New Age-leaning guitarist Pat Metheny and melancholic pianist Brad Mehldau have such distinctive, even rarified, sensibilities (each an acquired taste for some listeners), that their teaming may have looked like a one-time commercial ploy in the beginning. But having found rewarding common ground and a receptive audience through their shared love of pop, Brazilian music and Americana, they likely will work together again. Recorded at the same time as their first album, a duo effort, Quartet takes a satisfying step forward in featuring the Mehldau trio's first-rate bass and drum team, Larry Grenadier and Jeff Ballard, on most of the tracks. Ranging from rhapsodic reflections to full-tilt fusion fare to loping, Wes Montgomery-inspired tunes--and let's not overlook that Asian-tinged song featuring Metheny on 42-string guitar--the music is sometimes a bit soft at the core. But when the stars are aligned, as on the effortlessly flowing, co-written opener, "A Night Away," and Metheny's charming "En La Tierra Que No Olvida," their partnership glows. It will be interesting to hear where they go from here. --Lloyd Sachs
Tokyo Day Trip: Live EP is a collection of 5 tracks recorded live in Tokyo with Metheny s trio, featuring bassist Christian McBride and drummer Antonio Sanchez. The tracks were recorded at the end of 2004, before the trio went into the studio to record the recently released and highly praised Day Trip. The tracks were produced, mixed and mastered by Metheny and long time collaborator Steve Rodby. Several tracks were previously available as digital - only downloads; this will be the first time all 5 are available together on CD. The tunes range from intense and animated ( Traveling Fast ), to acoustic ballads ( The Night Becomes You ) to electric fusion ( Back Arm and Blackcharge ). More than just an extension of the studio record, this EP represents the trio at the height of their mastery, live and in the moment. The artwork for the EP, a re-creation of the original Day Trip street scene but a view of Tokyo instead of New York was created by painter Josh George, who hails from Metheny's hometown, Lee s Summit, Missouri.
