Influences: Pat Metheny

I appreciate Jazz, I love Jazz. I can't really play it, but it has influenced my playing, and continues to this day

In the early 1980’s I was exploring with my guitar playing, and part of that was listening to many new players and styles. One that I stopped on was from the Jazz realm, a great named Pat Metheny.

I can’t remember what my first album, but I do remember the song that hooked me. Last Train Home just resonated with me in the deepest part of my psyche.

I couldn’t explain why this was my onramp, but it did.

I began trying to get a jazz sound, I looked into buying the primary go-to amp for the jazz genre (at least what I believed at the time) a Roland Jazz Chorus.

I bought a lot more of his music. With his partner in crime, Lyle Mays, solo, and otherwise, Pat Metheny is just amazing to listen to. His phrasing, his ability to fit into any space is a vision of perfection.

What I have learned about jazz over the last three plus decades is that much of the best music is a set of chords and progressions that provide a framework to play over. There is tons of music theory involved, and even mediocre practitioners (which I am not in that category) have an impressive level of knowledge of the fretboard.

I hesitate to say that I am influenced by players like Pat Metheny, because I just am not anywhere near that level. But, listening to it, to his playing, to the motifs that he works with has influenced how I approach my improvisation. It taught me that economy of notes, and tastefulness is in itself a style.

For that I am thankful, and it has made me a better musician.

I did get a chance to see Pat Metheny live. Late 80’s at the San Jose Center for Performing Arts, I was mid audience, and the entire evening was magic. Seeing Pat in person was a treat, one that I will always cherish.

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