PAT METHENY — Pat Metheny Group : Still Life (Talking) (review)

PAT METHENY — Pat Metheny Group : Still Life (Talking) album cover Album · 1987 · World Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
FunkFreak75
An album filled with some of the most gorgeous, danceable, sing/hummable instrumental jazz fusion songs EVER! I remember playing this tape every time I got in the car for a long drive (which was quite often in my late 20s) and just CRANKING every song: singing the melodies at the top of my lungs throughout each and every song--especially when the vocalists (Armando Marçal, Mark Ledford, and David Blamires) chimed in. And then I got to see them live in concert at Meadowbrook on this tour. As I've told many people over the years, I never had so much fun dancing in my seat, playing my legs for drums, and singing the wordless vocals at the top of my lungs from row 26 at any concert in my life. And I would argue that the lineup I saw performing that night could stand up shoulder to shoulder with any instrumental ensemble I've ever seen--and that includes Yes, Crimson, McLaughlin, and Di Meola with Jan Hammer.

Five star songs: the amazing epic, 1. "Minuaño (in Six Eight) (9:28) (20/20); 2. "So It May Secretly Begin" (6:25) (9.5/10); "It's Just Talk" (6:17) (9.5/10), the wild and rollicking Brazilian rompus, 4. "Third Wind" (8:37) (20/20); the hypnotic 3. "Last Train Home (5:41) (8.5/10); the atmospheric space soundtrack, 6. "Distance" (2:45) (4.25/5), and; the stunningly gorgeous finale, "In Her Family (3:17) (10/10), which became anthemic to me as it inspired a poem that I wrote to become its lyric.

A true masterpiece of jazz/world fusion from a collection of some of the finest musicians to ever grace the analog, digital, or acoustic airwaves. Bassist Steve Rodby and drummer Paul Wertico are gods! This is by far my favorite "Group" album Pat ever put out.
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