The first Pat Metheny Group recording in five years is a bit unusual in two ways. The band uses "contemporary" pop rhythms on many of their selections but in creative ways and without watering down the popular group's musical identity. In addition
Metheny for the first time in his recording career sounds a bit like his early influence
Wes Montgomery on a few of the songs. With his longtime sidemen (keyboardist
Lyle Mays, bassist
Steve Rodby and drummer
Paul Wertico) all in top form,
Metheny successfully reconciles his quartet's sound with that of the pop music world, using modern technology to expand the possibilities of his own unusual vision of creative improvised music. And as a bonus, some of the melodies are catchy. ~ Scott Yanow