The first edition features wunderkind James Francies on keys of all kinds, and the longer established Marcus Gilmore on drums.Īdd Metheny’s guitar synths and the vast sonic capacities of his elaborately constructed orchestrion and they deliver far more than a conventional trio on some tracks. It builds on his long experience of forming great bands: “Side Eye” is his name for a new project which will draw on a rotating cast of younger players. The new live recording packs something for nearly everyone into a single set.
The breadth of his musical vision, his rare melodic gifts, and his stylistic range means his cumulative output has something for everyone. That’s not just because he’s gigged tirelessly for almost five decades, though this new release is the occasion for his next 100-date tour. It’s a reminder that the guitarist lives in a different world from pretty well every other currently working jazz musician. While I was weighing up this album a recent, very long, interview Rick Beato posted with Pat Metheny registered half a million views on Youtube in a week.
