Thursday, August 29, 2013

Jazz and Bossa Artist of the Month (September 2013) Pat Metheny

Jazz and Bossa Artist of the Month (September 2013) Pat Metheny

Pat Metheny was born in Kansas City on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. Starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience at an unusually young age. Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974. Over the course of his three-year stint with vibraphone great Gary Burton, the young Missouri native already displayed his soon-to-become trademarked playing style, which blended the loose and flexible articulation customarily reserved for horn players with an advanced rhythmic and harmonic sensibility - a way of playing and improvising that was modern in conception but grounded deeply in the jazz tradition of melody, swing, and the blues. With the release of his first album, Bright Size Life (1975), he reinvented the traditional "jazz guitar" sound for a new generation of players. Throughout his career, Pat Metheny has continued to re-define the genre by utilizing new technology and constantly working to evolve the improvisational and sonic potential of his instrument.

Metheny's versatility is almost nearly without peer on any instrument. Over the years, he has performed with artists as diverse as Steve Reich to Ornette Coleman to Herbie Hancock to Jim Hall to Milton Nascimento to David Bowie. He has been part of a writing team with keyboardist Lyle Mays for more than twenty years - an association that has been compared to the Lennon/McCartney and Ellington/Strayhorn partnerships by critics and listeners alike. Metheny's body of work includes compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic instruments, large orchestras, and ballet pieces, with settings ranging from modern jazz to rock to classical.

As well as being an accomplished musician, Metheny has also participated in the academic arena as a music educator. At 18, he was the youngest teacher ever at the University of Miami. At 19, he became the youngest teacher ever at the Berklee College of Music, where he also received an honorary doctorate more than twenty years later (1996). He has also taught music workshops all over the world, from the Dutch Royal Conservatory to the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz to clinics in Asia and South America. He has also been a true musical pioneer in the realm of electronic music, and was one of the very first jazz musicians to treat the synthesizer as a serious musical instrument. Years before the invention of MIDI technology, Metheny was using the Synclavier as a composing tool. He also been instrumental in the development of several new kinds of guitars such as the soprano acoustic guitar, the 42-string Pikasso guitar, Ibanez's PM-100 jazz guitar, and a variety of other custom instruments. He took the whole instrument development process into a different level with his mechanical, solenoid driven Orchestrion.

It is one thing to attain popularity as a musician, but it is another to receive the kind of acclaim Metheny has garnered from critics and peers. Over the years, Metheny has won countless polls as "Best Jazz Guitarist" and awards, including three gold records for (Still Life) Talking, Letter from Home, and Secret Story. He has also won 20 Grammy Awards in 12 different categories including Best Rock Instrumental, Best Contemporary Jazz Recording, Best Jazz Instrumental Solo, Best Instrumental Composition. The Pat Metheny Group won an unprecedented seven consecutive Grammies for seven consecutive albums. Metheny has spent most of his life on tour, averaging between 120-240 shows a year since 1974. At the time of this writing, he continues to be one of the brightest stars of the jazz community, dedicating time to both his own projects and those of emerging artists and established veterans alike, helping them to reach their audience as well as realizing their own artistic visions.

AWARDS

35 Grammy award nominations

Winner of 20 Grammy awards, including an unprecedented 7 in a row for 7 consecutive recordings.

3 Gold Records (Secret Story, Still Live Talking, Letter From Home)

38 recordings totaling about 20 million records sold worldwide

Nominated in 12 different Grammy Award categories, winning in 10 of them. No one else has won in 10 different categories.

Best Contemporary Jazz Album

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Best Jazz Instrumental Solo Performance

Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by Individual or Group

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

Best Instrumental Composition

Best Jazz Fusion Performance

Best Jazz Performance

Best New Age Performance

Best Arrangement on an Instrumental

Best Country Instrumental Performance

2013

JazzTimes Readers Poll: #1 Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

JazzTimes Readers Poll: #1 Contemporary/Electric Group - Pat Metheny Unity Band – Pat Metheny

JazzTimes Readers Poll: #2 Best New Release of 2012: Pat Metheny Unity Band – Pat Metheny

2012

Downbeat Readers Poll: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Grammy Award : Best New Age Album - What's It All About – Pat Metheny

2011

Downbeat Readers Poll: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

2010

Downbeat 75th Readers Poll Award: : Best Jazz Album - Orchestrion – Pat Metheny

Downbeat 75th Readers Poll Award: Guitarist of the Year – Pat Metheny

2009

Downbeat 74th Readers Poll Award: Best Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Trio

Downbeat 74th Readers Poll Award: Guitarist of the Year – Pat Metheny

Guitar Player Magazine: 2009 Reader's Poll - Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Acoustic Guitar Magazine: Best Acoustic Guitarist-Readers Poll – Pat Metheny

2008

All About Jazz: 10 Best of 2008 (new releases) TOKYO DAY TRIP – Pat Metheny Trio

All About Jazz: 10 Best of 2008 (reissues) QUESTION & ANSWER – Pat Metheny w/Dave Holland & Roy Haynes

NPR Music: Best CDs of 2008 - DAY TRIP – Pat Metheny Trio

Grammy Award Nomination: Best Jazz Instrumental Album - DAY TRIP – Pat Metheny Trio

Grammy Award Nomination: Best Jazz Instrumental Solo - SON OF THIRTEEN (from Day Trip) – Pat Metheny

Grammy Award Nomination: Best Country Instrumental Performance - IS THIS AMERICA (KATRINA 2005) From Charlie Haden's Ramblin Boy recording – Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Jerry Douglas, Bruce Hornsby

DownBeat 73rd Annual Readers Poll Award: Guitarist of the year – Pat Metheny

DownBeat 73rd Annual Readers Poll Award: Jazz Group of the Year – Pat Metheny Trio

Downbeat: DownBeat Critics Poll Award for Guitarist of the Year – Pat Metheny

2007

Downbeat: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Downbeat: Jazz Album of The Year- Metheny/Mehldau – Pat Metheny/Brad Mehldau

Grammy Award: Pilgrimage – Michael Brecker (Pat Metheny Co-Producer)

itunes: Best of 2006-Jazz – Metheny Mehldau

JazzTimes Magazine: Best Contemporary/Electric Group – Pat Metheny Group

JazzTimes Magazine: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Jazz Journalists Association: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

2006

Popmatters.com: Top 10 Recordings of 2006- Metheny Mehldau – Pat Metheny

Grammy Award: Best Contemporary Jazz Recording-The Way Up – Pat Metheny Group

Pat Metheny : Jazziz Critics Choice Award 2005 – Pat Metheny Group

JazzTimes Magazine Reader's Poll 2005: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Jazztimes Magazine-Reader's Poll 2005: Best Comtemporary /Electric Group – Pat Metheny Group

2005

All About Jazz: Top 10 Recordings of 2005-THE WAY UP – Pat Metheny Group

All About Jazz: Top 5 Reissued Recordings of 2005-SONG X 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION – Pat Metheny & Ornette Coleman

Echos NPR Radio Listener's Poll: Top 5 Records of 2005-The Way Up – Pat Metheny Group

2004

Grammy Award: Best New Age Album-One Quiet Night – Pat Metheny

Boston Music Awards: Jazz Act Of The Year – Pat Metheny Group

JazzTimes Readers Poll '04: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

JazzTimes Readers Poll '03: Best Contemporary Electric Group – Pat Metheny Group

2003

Grammy Award: Best Contemporary Jazz Album -Speaking Of Now – Pat Metheny Group

Grammy Nomination: Best Pop Instrumental Performance-"As It Is" – Pat Metheny Group

Grammy Nomination: Best Jazz Instrumental Solo Performance-"Proof" – Pat Metheny

2002

Downbeat Readers Poll: Best Electric Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

Edison Award (Netherlands): SPEAKING OF NOW - Best Instrumental Jazz Recording (international) – Pat Metheny Group

Boston Music Awards: Best National Jazz Act – Pat Metheny

2001

Adlib Magazine (Japan): : Best Video 2001-Imaginary Day Live – Pat Metheny Group

Swing Journal (Japan): Best Jazz Video-Imaginary Day Live – Pat Metheny Group

Boston Music Awards: Best National Jazz Act – Pat Metheny

JazzTimes Magazine: JazzTimes Reader's Poll - Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

2000

Grammy Award: Best Jazz Instrumental Solo-"(Go) Get It" – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Magazine Reader's Poll: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Magazine Reader's Poll: Top 10 Jazz Recordings of 2000-Trio LIVE – Pat Metheny

BET/Billboard Jazz Awards: Best Soundtrack Album composed and performed by – Pat Metheny

JazzTimes Magazine: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

1999

Grammy Award : Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by Individual or Group- – Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes, Dave Holland

Down Beat Reader's Poll: Best Electric Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

Bell Atlantic Jazz Awards: Radio Jazz Artist Of the Year – Pat Metheny

1998

Grammy Award : Best Contemporary Jazz Performance - Imaginary Day – Pat Metheny Group

Grammy Award : Best Rock Instrumental Performance - "The Roots of Coincidence" – Pat Metheny Group

Jazziz: Best Electric Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Down Beat Readers Poll: Jazz Musician of the Year – Pat Metheny

Down Beat Readers Poll: #1 Electric Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

1997

Grammy Award : Best Jazz Instrumental Performance-Beyond The Missouri Sky (short stories) – Pat Metheny & Charlie Haden

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Jazz Musician – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Electric Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Jazz Fusion Group – Pat Metheny Group

1996

Fort Lauderdale Film Festival: Best Filmscore-for Gentle Into The Night a/k/a Passagio Per Il Paradiso – Pat Metheny

Boston Music Awards Nomination: Best Act of the Decade – Pat Metheny Group

Jazz Central Station Global Poll: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Jazz Times Magazine: Best Contemporary Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

The Orville H. Gibson Award: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

1995

Grammy Award : Best Contemporary Jazz Performance - We Live Here – Pat Metheny Group

Adlib Magazine (Japan): Best Video 1995 - We Live Here -Live In Japan – Pat Metheny Group

Adlib Magazine (Japan): Best Album 1995 Grand Prix Award - We Live Here – Pat Metheny Group

1994

Grammy Nomination: Best Instrumental Composition- "Half Life of Absolution" The Road To You – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Electric Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Musician – Pat Metheny

Boston Music Awards: Outstanding Jazz Album - The Road To You – Pat Metheny Group

Boston Music Awards: Outstanding Jazz Act – Pat Metheny Group

Boston Music Awards: Inducted into the BMA Hall of Fame – Pat Metheny

Adlib Magazine: Best Fusion Album - The Road To You – Pat Metheny Group

Adlib Magazine (Japan): Best Video - More Travels – Pat Metheny Group

1993

Grammy Award : Best Contemporary Jazz Performance Instrumental - The Road To You – Pat Metheny Group

Grammy Nomination: Best Contemporary Jazz Performance Instrumental for "Road To You" – Pat Metheny Group

Boston Music Awards: Best Jazz Album - Secret Story – Pat Metheny

Boston Music Awards: Best Jazz Act – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Electric Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Top 3 Best Albums of All Time - Secret Story – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Album Concept - Secret Story – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Album by a Solo Artist - Secret Story – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Musician of the Year – Pat Metheny

Adlib Magazine (Japan): Best Fusion Album - Secret Story – Pat Metheny

1992

Grammy Award : Best Contemporary Jazz Performance Instrumental - Secret Story – Pat Metheny

Grammy Award : Best Contemporary Jazz Performance Intrumental for – Pat Metheny

Jazz Times Readers Poll: Best Guitar Synthesizer Player – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Electric Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Boston Music Awards: Best Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

1991

Downbeat Readers Poll: Best Electric Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Jazz Times Readers Poll: Best Guitar Synthesizer Player – Pat Metheny

The Orville H. Gibson Award: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

1990

Grammy Award : Best Instrumental Composition - Change of Heart – Pat Metheny

Grammy Nomination: Best Instrumental Composition - "Change of Heart" – Pat Metheny

Keyboard Readers Poll: Alternate Controllers Award – Pat Metheny

Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll: Guitarist of the Year – Pat Metheny

Top Ten Records of 1990/Boston Globe: Question and Answer – Pat Metheny

Swing Journal Magazine Readers Poll: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Swing Journal Magazine Readers Poll: Best Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

Jazz Times Readers Poll: Best Guitar Synthesizer – Pat Metheny

Jazz Times Readers Poll: Best Contemporary Jazz Artist – Pat Metheny

Jazz Times Readers Poll: Best Contemporary Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

Boston Music Awards: Outstanding Jazz Album - Letter From Home – Pat Metheny Group

Boston Music Awards: Outstanding Jazz Act – Pat Metheny Group

1989

Grammy Award : Best Jazz Fusion Performance - Letter From Home – Pat Metheny

Grammy Nomination: Best Instrumental Composition - "Letter From Home" – Pat Metheny

R&R Magazine: #1 Jazz Album of the Year NAC and Jazz Format - Letter From Home – Pat Metheny Group

Gavin Report: #1 Jazz Album of the Year NAC and Jazz Format - Letter From Home – Pat Metheny Group

Keyboard Readers Poll: Alternate Controllers Award – Pat Metheny

Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll: Guitarist of the Year – Pat Metheny

Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll: Jazz Album of the Year - Letter From Home – Pat Metheny Group

Cash Box: Top Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Cash Box: Top Electric Jazz Act – Pat Metheny Group

1988

Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Cash Box Jazz Awards: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Cash Box Jazz Awards: Top Electric Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

1987

Grammy Award : Best Jazz Fusion Performance-Vocal or Instrumental - Still Life (Talking – Pat Metheny Group

Grammy Nomination: Best Instrumental Composition - Minuano (six-eight) – Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays

Boston Globe Readers Poll: Best Jazz Musician – Pat Metheny

Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll: Best Electric Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Boston Music Awards: Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Boston Music Awards: Best Jazz Act (Major Label) – Pat Metheny Group

Rolling Stone: Top 100 Pop Albums - Still Life (Talking) – Pat Metheny Group

USA Today: Top 10 Best Jazz Albums - Still Life (Talking) – Pat Metheny Group

R&R Magazine: #1 Top Jazz Album - Still Life (Talking) – Pat Metheny Group

Hi Fi Magazine Readers Poll (Germany): Best Jazz Fusion Album - Still Life (Talking) – Pat Metheny Group

Boston Music Awards: Best Jazz Album (Major Label) - Still Life (Talking) – Pat Metheny Group

1986

Cash Box Magazine: Best Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

International Musician & Recording World: Music Award Poll Best Jazz Group or Artist – Pat Metheny Group

Boston Music Awards: Outstanding Jazz Fusion Group – Pat Metheny Group

Boston Music Awards: Outstanding Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Guitar Player Magazine: Gallery of Greats Best Jazz Guitarist 1982-1986 – Pat Metheny

Guitar Player Magazine: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Downbeat Magazine: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Jazz Musician – Pat Metheny

Boston Music Awards: Outstanding Jazz Album - Song X – Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman

Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Group Album - Song X – Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman

New York Times (John Pareles): Top Album - Song X – Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman

USA Today: Top Jazz Album - Song X – Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman

Cash Box Magazine: Best Jazz Collaboration Album - Song X – Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman

Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll: Best Jazz Album - Song X – Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman

Downbeat International Critics Poll: Record of the Year - Song X – Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman

1985

Guitar Player Magazine Readers" Poll: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Cash Box Magazine: Top Jazz Album - First Circle – Pat Metheny Group

Cash Box Magazine: Best Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

International Musician & Recording World: Music Award Poll Best Jazz Group or Artist – Pat Metheny Group

1984

Grammy Award : Best Jazz Fusion Recording Vocal or Instrumental-First Circle – Pat Metheny Group

International Musician & Recording World: Best Jazz Group or Artist Music Award Poll Winners – Pat Metheny Group

Guitar Player Magazine Readers Poll: Best Jazz - Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Academie Du Jazz (France): Best Contemporary Jazz Recording of the Year - Rejoicing – Pat Metheny/Charlie Haden/Billy Higgins

NACA Award: Campus Attraction of the Year (Jazz) – Pat Metheny Group

1983

Grammy Award : Best Jazz Performance - Travels – Pat Metheny Group

Swing Journal (Japan): Best Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Performance Magazine: Best Instrumentalist of the Year – Pat Metheny

NACA Award: College Campus Jazz Entertainer of the Year – Pat Metheny

Downbeat Magazine Readers" Poll: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Guitar Player Magazine: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

Cash Box: Best Jazz Group – Pat Metheny Group

1982

Grammy Award : Best Jazz Performance - Offramp – Pat Metheny Group

Grammy Award Nomination: Best Instrumental Composition - Are You Going With Me – Pat Metheny

Grammy Award Nomination: Best Arrangement on an Instrumental - "Are You Going With Me" – Pat Metheny

Performance Magazine Readers Poll: Best Jazz Act of the Year – Pat Metheny Group

Playboy Readers Poll: Best Jazz Album - Offramp – Pat Metheny Group

Rolling Stone Readers Poll: Best Jazz Performer of the Year – Pat Metheny

Guitar Player Magazine: Best Jazz Guitarist – Pat Metheny

1981

Grammy Award Nomination: Best Jazz Performance - As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls – Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays

Grammy Award Nomination: Best Instrumental Composition-title track-" As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls" – Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays

Performance Magazine: Top 40 Grossing Touring Acts in North America – Pat Metheny Group

Playboy Readers Poll: Best Jazz Album - As Falls Wichita – So Falls Wichita Falls

1980

Grammy Award Nomination: Best Jazz Performance-Vocal or Instrumental - American Garage – Pat Metheny Group

Musician Magazine: Jazz Artist Who Made the Greatest Impact on the "70s – Pat Metheny

Musician Magazine Readers Poll: Guitarist Making the Most Impact on the "80s – Pat Metheny

New York Jazz Awards: Best Album of the Year - 80/81 – Pat Metheny Group

Cash Box: Top Groups of the Year - American Garage – Pat Metheny Group

German Record Critics Award: Jazz Record of the Year - 80/81 – Pat Metheny Group

1979

Downbeat Critics Poll: Artist Deserving Wider Recognition – Pat Metheny

Record World Magazine: Jazz Album of the Year - New Chautauqua – Pat Metheny

New York Jazz Awards: Best Album of the Year - American Garage – Pat Metheny Group

New York Jazz Awards: Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year – Pat Metheny

Jazz pianist Ayako Shirasaki released her new trio CD “Some Other Time” on August 28, 2013

Jazz pianist Ayako Shirasaki, www.ayakoshirasaki.com, residing in Brooklyn, NY, USA released her new trio CD “Some Other Time” on August 28, 2013 on Jan Matthies Records (JMR 201301).

On "Some Other Time" Ayako combines the hard swinging bebop language of Bud Powell with the sophisticated harmonic elegance of Bill Evans, but with a brilliant creativity all her own and one guiding theme: melody!

These are songs without words:

1. Sunrise (Ayako Shirasaki)

2. 3 Steps Forward (Ayako Shirasaki)

3. Yosaku-与作 (Kiminori Nanasawa)

4. Some Other Time (Leonard Bernstein)

5. Oleo (Sonny Rollins)

6. April in Paris (Vernon Duke)

7. My Man’s Gone (George Gershwin)

8. Long Ago and Far Away (Jerome Kern)

9. Sophisticated Lady (Duke Ellington) – piano solo

10. Antagata Dokosa – あんたがたどこさ (Japanese Traditional)

11. Peace of Mind (Ayako Shirasaki)

12. Hope (Lars Jansson)

Ayako is joined by Noriko Ueda on bass. Noriko, also living in NY, is the winner of the third annual BMI Foundation/Charlie Parker Jazz composition Prize. She played with for example: Frank Wess, Grady Tate, Kenny Barron...

On drums: Quincy Davis. Davis has toured with notable leaders including Benny Green, Cyrus Chestnut...

Recorded on May 10 2013 at Systems Two, New York, USA

After her CD release tour in Japan this July you can see Ayako performing live this fall again in Japan and Switzerland:

October 5 - "Some Other Time'" in Seijo Hall - trio concert in Japan

November 19-24 - Lucerne Festival (Switzerland)

A European Tour for May 2014 is currently being scheduled.

"Some Other Time" is available at amazon, itunes, cdbaby etc. but not to be found on streaming services.