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facing west May 14 2022 at 6:42 AM |
Still remember the first time i heard the title track of New Chatauqua. It was the first time I heard Pat, on an ECM promo record that Toronto radio station CFNY played in its entirety. It was love at first listen. Today, NC is a landmark album for me, emotionally, musically and politically. Pat’s grandfather told him his music represents a kind of new Chatauqua. Great insight. Chatauquas were a place where people gathered to aspire to be better. Pat’s commitment to deep listening, collaboration, innovation & tradition represents the best of the human spirit. I love how NC opens with an inclusive, exuberant statement, then turns inward. Sueno con Mexico is so inspiring in context. NC is a visionary statement of introspection, peace & tranquility that exists as a genre in itself. There is nothing like it, and there probably never will be. |
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MarcNebo May 15 2022 at 11:55 AM |
I just checked out a review of New Chatauqua at AllMusic.com. It got a great review the ended by saying it is an
overlooked classic by Pat. I always liked that record because it showed that Pat was more than a great guitarist, he
could play so many other instruments plus write memorable compositions.
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facing west May 15 2022 at 7:45 AM |
The radio promo that I first heard New Chautauqua on is pretty rare, and not available on YouTube (as far as I
know). There is a good overview of it on an excellent ECM website, Between Sound and Space
(https://ecmreviews.com/category/rarities/). You have to scroll down a bit to get to it. The first paragraph reads:
"In March of 1979, Pat Metheny appeared on the ’Oral Tradition’ radio program (broadcast out of Venice
California) to talk about the Pat Metheny Group’s self-titled debut and his freshly-released solo follow-up, New
Chautauqua. Produced by Martin Perlich, this hour-long special was released on a rare promo LP by ECM and
features an in-depth conversation with the guitarist between selections for both albums." I believe the track listing
is Phase Dance, New Chautauqua, San Lorenzo, and Sueno con Mexico. It’s also a great snapshot of Pat’s thinking
at the time. Sample quote: "I don’t see myself as a guitar player that plays melodies. I see the act of playing the
guitar and writing the tunes and having the band as a statement about what I want to be like as a guy, you
know...If I were ever not going to do that, I would go sell cars for my father."
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