American Garage

by Pat Metheny Group, Pat Metheny

Overview

The back liner photo gives the impression of a grungy Midwestern garage band, but no, that doesn't describe this sophisticated jazz-rock quartet, which was simultaneously breaking into mass-market acceptance and away from the contemplative ECM stereotype. The arrangements are more structured, the playing often more intense and searching, with a more pronounced rock influence. On the title track, Metheny digs in and displays some authoritative rock-oriented licks and intensity, and the rhythms on "The Search" have a slight, at times asymmetrical Latin feeling. The nearly 13-minute "The Epic" finds the Metheny group developing some real combustion in the improvised sections as Metheny, keyboardist Lyle Mays, bassist Mark Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb grow tighter as a unit. In hindsight, some of the music seems a bit too tightly conceived to allow adequate breathing room, but this is still high-quality jazz-rock for its time. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Product Details

Release Date:	11/04/2016
Label:	Imports
UPC:	4988031178072
Rank:	78029

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Pat Metheny Group   Primary Artist
Pat Metheny   Primary Artist,Bass,Guitar,Guitar (12 String)
Danny Gottlieb   Drums (Snare),Drums
Lyle Mays   Organ,Piano,Autoharp,Keyboards,Piano (Electric),Oberheim Synthesizer
Mark Egan   Bass,Bass (Electric)

Technical Credits

Rob Van Petten   Photography
Joel Meyerowitz   Cover Photo,Photography
Basil Pao   Design
Lyle Mays   Composer
Pat Metheny Group   Performer
Pat Metheny   Composer,Producer,Performer
Jesse Henderson   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Manfred Eicher   Executive Producer
Kent Nebergall   Engineer