(October 2017) I have completed episode 142 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography. This edition: PAT METHENY. One of my favorite guitarists. His long and prolific recording career (50+ albums) spans a wide range of jazz genres — straight, fusion, avant-garde, progressive, folk, Latin. It is rather odd that, in my opinion, the music of a jazz musician from Missouri (mostly the early stuff) can evoke images of driving on open roads under a big Western sky.
Favorite album: As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
Favorite song: “It’s For You”
Favorite period: 1978-84
Most boring album: We Live Here
Most ambitious album: The Way Up
Odd outlier that not many like but I do: Zero Tolerance for Silence
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 