Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny
Patrick Bruce "Pat" Methenyis an American jazz guitarist and composer...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionGuitarist
Date of Birth12 August 1954
CityLee's Summit, MO
CountryUnited States of America
point reference trumpet
Somehow, trumpet is the reference point for me - it was actually my first instrument.
casual love playing
I used to love going and playing jam sessions, doing things spontaneously. I can't do that anymore. Everything you do is documented, nothing is casual anymore.
figure fit ideas instrument involved totally trying
I was totally involved in trying to figure out a way of doing things with my instrument that would fit the ideas that I had in my head.
analogy breaking great musician pick tunes
When talking about writing, I often use the analogy of archaeology. There are these great tunes all around. Your skill as a musician allows you to pick them out without breaking them.
computers people sending
I didn't want there to be a computer on stage. When I see people with computers on stage, I think, 'Are you sending e-mail?' That's so corny.
people
A lot of jazz artists think people should like what they're doing just because it's jazz. I don't buy that.
Someone who knew me when I was 14 said I was the oldest 14-year-old on the planet. Now I'm a 14-year-old who is 60.
groups led project talented unlike
'The Unity Band' project has been life-changing for me. I have led many groups of talented musicians, but this is unlike anything else.
next sort time trophies
If you come to my house, you won't see a wall of trophies or things like that. I'm sort of 'on to the next thing' all the time.
contend hard minor mostly work
I would always contend that talent is an element, but over the long run, ultimately, a minor part of it all; it is mostly hard work.
art trying unrelated
I'm always trying to find 'connections' between things. That art is the juxtaposition of a lot of things that seem unrelated but add up to something recognizable.
acoustic incredibly literally music
I'm triggering acoustic instruments. I'm literally beating, smacking, hitting, blowing, doing physical things. It's an incredibly exciting way to make music.
actual build classical continue folk jazz lives living music musicians spirit street time
For me, let's keep jazz as folk music. Let's not make jazz classical music. Let's keep it as street music, as people's everyday-life music. Let's see jazz musicians continue to use the materials, the tools, the spirit of the actual time that they're living in, as what they build their lives as musicians around.
cecil pianist taylor
The pianist Cecil Taylor is extremely melodic; the guitarist Derek Bailey is extremely melodic, and Ornette Coleman.