extra player is responsible for filling in on any number of instruments including vibes, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals, and percussion. In the history of the group, [...]

Jazzwise can reveal the upcoming release of the debut album by the brand new Pat Metheny Unity Band . To be released in time for the summer tour, when European dates include the Barbican in London on 8 July, Unity Band is to be released on Nonesuch Records, who Metheny has a long relationship with, and follows on from last year’s Grammy winning solo album What’s It All About . The Unity Band brings in some hot new talent chiefly Thelonious Monk Prize-winning bassist Ben Williams whose Concord records debut State of Art came out last year. Williams impressed at ...

A few weeks back  we announced a series of posts  that will feature the premiere of video from GSW’s reunion shows in 2010, lovingly shot and put together by our pal  Mike Wren . Today, we’ll add a new wrinkle as God Street Wine guitarist Lo Faber will tell the story behind each song moving forward. Here’s Lo’s take on Weird Dream as well as the video of GSW performing the tune on July 9, 2010 . A God Street Wine oldie from 1989 I think, and one of the favorite tunes of the late Paul Ducharme, whose ...

Benjamin Dauer’s Junto submission  reminds me of some of Pat Metheny’s airy Ambient-Jazz works that I love so much. It also has a story that you shouldn’t miss.

This year's headliners at the Newport Jazz Festival include the guitarist Pat Metheny, the drummer Jack DeJohnette and the vocalist Kurt Elling.

The lineup for the 2012 Newport Jazz Festival has been announced. Pat Metheny’s Unity Band, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell, Christian McBride’s Inside Straight, vocalist Kurt Elling and the Tedeschi Trucks Band are among the all-star list of performers slated to perform. Also included are rising jazz...

The next installment of 'My Favourite Things' with Sydney vocalist Briana Cowlishaw. Hear it online now... Briana's favourite things 1. 'The Circle Game' (Joni Mitchell) CD: Ladies of the Canyon , Joni Mitchell (Reprise 244085)   2. 'Loud and Clear' (Alan Hampton) CD: The Moving Sidewalk , Alan Hampton (Megaforce B004KRQF4E) 3. 'Waltz For Ruth' (Charlie Haden) CD: Beyond the Missouri Sky , Charlie Hdaen, Pat Metheny (Verve 5371302) 4. 'Midnight Sun' (Burke, Mercer, Hampton) CD: Dream Lands Vol. 2 , Nancy King, Steve Christofferson (Stellar STEL1014) Attached Image(s):  Briana Cowlishaw Attached Media:  My Favourite Things - Briana Cowlishaw Related Links:  Briana Cowlishaw official ...

You know what to expect with Pat Metheny. He's been doing pretty much the same thing ever since he started, jazz fusion played on a very polished-sounding guitar. It's sometimes a bit noodly and experimental, but it's mostly mellifluous and accessible. Not Zero Tolerance for Silence , his 1994 album on Geffen records. It's 40 minutes of trashing guitar noise, and is pretty much the last thing anyone expected from Metheny. Think of it as his Metal Machine Music , and you won't be far off. That was all feedback though, and this is very much music ...

Bruford : Adios a la Pasada (Goodbye to the Past) [ purchase ] I started playing drums in fourth grade, and the next year, because our sixth grade bass drummer broke his leg, and I was big enough to carry it in a parade, our music teacher asked me to play bass drum. Which I did, almost exclusively through high school, to the detriment of my snare drumming. Bottom line, through lack of practice, and probably talent, I was a mediocre drummer. In college, I joined the marching band, because it looked like fun, and wasn’t really a serious musical organization. As ...

by Bill Meyer How's this for progress? When Steve Reich decided to make music like this in 1988 , he had to book Pat Metheny into the Power Station for a week to do it. All Dustin Wong has to do is plug his guitar and seven-step chain of pedals and filters into his computer at home, and he's on his way. ... Read More

Drummer Matt Wilson must surely be in the running for the title of hardest-working man in jazz. Wilson is a composer, bandleader, producer and teacher. As a leader, his projects include the Matt Wilson Quartet, Arts & Crafts, Christmas Tree-O and the Carl Sandburg Project. He has been in bands with luminaries such as Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, Ted Nash and many, many others. As for legends, he's played with Herbie Hancock, Dewey Redman, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, Elvis Costello, Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, John Zorn, Wynton Marsalis, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell and Hank ...

First things last: you can find the winners at the bottom of this post. Meanwhile: the post-game! Sasha Frere-Jones ripped Chris Brown a new asshole, and felt generally glum: There was little to redeem the 54th Grammy Awards… Woman-beating rage-broccoli Chris Brown lip-synced his single “Turn Up The Music” (without being threatened by Sir Elton John) and danced roughly as well as a third-rate Chicago footwork dancer. He ended his performance by back-flipping off the stage, though sadly not off the earth… Flavorpill has a nive roundup of the night’s weirdest moments: 10. Victor Cruz’s salsa … Don’t ...

The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony took place tonight in Los Angeles, and while it may seem like Adele won every statue, a number of HT faves did take home awards from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Foo Fighters, Levon Helm, Bela Fleck, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Pat Metheny, Allison Krauss & Union Station, Bon Iver and Rebirth Brass Band were among the winners at “music’s biggest night.” The Tedeschi Trucks Band took home the Best Blues Album award for Revelator, beating Derek’s band mates Gregg Allman (Low Country Blues) and Warren Haynes (Man In Motion). Booker T. took home the Best Pop Instrumental Album award for The Road To Memphis, Bon Iver won the Alternative Album of the Year award for his self-titled LP, Adele was awarded the Best Pop Vocal Album award for 21, Skrillex scored the Best Dance Recording prize as well as the Best Dance/Electronica Album for Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, Levon Helm won the Best Americana Album award for Live at the Ryman, while Alison Krauss & Union Station won the Best Bluegrass Album nod for Paper Airplane. Foo Fighters got off to a sizzling start winning the Best Long For Music Video prize for our top DVD/Blu-Ray of 2011 Back and Forth, Best Rock Album for Wasting Light, Best Rock Song for Walk and Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for White Limo. At the evening’s telecast Justin Vernon accepted the Best New Artist award for Bon Iver, while the Foos took home yet another award for Rock Performance. Here’s the full list of winners… Album of the Year : 21 , Adele Record of the Year: “Rolling In The Deep,” Adele Song of the Year: “Rolling In The Deep,” Adele Pop Vocal Album:  21,  Adele Pop Solo Performance : “Someone Like You,” Adele Traditional Pop Vocal Album:  Duets Ii,  Tony Bennett and Various Artists Pop Duo/Group Performance:  “Body and Soul,” Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse Short Form Music Video:  “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele Long Form Music Video:  “Foo Fighters: Back and Forth,” Foo Fighters New Artist: Bon Iver Rap/Sung Collaboration:  “All of the Lights,” Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie Rap Song:  “All of the Lights,” Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter and Kanye West Rap Album:  My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,  Kanye West R&B; Performance:  “Is This Love,” Corinne Bailey Rae Best Rap Performance: “Otis,” Jay-Z and Kanye West Traditional R&B; Performance:  “Fool for You,” Cee Lo Green and Melanie Fiona R&B; Song:  ”Fool for You,” Cee Lo Green and Jack Splash Best R&B; Album : F.A.M.E. , Chris ...

The Waterboys : Fisherman’s Blues [ purchase ] I’ve never understood why this Jewish New Yorker loves Celtic influenced rock music. It doesn’t make much sense, but it is true. It’s not like I was exposed to much of this style of music before I went to college, other than a little Jethro Tull and some Van Morrison, yet I remember falling in love with Horslips when I first heard them. And although I still think their soul inflected first album was better than their big hit, “Too-Rye-Ay,” I liked Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ version of Celtic infused pop ...

When CDs were new the music industry predicted for years that the end was nigh for vinyl. As the CD became the predominant format the gloomy prognosis seemed to be bang on the money and vinyl sales dropped and dropped. But as digital media now holds sway and CD sales are on the slide, the last year has seen a big uplift in vinyl. An endorsement surely for the view that what goes around comes around. Annual sales of vinyl had by October according to Official Chart Company figures, reached a six-year high in the UK, passing 240,000 units ...