One Quiet Night [US Bonus Track]

Performer: Pat Metheny
Engineer: Pat Metheny; Pete Karam
Producer: Pat Metheny; Steve Rodby; Pat Metheny
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Solo performer: Pat Metheny (baritone guitar). Recorded between November 2001 & January 2003. Includes liner notes by Pat Metheny. ONE QUIET NIGHT won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album. Personnel: Pat Metheny (baritone guitar). Audio Mixer: Rob Eaton. Liner Note Author: Pat Metheny. Recording information: New York, NY (11/24/2001/01/??/2003). Over the years, progressive jazz guitarist Pat Metheny has covered a lot of ground, from Brazilian-inflected world jazz to gentle, ambient soundscapes to fiery, avant-garde experimentation. So it should come as no surprise that his eclectic muse has led him on ONE QUIET NIGHT to a new sonic neighborhood. The album is just Metheny alone with a baritone acoustic guitar--no band, no overdubs, no production, just a man and his musical gift with nothing to get in the way. Accordingly, this is probably the most intimate, personal statement Metheny has made to date. Most of the songs are his own, but he branches out a bit as well, taking on the hit song that Jesse Harris penned for Norah Jones ("Don't Know Why") as well as a chestnut from the catalogue of pianist Keith Jarrett ("My Song"). Whatever the framework, he works his unique brand of subtle-but-intense, emotive-but-intellectual magic on these tunes. His touch, his tone, and his taste are what come out most clearly here, proving why he's widely regarded as one of the most skilled guitarists of his generation. Pat Metheny by himself with an acoustic guitar -- for longtime fans it might not get any better. Always interested in blending jazz with folk and pop, the guitarist does just that, focusing heavily on the folk end of things on One Quiet Night. Featuring a nice afterglow interpretation of Norah Jones' hit "Don't Know Why" and an unexpected reinterpretation of "Ferry Cross the Mersey" which turns the Gerry & the Pacemakers classic into a poignant lament, the album also showcases Metheny as a melodic pop composer. "Song for the Boys" sounds surprisingly like an instrumental take on early-'80s British pop � la the Smiths, while "Last Train Home" brilliantly mixes Metheny's knack for taking simple chord progressions and beautifully tweaking them with odd harmonies. Perhaps a bit light for some straight-ahead jazz fans, listeners interested in thoughtful, folky, jazz-inflected ballads will find this rapturous. [The 2009 U.S. edition included one bonus track.] ~ Matt Collar

Uncut (8/03, p.116) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Anyone who enjoys acoustic guitar excursions in reflective mood will be drawn to this album..." JazzTimes (8/03, p.121) - "Guitarist Pat Metheny constantly seeks fresh ways of expressing himself and reconfiguring his music....It's as lush, serene and evocative as early albums....Arguably his most personalized recording this far in a distinguished career..."

Jazz guitar innovator Pat Metheny first appeared in the mid-'70s as a prodigy in Gary Burton's band, and soon thereafter he was leading his own group. He is among the few jazz artists who've become household names--his music has appeal well beyond the typical jazz audience, yet his artistic integrity is unquestionable, and he has used his success to pursue many less-commercial side projects. Ever the explorer, Metheny has been a pioneer of the guitar synthesizer, a champion of the avant garde, and a unifier of musical styles, incorporating rock, folk, world music, and even country influences into his unique musical paradigm.

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