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Simon Phipps's personal commentary

Jazz Guitar [Music]

It must be something to do with turning 42 - the jazz guitar is getting to me. I really love Pat Metheny's new solo album 'One Quiet Night' [UK|US], which arrived Wednesday and has been playing near continuously. It's just Metheny playing new and favourite music on his new baritone guitar, quite unlike what BBC reviewer Peter Marsh calls "the airbrushed sheen of the Pat Metheny Group." (which I also love).

Wistful, peaceful, tonally rich, the music is perfect calming therapy. The range of the custom-tuned baritone guitar means there's a bass accompaniment to the melody, and even the track "Ferry Cross the Mersey" is delicious rather than out of place. As the BBC reviewer says,

Late at night, with the rain beating against the windows, this is the kind of record that can send you to bed feeling that all's right with the world. In times like these, that's no bad thing.

This isn't more 'Smooth Jazz' - this is heartfelt virtuosity.

The excellent Norah Jones also receives an accolade that I assume will thrill her. Metheny performs a very pleasant cover of 'I don't know why' from her album. My son just bought a copy of the Pat Metheny Group album 'American Garage' (on vinyl) from the Oxfam shop today and it's dated 1979, just to give you an idea how long Metheny has been a modern jazz master. But best of all (for Norah), Metheny's sleeve notes suggest this is now one of his three all-time favourite songs.

And finally, more joy - Metheny is performing tracks from the album on 'Later' (BBC 2, Fri June 6, 11:35pm).

posted at 1:23 AM (UK) | |