darkshade
This live album from the Pat Metheny Group is "the best of the best with none of the BS". Besides this being the first album I bought by the band, it has all their live staples, and they are some captivating performances. Sometimes jazz is better live, and this album proves that. Maybe I'm biased due to this being my first album, but I've heard all the songs from their original studio albums, and most of them are better here.
The music has world music influence, but is very much jazz-rock fusion, which is basically what this band does best at this point in their career.
As a fan of world music-influenced music, this album is great, lots of Brazilian sounds. But the main feature is Lyle Mays on keyboards and piano, and Metheny himself with his signature clean but warm tone, mixed with his distorted synth guitar. I am sometimes reminded of being in the middle of Africa, during dusk, and it is very relaxing.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Pat Metheny's work, particularly his classic fusion albums. Excellent music.