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Pat Metheny Group

The Pat Metheny Group (PMG) was an American jazz fusion band founded in 1977 by guitarist and composer Pat Metheny along with his core collaborating member keyboardist and composer Lyle Mays. Other long-standing members included bassist and producer Steve Rodby (1981 to 2010) who replaced original bassist Mark Egan, and drummer Paul Wertico (1983 to 2001) who replaced original drummer Danny Gottlieb, after which Antonio Sanchez became the drummer (2002 to 2010). Argentine vocalist Pedro Aznar was also a long-time member, performing with the group from 1984 to 1993. In addition to a core quartet, the group was often joined by a variety of other instrumentalists expanding the size to six or eight musicians, including award-winning Brazilian percussionist and vocalist Nana Vasconcelos. The group won 11 Grammy awards for Best Jazz Fusion & Contemporary Jazz before disbanding in 2010. In fact, PMG is the only ensemble in history to win seven consecutive Grammy awards for seven consecutive releases.

In 1977, bassist Mark Egan joined Metheny, Mays, and Gottlieb to form the Pat Metheny Group. ECM released the album Pat Metheny Group in 1978 with songs co-written by Metheny and Mays. Pat Metheny Group marked Mays' first use of the Oberheim synthesizer, which became an integral part of the Group's sound. Their 1979 album, American Garage, and 1982's Offramp both reached No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz LPs chart.

"The first notes one heard on the first album we released, the White Album as so many have called it, were on an electric 12-string with an alternate tuning, That was followed by a giant autoharp chord. The first melody which followed was on fretless bass doubled with left-hand piano. Within seconds we had demonstrated that we were going to orchestrate the music like some kind of chamber ensemble. At the height of fusion and narrow tie retro jazz, we sounded like nobody else. We played compositions not tunes. There was a kind of magical sweet spot involving Midwestern sincerity and Classical principles which probably required two precocious kids from the Midwest to find. I don’t know, I was just so thrilled to be on that wild ride." —Lyle Mays

Awards

GRAMMY AWARDS

1982 Best Jazz Fusion Performance – Offramp
1983 Best Jazz Fusion Performance – Travels
1984 Best Jazz Fusion Performance – First Circle
1987 Best Jazz Fusion Performance – Still Life (Talking)
1989 Best Jazz Fusion Performance – Letter from Home
1993 Best Contemporary Jazz Album – The Road to You
1995 Best Contemporary Jazz Album – We Live Here
1998 Best Rock Instrumental Performance – "The Roots of Coincidence"
1998 Best Contemporary Jazz Album – Imaginary Day
2002 Best Contemporary Jazz Album – Speaking of Now
2005 Best Contemporary Jazz Album – The Way Up

GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

1980 Best Jazz Performance – American Garage
1981 Best Jazz Performance – As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls
1981 Best Instrumental Composition – “As Falls Wichita So Falls Wichita Falls”
1982 Best Instrumental Composition – "Are You Going With Me"
1982 Best Arrangement on an Instrumental – “Are You Going With Me”
1987 Best Instrumental Composition – "Minuano (six-eight)"
1989 Best Instrumental Composition – "Letter From Home"
1993 Best Instrumental Composition – "Half Life of Absolution"
1998 Best Pop Instrumental Performance – "Follow Me"
2002 Best Pop Instrumental Performance – "As It Is"
2002 Best Jazz Instrumental Solo – "Proof"

MISC AWARDS

1983 Cash Box: Best Jazz Group
1984 International Musician & Recording World: Best Jazz Group or Artist Music Award Poll Winners
1985 Cash Box Magazine: Best Jazz Group
1985 International Musician & Recording World: Music Award Poll Best Jazz Group or Artist
1986 Cash Box Magazine: Best Jazz Group
1986 International Musician & Recording World: Music Award Poll Best Jazz Group or Artist
1987 DownBeat Magazine Readers Poll: Best Electric Jazz Group
1988 Cash Box Jazz Awards: Top Electric Jazz Group
1989 DownBeat Magazine Readers Poll: Jazz Album of the Year – Letter From Home
1989 Cash Box: Top Electric Jazz Act
1990 Swing Journal Magazine Readers Poll: Best Jazz Group
1990 JazzTimes Readers Poll: Best Contemporary Jazz Group
1996 JazzTimes Magazine: Best Contemporary Jazz Group
1997 Jazziz Readers Poll: Best Jazz Fusion Group
1998 DownBeat Readers Poll: #1 Electric Jazz Group
1999 DownBeat Readers Poll: Best Electric Jazz Group
2002 DownBeat Readers Poll: Best Electric Jazz Group
2004 JazzTimes Readers Poll ’03: Best Contemporary Electric Group
2006 JazzTimes Magazine Reader’s Poll 2005: Best Contemporary /Electric Group
2007 JazzTimes Magazine: Best Contemporary/Electric Group

Show less

Pat Metheny Group: The Roots of Coincidence

by Ken Laster
May 11, 2023

This performance rocks out! What is unique about this video is seeing Lyle Mays stepping out from behind his keyboards to playing guitar alongside Pat Metheny. Who knew? Antonio Sanchez is a beast on the drums as well. Perhaps this clip is one to play for your “jazz-skeptic" friends who claim jazz is too smooth or sedate. Crank it up to eleven and break out the air guitar to play along. ...

Radio & Podcasts

A nostalgic visit to early Jazz-Rock-Fusion 1973-1982

by Len Davis
June 24, 2022

A nostalgic trip to the years 1973-1982 with Pat Metheny Group, Weather Report, Brand X, Isotope, Didier Lockwood, Gary Boyle, Jean-Luc Ponty and the Mahavishnu Orchestra.Playlist Pat Metheny Group “The Epic" from American Garage (ECM) 00:00 Weather Report “Dara Factor One" from Weather Report (CBS) 09:41 Brand X “Dance Of The Illegal Aliens" from Product (Passport) 14:37 Isotope “Sliding Dogs/Lion Sandwich" from Illusion (Gull) 19:20 Didier Lockwood “Fast Travel" from Live at Montreaux (Polydor) 28:40 Gary Boyle “The ...

Interview

Phase Dancing: Gottlieb, Wertico, Sanchez—The Art of Drumming in the Pat Metheny Group

by Joseph Vella
March 24, 2022

It was 1978 when I first heard “Phase Dance" on Bay Area jazz station KJAZ from a new band called the Pat Metheny Group (PMG). The music didn't just blow me away, it also spoke to me on such a deep level. Little did I know, it would stay with me forever. What the PMG did for many of us young, aspiring musicians was to open up new musical vistas that were relevant to the times. It was like they ...

Recording

Brian Eaton's New Single Covers Pat Metheny Group’s 'Travels'

Source: Eatin' Records
June 7, 2024

Brian Eaton’snew 2-track single, Travels, features a cover of the title track from the Pat Metheny Group’s Grammy-winning live album Travels as a tribute to the late Lyle Mays. The musician/producer’s new single, which is out now on Eatin’ Records, also includes the track “Detour Ahead,” Eaton’s version of the timeless jazz standard as the B-side track. The two tracks will be included in a new album due later this year. These ballads, with their melodic lyricism, have a beautiful ...
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Crowdfunding Campaign

Pianist Bob Karty Launches Kickstarter Campaign Reuniting Members Of Oregon And The Pat Metheny Group

Source: Bob Karty
September 24, 2015

Pianist and composer Bob Karty has launched a Kickstarter for his debut album as leader and composer, featuring all original compositions and a stellar band: Paul McCandless on saxophones, oboe, and bass clarinet, Mark Walker on drums and percussion and Steve Rodby on acoustic bass. McCandless and Walker are members of the seminal jazz band Oregon; Rodby played for three decades with guitarist Pat Metheny. Bob Karty has worked for nearly two decades with top artists on the Bay Area ...
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Crowdfunding Campaign

Pianist Bob Karty’s Kickstarter Reunites Members Of Oregon And The Pat Metheny Group With Imaginative Original Compositions

Source: Bob Karty
September 17, 2015

Pianist and composer Bob Karty has launched a Kickstarter for his debut album as leader and composer, featuring all original compositions and a stellar band: Paul McCandless on saxophones, oboe, and bass clarinet, Mark Walker on drums and percussion and Steve Rodby on acoustic bass. McCandless and Walker are members of the seminal jazz band Oregon; Rodby played for three decades with guitarist Pat Metheny and is one of the most in-demand producers in jazz. Bob Karty has worked for ...
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Recording

The Friday Morning Listen: Pat Metheny Group - Imaginary Day (1997)

Source: Something Else!
December 31, 2011

I'm one of those people who tend to not remember their dreams. Most mornings, I have a feeling that some dreams have come to pass, but couldn't tell you about any of them in much detail. When I'm particularly tired it's common for me to have a lot of dreams, with the fragments having a little more staying power—just enough so that I can perceive that the dreams took place. When I wake up, it kind of feels like I've ...
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Recording

Pat Metheny Group - The Way up (2005)

Source: Something Else!
July 13, 2011

By Mark Saleski Much like those pointless negative reviews where the writer (read: attacker) has never liked the band in question, I sometimes wonder if maybe it's just not right to go on about my favorite artists. Let's face it, I own just about every recording Pat Metheny has ever produced. Solo records. Sideman projects. Film music. Soundtrack singles. Group albums. So, is it possible for an uber-fan such as myself to deal with a new Metheny composition in an ...
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Recording

Pat Metheny Group (ECM 1114)

Source: Between Sound and Space - An ECM Records Resource
January 30, 2011

Pat Metheny Group Pat Metheny 6- and 12-string guitars Lyle Mays piano, oberheim synthesizer, autoharp Mark Egan bass Dan Gottlieb drums Recorded January 1978 at Talent Studio, Oslo Engineer: Jan Erik Kongshaug Produced by Manfred Eicher There's no mistaking a Pat Metheny album, and along with running mates Lyle Mays, Mark Egan, and Dan Gottlieb, the experience is heightened all the more. From its inaugural moments, the group's ...
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Recording

The Friday Morning Listen: Pat Metheny Group - First Circle (1984)

Source: Something Else!
September 24, 2010

By Mark Saleski Over at A Blog Supreme, they're tossing around an interesting question: What's The First Coltrane Album You Fell In Love With? That's an easy one for me: it was Interstellar Space. It sort of confused me (OK, it confused the heck out of me!) but I totally dug the barely-controlled energy levels, the wild interplay, and how it made me feel. No doubt, Trane and Rashied Ali opened my ears to a whole different side of jazz. ...
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Festival

An extra-special concert at the Festival! The Pat Metheny Group – The Way Up Tour

Source: All About Jazz
July 9, 2005

An extra-special concert at the Festival! in association with Radio Canada and CBC Television The Pat Metheny Group – The Way Up Tour A Sunday like no other at the Grande scène General Motors !

Montreal, Friday, July 8, 2005 – The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal has scheduled an extra-special closing concert for patrons of this 26th edition — thanks to the close collaboration of Radio-Canada and CBC Television — when Montreal’s ...
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Festival

Pat Metheny Group Free Concert to Close 25th Montreal International Jazz Festival

Source: All About Jazz
June 3, 2005

A very special free concert to close the Festival Pat Metheny Group – The Way Up Tour Sunday July 10 at 9 p.m., from the General Motors stage!

Montreal, Thursday June 2, 2005 – Here’s a great surprise gift from the Montreal International Jazz Festival to its public! A very special free concert featuring the Pat Metheny Group, to close the 26th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival from the main General Motors stage, presented ...
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Event

Pat Metheny Group Featured in 25th Anniversary Concert Series - An Ottawa Premiere!

Source: All About Jazz
March 29, 2005

OTTAWA – The Ottawa International Jazz Festival, in association with the National Arts Centre, is pleased to present the Pat Metheny Group at the NAC Southam Hall on July 9th, 2005 at 8:00 p.m. as a featured concert in the festival’s 25th Anniversary Concert Series.

Founded by Metheny in 1977, the Pat Metheny Group has released 12 studio albums and has travelled the world, playing at concerts, festivals and clubs in more than 40 countries.

Over the course of more ...
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"A winning mix of electronic innovation and lyricism." —The New York Times

"...a pure masterpiece of jazz fusion." —Sputnik Music

"This music grows in interest with each listen." —Scott Yanow

"This is life-affirming music..." —Between Sound and Space

"...what the group does is truly multifaceted and multi-layered, sometimes seemingly infinitely so." —All About Jazz