Lyle Mays: The Pianist

[@dawudabdullaah6977]

As a guitarist, I LOVE Pat Metheny. But it's hard for me to listen to him without Lyle Mays' piano playing.

[@Yetipfote]

There's truly noone who is able to gradually open my heart with his solos like him.

[@davidcarlin3850]

I’d like to see a formal biography on Lyle. The immensity of his talent as an artist cannot be understated. He was a genius…

[@rickfeld7995]

Lyle deserves to be heard, analyzed & adored. Thank you.

[@SergioValenzuela]

Lyle would have turned 67 yesterday. How much we miss him. Congratulations for this great and hefty analysis as a realtime composer. His deep musical intelligence and gusto displayed in these great examples are simply out of this world . His ideas on better days ahead sound almost Bachian to me, in terms of perfection, wit and beauty. I couldn´t think of better example of ¨the right note at the right time¨. Thanks so Much.

[@howardwhitehead2167]

Very complex,and just plain wonderful.

[@shahareffendiaazizi5360]

My favourite keyboard player of all times. Fantastique!! May you rest in peace Lyle Mays..... from Malaysia

[@markdavid3076]

Good to know that another fellow Malaysian loves Lyle's work. I'm from KL. Been a lifelong Yellowjackets and Elektric Band fan. I love Lyle. He was special.

[@billvill61]

To me, there's no better drama build than First Circle. It is so dramatic, powerful, and moving that it makes me cry every time.

[@izzydeguy184]

same here....

[@SusanJohnson-xl3ys]

My favorite song is First Circle Perfection❤

[@williamlee2112]

What a gift to get your deep analysis on Lyle's playing.. Thanks so much!

[@rhythmnation15]

Ryan ... I am truly humbled by your video. It is the first one I have watched, and it will not be the last. I have played guitar most of my 62 years, and I am such a musical novice, but how I love Lyle Mays' playing. You have done a wonderful job of explaining him, and I feel so enriched. For this, and for all the beautiful comments you have brought out of my fellow viewers, I thank you.

[@alanblakeguitarist]

Thanks for this. Impossible to truly analyze Lyle. All about the feel. Impossible to analyze 40 years of playing everyday all day. I miss Lyle!! Thanks for this

[@JeffBostick222]

Of the many things I loved about Lyle's playing, it was the total sense of abandonment and apparent wildness with which he would build up his solos, beginning many times with taking the listener into an intimate space in the song only to end by crashing through a sonic barrier!! Thank you for breaking these songs down Ryan.

[@ianroberts3948]

Even for non musicians your presentation is very watchable. For myself and many lyle admirers it was the sound of music above all others. Unfortunately he has passed without being honoured as the best by far keyboard player and composer of the most spine tingling kind. I can tell that you are honoured to help us to understand a true genius.

[@mrkey-music]

Great work Ryan! Lyle deserves to be best known for his exceptional way of composing and playing music, beyond any styles. He was like a classic composer, so with all the basics and knowledge needed to get into any genre, like a ballet dancer who can dance any style, for the basics he has. But Lyle's style was so gentle, elegant, whispered and eventually sparkling and never obvious that it was limitating to think of him as only a jazz composer. He was a composer, who can be thought of as being compared to Bach, Chopin and Debussy. I'm sure his music will survive for years to come and deserves to be taught in every good music school. I subscribed to your channel and can't wait to see more videos about Lyle's music!

[@thomasweinmann5375]

You are fabulous, thank you. I am striving to find more info about Lyle as a person. He had influenced me so much with his music. I got to the point that a musician looking out to reach a listener has to be authentic. When they actually can refer to a part of their own inner soul/heart/„inner hills“, their ultimate self. And through that create the listeners inner landscapes, feelings, long and colorful, dramatic stories. And the listener could readily believe those musical journeys, whith even complex passage so accessible. Few people could do that on the top level. You needed your own voice and you needed ....Authenticitiy. Mike Brecker had that. And Lyle. When he left this place, for the first time in my life as a grown up with two beautiful kids I found myself down a road I was unprepared to go. It had me crying so many times the last months. It felt to me like loosing a partner, a friend. With your videos, I found a new way of getting more than just the usual glimpse at him - through his music. It feels good to not be the only one still mourning. We miss him hard.

[@centerthread]

Jesus, I watched the light change, your beard grow out at least 3 inches and you age before my eyes. And it was so fucking worth it. Thank you.

[@ziccuj]

Another great video, thank you so much! I'm a guitarist myself but ever since I heard PMG for the first time in the 90's and fell in love with Pat's playing I was also blown away by what Lyle was doing. It's such a shame they didn't create more music together during the last few years and sadly now it's too late. Lyle's contribution to the band's sound was always so crucial - there's no way around it. As much as I enjoy most of Pat's output throughout the decades, I still think his best works were the ones these two aforementioned guys collaborated on - they were just an amazing team, talk about "Lennon-McCartney of contemporary jazz". I've always loved the piano solo from "So May It Secretly Begin". It begins so lyrically and Lyle just builds it up in a way nobody else would. It's also full of snippets that really define his style: all those double stops, then suddenly big big chord voicings, and also very peaceful moments in-between. It's a little real-time composition, a true masterpiece within a song - or a story within a story, for you PMG geeks. ;) Perhaps you'll dive deep into this great solo in your future videos. I would love to hear you break it down and comment on it. All the best and many thanks from Finland!

[@audreybolling2793]

Yes. Lyle Mayes was phenemon pianist! I loved that classical flavor of his that he expressed within jazz. He is missed. Just an awesome musician He and Pat played with a onesness. A one and only....Lyle Mayes. He put his heart and soul into the music.

[@apeshape66]

Read once that Lyle said something like. "If I don't have to do another solo again, that'll be fine with me". Great stuff Ryan!

[@Lachenmann7]

Truthful words: He retired from music soon after.

[@paulomendes928]

Lyle Mays was a genius. As a player and as a composer! Period.

[@gigigleason3548]

I must at be channeling his energy, been listening to him a lot!....I met him in Perugia, Italy at their concert back in 88/89... RIP Lyle

[@מוטיפינסקי]

I wish I had individual music sheet sized graphic and playable posters of each frame of this video that I could stack and read one at a time while seated at my piano : it goes by so very fast.. As it is I will be studying and trying to grok your video for the unforeseeable future. Thanks for the homework Ryan and for giving Lyle’s artistry the credit it deserves

[@PabloskyRosales]

play your instrument ! don't let the instrument play you !! ; another great video on one of my favourite composers

[@mcminimethec]

Wow. Glad I found you! Very interesting! Lyle knew of my great great grandfather Luigi Cherubini. It was amazing that he messaged me about it before he passed because I always wondered about it. He knew more than I did and told me to study it. I never liked Luigi's music but he told me that it was amazing. Crazy right!

[@Level2442]

Excellent Ryan! We look forward for next episode on Lyle.! 👏👏👏

[@budlaumer]

I watched this series when you put it out, and I'm back because I had to share the link with a friend who had not seen them. But, now I have rewatched all three and want to thank you again. I really miss Lyle and your videos help this non-musician to better understand what it is that makes me so happy listening to everything Lyle shared. From Joni Mitchel live from the 1970s through AFWSFWF and on to PMG and his own work.....thanks again

[@43rdworld]

I rarely comment on videos but there is a live version of Better Days Ahead played at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, Canada in 1989. Lyle's solo is reminiscint of the recorded versions but totally and wonderfully different. Not only is Metheny really into it but at one point Lyle get a little grin like he really likes what he just came up with. When he's done, Rodby looks over a couple of times with definite appreciation - cool to see. Thanks for the videos and thanks for giving Rodby his due here.

[@billr55]

My favorite pianist and composer. So much going on and the attention to detail. Got to see him several times. First time it was in a bar in my midwest town. I was a couple feet from him able to watch from behind. I met Danny Gottlieb and Mark Egan after they played. Would of loved to have met Lyle and Pat.

[@RyanSlatkoMusic]

Amazing!

[@mikeo2420]

Lyle played with a lot of feel and emotion. Sometimes the expressions he made reminded me of someone scratching and relieving themselves from an itch. He certainly scratched a lot of musical itches for me!

[@crome2194]

"Wow! Such a great solo." Oh, I hear ya. I absolutely positively loved this analysis. Thank you.

[@anthonybeecher2883]

Ryan - my favorite thing to think when analyzing Lyle is Wind Chimes. If you notice at the end of Au Lait, his solo end mimicing wind chimes, and then the tune fade out with actual wind chimes. I believe this is an expression of a harmonic set, with random rhythm and sequence thrown at it.

[@markdarnell614]

Yes...like a couple of others here on the thread - I sometimes break-down and cry over this Massive loss! I was sad when Chick Corea passed ( I used to play "No Mystery", and some of the "Children's Songs"), but it was Lyle Mays who really put a stamp on my own playing, and especially Composition, as slight my particular Gifts might be. Everytime I listen to "September 15th" , I just go to pieces! RIP Lyle...

[@brittenmusic6923]

Wow...such a journey through a few minutes of Lyle's mind. Thank you Mr Slatko.🙏

[@Doctormix]

I LOVE your videos, I’m so much into Lyle you have no idea. The way you explain this? It’s like you’re voicing thoughts I had for decades. You just know how to articulate it! I love you for this. And your piano playing is EPIC. You do those transcriptions? Anyway sorry, I’m rambling. You’re great, I just subscribed to you. C

[@RyanSlatkoMusic]

Thank you so much! Yup! Those are all my transcriptions. I have plans to make them available soon, stay tuned for that! :)

[@matt-spaiser]

I love your videos! I had no idea you were a big fan of Lyle.

[@CharlesAustin]

Such confidence Lyle has.. humble joyful brilliance !! Thanks for this !!

[@Doctormix]

@@RyanSlatkoMusic I beg you please do that ❤

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Great video Ryan! You did such a good job demonstrating the 'bebop" First Circle solo (and you didn't over-do it, it was pretty tasteful actually 😉) Also some great observations, and a great presentation of the transcriptions along with the actual futage. Thank you!

[@RyanSlatkoMusic]

Thank you Dr. Schkolnik! I love your videos, especially Slink! Much respect!! 🙏

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thanks Ryan! Much respect back!!

[@jacquihalvorson3298]

Thank you for helping to explain the genius and artistry of Lyle Mays! One of a kind!

[@issiedone]

Amazing Job Ryan! It's not easy diving in depth to breakdown the musical genius of man I consider to be one of , if not the most talented pianist in my time. Listening to Lyle, play is an ethereal experience. He is deeply missed. keep it coming. Thanks!

[@rickfeld7995]

Liles gorgeous fingers on The Search, along aqwith the creative sounds are of Pat & Danny & Mark. The purest of American sound.

[@danvitco771]

After careful doctorate level analysis of the ‘First Circle’ solo…it’s ….”Wow”. Agreed. Beautifully mesmerizing.

[@matt-spaiser]

Thank you for this amazing video! I can't even imagine how much time you put into this. Lyle's First Circle solos are my favourites, and I am amazed at how he was always finding new things to do with them. On the Speaking of Now tour in 2002 they had even more of a classical sound than they had before, channeling Ravel as always. The Proof solos are fascinating in how he takes a very jazzy form and sometimes plays it bluesy and sometimes plays it with a classical vocabulary. Lyle does not get enough credit for how he combined jazz and classical music, whether it's in his compositions or in using classical vocabulary over jazz tunes.

[@AuralVisions]

Ryan, you really know your stuff. Great!! And Lyle, what a super-genius he was.

[@gregdgardner]

Ryan, this has been such a great series. Lyle has been my musical hero since 1987 when I listened to his first solo album. In this post you bring out something that I think a lot of musicians (including me) struggle with - and that is what you ended this segment with - playing your instrument and not letting the instrument play you. The quote that you posted makes so much sense when I think of Lyle’s style of music. Your analysis is very thoughtful and it give me a different and valuable view into his style and musicianship. After I watched it I went to the woodshed and tried to focus on playing what I heard and not what my hands were “in the habit” of playing. Great job on the transcriptions and the beautiful overlay of him playing. Great job and thank you for your hard work on this. It is GREATLY appreciated!

[@dimitriskaraganis]

congrats for this great analysis my friend! we miss Lyle !

[@lauradewet1033]

I'm still shattered at the loss of Lyle Mays.

[@dianasolis3476]

THis is a bit over my head, but I've listened to Mayes and Metheney for 35 years, and played bass for a minute, so I can follow along. Analysis in itself is a trip. Thank you for keeping the audio/video with the written, that helps a mostly ear player like me a LOT.

[@catherinemotycka861]

Thank you so much, Ryan. You are one incredible player yourself!

[@linotom1887]

Straight on red....outstanding solo..!

[@fred8097]

My favourite Lyle solo!

[@FFrrEEddRRiiKK1]

Awesome dismantling of these masterpieces.

[@מוטיפינסקי]

Gawd you’re good Ryan

[@corra7249]

Il piú grande di tutti...... per me era.... Lyle Mays group

[@sbrgm]

Thank you, this is wonderful!

[@nancydevolder4433]

Fantastic Ryan. Clips like these make my appreciation for Lyle even bigger than it already was.

[@ericvercelletto1751]

Awsome job Ryan! you are so much into it. Thank you, I mean it

[@offramp1968]

Ryan I'm not a professional musician (but quite well educated to jazz and able to put my hands over a bass and a guitar) and...above all, very in love with PMG and Lyle since 30 years. I've found your videos and explanations so clear and inspiring....thank you so much. (BTW your record "First Impression" is amazing!)

[@twangbarfly]

Absolutely first-class analysis of a top, top pianist. I'm not a pianist, but a guitarist, so this video is incredibly interesting and enlightening to me. Lyle is easily one of my very favourite musicians - thank you!

[@pangeaproxima9446]

ok, ok...

[@adammcculloch5614]

This is excellent Ryan, very insightful. Really brings out the things that made LM so special

[@LGIn2024]

Great video and commentary with awesome highlights of Lyle Mays at his best!

[@iBruit]

I realized from the very beginning that 'good taste', of his performances, that set him apart from other pianists, now I see thanks to your videos why he was so good, thank you very much!

[@tomjones2348]

Well done. It's going to take me a couple times through this presentation to absorb it all.

[@Cris4Mac]

Great analysis! Thank you!

[@fiddlestix3025]

So interesting! Thank you 🙏

[@TheAnnaFisher]

Much respect, great job!

[@micheleamico1116]

Wonderful analysis...grazie

[@billr55]

'The Epic' is such a killer song.

[@jorgecarrasco8088]

Gracias por esta gran clase musical

[@markdavid3076]

Thanks for this. Love it.

[@Nico-zb6sq]

Hey Ryan, great video!! I wonder if you could do a second part of Lyle as a pianist, where you analyze his role as an accompanist (especially in the Group). I have never found something like that in the internet so far. What Lyle does, is orchestrating from the piano, instead of just comping the chords for the band in a standard way. He had so much impact on the sound of the PMG not only as a soloist. Thanks! Greetings from Hamburg :)

[@Lukz243]

I think I might need to check his work out later, but this was interesting! Good work, Ryan

[@Thom726]

Ryan, I think you critique Lyle more than Lyle thought about it. I really enjoy the your channel!!

[@RyanSlatkoMusic]

Thank you!

[@dinomueller8461]

Invaluable. Thank you so much!

[@ConservativeAnthem]

Ryan, your salute to Lyle is poignant and highly informed. Thank you!

[@omargunason6563]

Great video ... can't wait to check out the others! Bravo

[@Tuxedo2680]

I should have studied music and harmony instead of electrical engineering but I was lazy and undisciplined so I took the easy route. I always loved Pat and Lyle's music and always will.

[@SANTIVEGAGROUP]

Amaziiiiiing. Many thanks. God bless lyle

[@ericdeaux3869]

That solo at the 7:00 mark is from Pat Metheny Full Circle live in Japan

[@rayrecordings]

Outstanding work, this video. Thanks !

[@catherinemotycka861]

Ryan, you are spot on!!

[@azaniaritualkollectivoffic5250]

Wow!! Thank you!

[@oddities-whatnot]

I was lucky enough to see him play in Manchester decades ago.

[@randyevans9162]

Thank you for all of this, wow A+++

[@howardwhitehead2167]

I didn’t know he existed,until I heard him in Metheny’s recordings.awesome.

[@ChuckSilva]

Gr8!❤️ thank you

[@poltable]

you are a genius, you have the parts, I love lyle!!!

[@renakmans3521]

I hear a ton of bebop influence in his playing but somehow he’s redesigned it into a unique voice that disguises bebop! Also it’s obvious Lyle was always the chance taker in the group…true and deep improviser!

[@judywright6889]

It'a a gift from God...even Lyle can't really explain it. ♡

[@LiFraMa]

Ryan, what you're doing with showing the form of songwriting, acting and improvisation is really incredible. Lyle Mays was one of the most outstanding pianists with a subtlety and delicacy in everything he did in the Pat Metheny Group as in his solo projects he was highly anticipated by his followers. It would be very interesting for you to react to Chorinho, which is a truly spectacular piece of music, like other of his creations, thank you!

[@RyanSlatkoMusic]

Chorhino would be a great one! I definitely owe it to him to look at more of his solo stuff, August, Slink etc..

[@prestoncarter2698]

@@RyanSlatkoMusic Please please explain "Slink"! I haven't even been able to figure out what time signature it's in.

[@RyanSlatkoMusic]

@@prestoncarter2698 for Slink I’d highly recommend this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2WpYqibm81narc

[@prestoncarter2698]

@@RyanSlatkoMusic Thank you for that reference. Very helpful to see it written out. It just amazes me that the ostinato figure could be divided up between three musicians and still be played with perfect precision and continuity. So much to say about this one piece of music. Words alone are inadequate, but it does help to examine the structural underpinnings.

[@malyndacornell8166]

I play organ and piano hymnal church music every Sunday and have tried to play jazz but had no luck! I just think jazz pianist are born with this kind of talent. Very difficult to do. Mays is amazing.

[@MatteoPrefumo]

Great video bro!

[@malyndacornell8166]

I personally think that " something to remind you" is the most "parachute" drama leading up to the chorus.

[@josephesaura31]

Thank you so much! I only regret the lack of subtitles😥 Love from France ❣️

[@bryanalfonso5700]

Music is one of the few things in life where I feel that the end justifies the means. I don't care how much of your solo was improvised or how much was meticulously practiced/planned/written - both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages. Lyle's solos developed the compositions. They were tailored specifically for the piece. However he got us "there" musically, "there" was a great place to be when Lyle was the one who provided the transportation

[@pianist007]

I've been waiting for this for so long. To me, The Road To You is one of the best live albums ever and that piano solo on "Better Days Ahead" knocked me out the first time I heard it .. I've been waiting for someone to come forward and dig it so thanks a lot Ryan. Do you know if there's any live video footage of that particular concert?

[@coreywilcoxmusic]

I Love Your Content Bro!

[@funch357]

No wonder I love Lyle’s music: My favorite classical composer is Debussy.

[@pauldeck4500]

I remember my first "jazz piano lesson" in high school. I sat down at the piano and my teacher put music in front of me. He was assigning me a piece -- a prelude by Scriabin. I gave him a look like, "WTF," and he said "Paul your ideas have to come from *somewhere*." Now I'll tell you something wild -- he asked me who I was listening to, and I listed the usual suspects -- Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner. His response was that I should be listening to ... Lyle Mays. I am totally not kidding. Since that time I have become a great fan of Lyle's music -- and Scriabin's too. But my greatest regret is that I did not pay more attention to what this teacher was trying to teach me -- the importance of transcribing, for example, and a lot of other things that I was "too busy" to do. What a shame.

[@JerryT21]

I Miss Lyle😢

[@carlodeglinnocenti5994]

Fantastic

[@rossclarke4911]

Great analysis Ryan!! I would love to get a copy of that transcription of Lyle's '93 solo. Any suggestions?

[@Calbertone]

Thank you Ryan, your work is stellar. I wish I was younger and had you as a teacher some decades ago

[@tA_aT287]

Hey. Is there any chance I can get the scores to Lyles solos? Thank you! These transcriptions are incredible and your explanations are very insightful!!!

[@pjamesbda]

Nice...excellent job Ryan, it is said music is mathematics in motion, and yet: The more you talk and think about it, The further astray you Wander from the truth. Stop talking and thinking, And there is nothing you Will not be able to know.- Seng Ts’an