Product Description Please note that this album comes in three alternative sleeves, which will be randomly assigned.The Way Up is a single, brilliant 68-minute piece composed by Metheny and his collaborator of 28 years, keyboardist Lyle Mays. The album is a milestone achievement for Metheny historically as well as artistically. The album feels like a vividly rendered journey, its moods shifting like scenes glimpsed from a fast-moving vehicle. Gentle pastoral moments give way to jittery urban energy; formal structure yields to breathtaking flights of improvisation. .co.uk For nearly 30 years, guitarist Pat Metheny and his long-time musical cohort, pianist/keyboardist Lyle Mays, have covered an incredible amount of diverse material. On their debut recording for this label, they and their international group--bassist Steve Rodby, Mexican drummer Antonio Sanchez, Vietnamese trumpeter Coung Vu, and the Swiss-born harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret--distil that diversity into a continuous 68-minute opus. The challenge here lies in sustaining the melodic narrative thread while keeping the sound of surprise. Thanks to Mays' evocative pianisms and Metheny's array of acoustic, electric, and synthesized guitars, the group pulls it off. For Metheny fans, this disc contains elements of his most acclaimed recordings, from the straight-ahead swing of Question and Answer and the folk-fusion of Offramp, to the Afro-Latin tinges of We Live Here, the atonally adventurous Zero Tolerance for Silence, and the Asian impressionism of Secret Story. --Eugene Holley, Jr.
M**S
Less accessible but excellent nonetheless
It's amusing to read reviews of Pat Metheny albums - the sheer diversity of his output inevitably causes disappointment in those wanting more of the same: bop, jazz, folksy americana, fusion, melodic accessible smooth jazz, reflective acoustic guitar solos, duos, trios, ensembles etc.I can see why this album is causing a certain amount of consternation because it's like nothing that PMG has done before; some reviews here are even suggesting Metheny is finished. It's true that the highly accessible jazzy, poppy melodies that are the signature of the PMG are largely absent from this work, but what's there in their place is excellent: superb musicianship, as always, but also great composition and arrangements.For me Metheny is now firmly part of the tradition of Gershwin, Bernstein, Ellington and other modern US composers. Even his early music adapts very easily to orchestral settings, so I'd like to hear more work of this type of scale and ambition from Metheny and Mays.
H**N
My No1 Metheny CD and I have over 40...
The Way Up was made for my ears and is the PMG’s finest work. It takes a little getting to know, and an open mind, but once you are there it’s worth it. Totally essential.
A**R
Another great Metheny album
This is a typical example of Pat Metheny's mixture of world music and jazz that I find to be entertaining, relaxing and accessible.
J**S
Nearly Great
It seems to be considered blasphemy by hardened Metheny fans to criticise anything he does. I am a fairly hardened fan since 1980 - and as a good amateur guitarist, I can play most of his tunes - but in truth, not all his output is perfect. The concert his band gave to promote this work in London a few years ago was without doubt the greatest gig of his I have attended. In keeping with some other reviewers, I feel that bits of this piece tend towards overblown noodling, which in truth could be abbreviated to curtail sheer boredom on the part of many listeners. I am not alone in thinking that some of his best tunes over the years have been tarnished by long synth guitar solos, some of which sound merely over-indulgent. However, the main themes and general musicality in the Way Up are both strong and uplifting and it is these qualities which frequently shine through in Metheny's music. For this reason, a definite four stars and a cautious recommendation to sceptics to try it out, but please give it at least four listens before making your conclusions.
A**O
Amazing
If you love Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays - this is brilliant and sensitive. Soaring highs and haunting depths.
S**M
technically good
on hearing the intro to the album you think your in for something special, but thats where it ends... i'm sure pat & the band worked hard to create this music, but it's far to self indulgent, if your looking for jazz with beautifull melody then go for STILL LIFE TALKING. I sat & listened to THE WAY UP with some freinds about half way through we had all had enough of the total abcence of melody.A bit like juggleing, technically good, but could you tollerate watching it for more than 5 minutes?
B**Z
Five Stars
Perfect!
P**N
Perfect!
Perfect!
Trustpilot
3 weeks ago
1 month ago