Pat Metheny digs deep into what made Wes Montgomery great

[@ericgendell8874]

I first heard Pat when "Phase Dance" was released and getting alot of airplay on FM radio. I was immediately moved to the depths of my soul. At that point I was immersed in Hendrix, Santana and John McLaughlin, but was smitten by Pat's airy, elegant melodic playing which was like entering a whole new dimension of bliss. My high regard for Pat's genius has only grown over the years. I have only seen him perform live once, back in the mid 1980's with Lyle Mays but the experience was memorable. His youthful, vitality and energy was infectious and helped lift me out of a deep depression. Pat is a living legend and one of the most important voices not only of jazz guitar, but of modern and contemporary music, an evolution of the Wes Montgomery lineage into whole new dimensions. Pat speaks so clearly, eloquently and beautifully which is what one would expect of a genius of Pat's caliber. All the musicians with whom Pat has played and composed throughout the years is a cast of genius who have facilitated Pat's playfully serious or seriously playful curiosity and inventiveness to the heights and aeries of his musical vision. If you Love Pat Metheney, check out Joshua Meader, a young world class Australian virtuoso.

[@JukeboxerWes]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Pat Metheny. Pat couldn't stop talking about Wes during the TWO HOURS we interviewed him. True passion, energy, and empathy.

[@philsarkol6443]

I can not think of Pat without seeing him smile. Such a lovable guy...and the way he is talking about his passion for Wes is engaging and constructive at the same time. He has found his own voice, instantly recognisable...and precisely that is what he has gained of listening to Wes!!

[@LucasMichailidis-j5v]

Interesting how Pat never wanted to play the trumpet but ended up with a signature sound (the synclavier) which is very trumpet sounding.

[@elmolewis9123]

Pat is such an eloquent speaker and he could go on about Wes for hours. Great interview.

[@Otto-Nuys]

Pat hits the nail on the head, it's about storytelling rather than virtuosity. There are enough virtuoso guitarists out there already. Find your own voice, because you have it! That does not mean that you cannot learn anything from the stories of Wes, Trane, Rollins and Miles. Listen to them and tell your own story with the material instead of imitating them. They also had their inspirations. Miles, for example, praised Frank Sinatra for his timing.

[@777jones]

Yes, and similarly. Someone who loves the song will outshine somebody who is technical but doesn’t love the song.

[@frankmurphyburr3598]

I just discovered Wes recently, I am 64 now, I've been playing guitar since 1979, all rock music, some folk, but I am SO GLAD I have discovered jazz guitar and jazz music, better later than never, Pat Metheney is a genius too.

[@IceNein763]

Grant Green is another one really worth listening to.

[@KSETONMTL]

Welcome to the journey Frank! Those 70's chops can fit real nicely in today's contemporary jazz world... and a guitarist coming from that era myself, the looking back and listening back, is fantastic! Lots to discover...

[@jeboccuzzi10]

😳

[@RobertGoslin]

You should listen to Lee Ritenour's - WES Bound. Great album with some Wes covers and some LR originals, but with that Wes Montgomery sound. Stunning album.

[@MADHIKER777]

Wes Montgomery was my introduction to a life long love of jazz. I was in college then in 1970. Thank you Wes!

[@brettgarsed]

So much love for this man and his music. Every word he says is worth hearing. As a rock and pop, non-jazz musician myself, I was able to gain so much influence and great ideas from him. Musicians of every style and genre should listen and try to learn from the giants like Pat. It's a wealth of knowledge.

[@jjk8417]

Amen. His Beato interview is such a treasure.

[@timavery7984]

Remembering Lyle Mays …my wife and I ( then girlfriend ) were at NTSU when Lyle was there …touch with greatness. Such an incredible talent. Didn’t know him personally but saw him play many times. Just astounding. Anyway -of course , the amazing music he did with Metheny & band.

[@chrisstaples7450]

Nobody is more articulate about music than Pat Metheny. Always a pleasure to hear him speak, and even more of a pleasure to hear him play.

[@JukeboxerWes]

We agree. We really appreciated how much time he shared with us--and his insight into his hero.

[@tonywallens217]

To me that’s the best thing about Wes too. His solos are among the most coherent and well constructed solos I’ve ever heard.

[@ChromaticHarp]

Right! Wes’s improvised solos are so well put together, they sound composed. Pat Metheny called Smokin’ at the Half Note the greatest live jazz guitar record ever. Joe Sartriani called Wes’s playing ‘perfect’ and agree with both of them…

[@tonywallens217]

@@ChromaticHarp Yeah, literally can't think of a more complete guitarist in jazz, maybe in all improvised genres.

[@sitarnut]

My Brother and I grew up on Wes. The day we bought "Incredible Jazz Guitar" took it home, put it on the old Magnavox phonograph..well, that was it...hooked for life... no one could play those notes he found on the neck.. it was all him... like turning a faucet full on... it just poured out of him. We saw him at the McFarlen Auditorium in Dallas. He played OGD... pure bliss.

[@ChromaticHarp]

@@tonywallens217 That is so true. Another cat, virtuoso jazz pianist Michael Petrucciani (my spelling) said in an interview with Ben Sidran that he learned to play Jazz by transcribing Wes! And he is a Phenomenal pianist!

[@ChromaticHarp]

@@sitarnut the same thing happened to me when my mom brought home ‘Tequila’ …I payed it over and over…it still blows me away!

[@davidfleuchaus]

Pat left out part of his story. The older Kansas City cats he played with told him it was disrespectful to replicate another player’s thing and if you really want to honor and respect them then you develop your own voice and approach.

[@jmgcg]

Yup, but I read somewhere he mentioned that

[@IRACEMABABU]

The important thing is that he understood the idea and started to play accordingly. At that age ideas come from everywhere and you absorb them or not. Kuddo to him to have been able to encounter wise people at a so young age, that tells a lot about him.

[@muneebkh4n]

Pat has the same attitude towards Keith Jarrett

[@shovelhead56]

What an enjoyable conversation! Was intriduced to Wes Montgomery in a 7th grade music class back in 1970. Not a musician but have just enjoyed listening to Wes Montgomery since tgat time🤙

[@floydthompson8668]

As a music & musicianship lover, thanks for posting this interview! I love Lyle Mayes, Pat Matheny, WES MONTGOMERY, Weather Report, Spyro Gyra, Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham, and countless others!!!

[@genec8393]

Wes been my favorite since early 60's and was fortunate to hear him live just before he passed.

[@dunbarf2413]

That was great! Thanks Further Wes Bound! I also learned the name of another great jazz musician through this interview James Williams! Will be checking him out too!

[@cynthiastory8603]

I'm fan of Wes Montgomery too. I play Keyboard. I listen to other Jazz pianist, but listening to Jazz guitar helps. Thanks 😊 From Kingsville, Ohio 🎉 😀 ❤

[@musicalSFCat]

This was such an insightful interview of jazz legend, Pat Metheny. There were things shared, never realized about his music career. Had experienced one of his concerts in the mid '80s, at the Berkeley Community Theater. Amazing concert. Lyle Mays was so outstanding as well. Couldn't not stop watching his hands, gracefully playing the grand piano that day. Thank you for sharing.

[@devindoherty184]

8:32 this is one of the best explanations of not only wes but the concept of improvising in general. yeah pat!!

[@mapbyblues5919]

Such a great and wholesome musician with so much respect to his influences. No doubt that Wes and Pat are the amongst the most influential guitarists.

[@JukeboxerWes]

Thanks for watching. Please check out our other videos. And there are more to come.

[@Genghis56]

Pat Metheny Group, Offramp album opened a new world for me. Then one great album after another followed . 😊 RIP Lyle Mays.

[@michaelbutler2312]

pat really nails wes and his abilities.

[@rifosi]

Really nice chat. Wes playing is impressive, really. Also impressive for me is how good Pat communicate his ideas, both playing and speaking. He speaks as good as he plays: beautifully, concise, in-detail and overall at the same time. I miss the time we had genuine leaders in the world. For me, Pat is one of the few that remained. He pushes music forward and lead the way.

[@taildragger53]

I don't think anyone can explain this better. Thank you Pat.

[@NoAntidoteMusic]

Thank you for that great video ! I had that guitar next to Pat in my hands when i was in a guitar repairshop in staten island in 1995. George Benson was the owner at that time. The guitar was total scrap and broken and unplayable at that time. You can see it on the cover of Movin' Wes.

[@hamiltonburger4574]

I just happened to run across this algorithm generated channel and very much enjoyed it. Pat and Wes are two of my all time favorites. Just subscribed! Thank you, Scott

[@JukeboxerWes]

Glad to have you as a subscriber. Thanks for watching.

[@tylon2999]

That Half Note set is my favorite by album by Wes.

[@robertalbiston7822]

Bumpin' came out the year before Goin' Out of My Head and was my first late college dorm night deep dive into Wes with my B-3 mate, Tom Bates. I still have both on vinyl saved all these years. Other than Bates, Metheny is the only one I know whose love of Wes' spirit is born of understanding his creative mind; or is it the other way around?

[@ImarLewis]

Wes has influenced and inspired so many musicians and my life was never the same after I heard Wes. He was always melodic, soulful and creative with every single note.

[@redtailpilot]

I really appreciate this interview. I grew up in the 70's with my dad having a reel-to-reel tape recorder and he played Wes Montgomery daily. It was almost as if no other musician existed in our household, lol. My siblings and I even thought Wes was our uncle, due to his resemblance to our dad. I obsorbed Wes's music into my soul and became as much a fan as dad, the older I got. Several years later, I heard Pat and fell in love with his sound and style, yet it hadn't occured to me why. I just loved it. Then one day I heard him talking about the time he met Wes as a young teen and how nice he was and the profound inpact that had on him as a kid.... then it all started to click! Wes, Miles and Pat are some of my favorite musicians of all time (there are several other Jazz artist that I love as well). I really wish that I could have seen Wes and Miles perform live, however, I have seen Pat over a dozen times in NY, NJ and CT and will be there with him in Red Bank in a few weeks! I had the pleasure of shaking his hand and getting his autograph at J&R Music World in Manhattan, back in either 2000 or 2001. A day that I will cherish forever! 😊

[@brianmi40]

Similar admiration for those three. I tried to listen to some Miles years ago and while being into jazz, George Benson, Pat and guys like Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton, somehow Miles was too out there in what I heard. However, years later, Miles wound up touring with Spyro Gyra and I got to see them in Orlando. Wow, somehow Miles was either a bit different by then, or the tunes they played brought out something different, but I totally got and was blown away by how he played in and out. He would bend his notes to his will to create such unbelievable harmonies woven into each tune. I had seen Spyro Gyra a couple times before and could actually see the great Jay Beckenstein straining his brain on stage trying to totally be in the moment with Miles, enhance and work with his melodic approach in each tune. Phenomenal. I could live that hour plus many times over again!

[@redtailpilot]

@@brianmi40 Interesting that you mentioned that about Miles, because I wasn't into him in my youth either. It wasn't until at least a decade ago that I started listening to him and then it hit! The first time I was introduced to Bitches Brew, I just wasn't feeling it (as the young folks say) lol. Miles had to grow on me OR I had to grow into someone who came to love and appreciate him! 😀

[@dgriffi8959]

What a great video! Metheny expresses his thoughts so well and Robert Montgomery does a wonderful job of letting Pat's recollections flow out uninterrupted. When I'm looking through posts in music forums and people are using the highest superlatives to describe a famous guitarist or one of their classic solos, as if it were the pinnacle of the musical experience I always wince. I was born in '55 and enjoyed most of these guitarists immensely, and had many nights at the Fillmore East where I also felt I was in the presence of greatness of its own sort. But, and as much as I hate to get into comparisons but just as a point, to me Wes Montgomery was a level of greatness beyond that. As if the notes are coming from somewhere else, higher. I lost all my vinyls in my many moves and never built up a CD collection of what I lost, and then didn't download them as music began taking a different place. But when the In Paris recordings came out a few years ago I hit that button immediately and was riveted and filled with the kind of joy and wonder at a level that not much music hits me. I listen to it regularly and the sense never lessens. Thank you for these videos about WM!!!!

[@jean-lucbersou758]

" As if the notes are coming from somewhere else , higher . " So accurate and mysterious ! thanks .

[@d.l.glover2448]

Back in the early to mid 1960's while producing my Rock bands...we all had them then...I would sometimes come across a guitar player who stood out as a competent musician...what I would say to them is that I was inviting them over to my pad because I was going to play something that would change their professional lives. I was always into jazz and guitarists in particular. Wes was an artist I played most often ...bought every recording he put out. I would sit these guitar players down in my music room and put on a disc....and one of my early faves was to play them "A Day in The Life" by Wes. It would just blow them all away...and like I said Wes Montgomery became their artistic inspiration to the language of music. Some of those players went on to long careers as players and its fun to read their interviews and they will all cite Wes as one of their early influences.

[@josemolina959]

Never cared much for Pat Metheny’s playing or musical philosophy until today. He is totally spot on! Like Pat, I am an ardent follower of Wes Montgomery since January of 1968 when I came to the USA. and bought: Down Here On The Ground, and A Day In The Life, to me, there is no sound like his guitar sound, nothing in this world comes close to that! And recently about three months ago, I saw Pat Metheny and his fabulous Trio in San Diego, an amazing concert it was! And in my humble opinion, Pat Metheny has achieved what he saw and detected from Wes Montgomery, his own individuality. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🎼🎶🎵🎸🎵🎶🎼

[@JamesMorgan_LifeandText]

The part about Wes’s ‘storytelling’ ability is striking (7:57). Tat is what resonates with people on different levels!

[@chrispilling7776]

Wow! Love this!!! Big THANK YOU to the people making this documentary happen, hope you bring us a lot more. I've been a massive fan of and listening to Wes and Pat since the early 80s and to me there is a huge continuation effect going on through them. I bet they'd have been the best of friends if the unfortunate hadn't happened.

[@lonniehillyer2529]

And in short, I've always said and still say to people is, one of the main reasons I really dig Metheny's phrasing and compositions more than anything else is..what he plays is (or seems) so rudimentary, fundamental as well as lyrical, it will make one think that it's easier than it is and what makes it more complex is when you think you have figured it out, but not really. And as with Wes' playing but in a different way, Dexter Gordon's approach also fools one into thinking that what he's playing is "easy" until you try to play and implement his lines and phrases, although Gordon's playing was rooted in the early Bebop development period in which he played with Billy Eckstine's big band with Bird, Dizzy, Fats Navarro and other talented younger musicians and vocalists of that era.

[@anonaki-mt6xb]

I met Pat at a show after his performance and I will always remember his very warm handshake and genuine presence. Not just a truly extraordinary musician, Pat is a truly wonderful man.

[@roberthelme8000]

Wes is the GOAT and my favorite musician of all time. If I could take only one musician’s recordings with me to a desert island it would be his. This probably the best interview I’ve seen so far with Pat and yeah, Pat’s brother Mike is fantastic on trumpet and flugelhorn. Thank you so much for these videos!

[@rickberry4477]

Burrell. Get real

[@wehaveasituation]

Pat's got a whole thing going on...

[@MattLeGroulx]

Love these! Keep 'em coming!

[@cocochanelou1652]

Great interview. Great explanation about Wes music.

[@HumptyDumpty-os7ie]

Humble fella Great composer

[@craigpurdie3528]

I got deeply interested in Wes in high school...Started out with Bumpin' and Tequila. The incite that Pat laid out here, gives me a whole new perspective on Wes, as a Musician! Very few cats can still get me to tear up from his heart-felt changes as he does. ❤ Even though I've listened to his stuff hundreds of times.

[@MM-rr1kp]

did you mean insight? incite is what the FBI plants in the crowd did on Jan 6 to pin on Trump. Ray Epps and crew

[@ChromaticHarp]

The solo on Tequila Is a masterpiece!

[@kevinmanns7170]

Don't you mean Pat's insight ? What exactly is he inciting ?? Just asking !!

[@craigpurdie3528]

@@kevinmanns7170 My bad for the spelling f/u😁

[@toniwilson1113]

The Interview Was Great! Thanks Pat Matheny For Your Insight. When I Was A Kid, My Mom, Aunt & Older Cousins Would Go Down On Indiana Avenue To Hear Mr. Montgomery Play, When He Was Home In Indianapolis. It Was Clear To Me We Had A Legend Living Amongst Us, Believe Me, They Loved His Music & Talked About How Great He Was! My Family Are Jazz Lovers, I Grew Up On It. I Appreciate His Music Now & His Style of Playing, Since I've Gotten Older. Phennomenal Stuff!! I Know Robert Montgomery & Family Are Proud!

[@khalidnetmsncom]

I could listen to Pat's enlightening story/analysis for hours. Thank you & good fortune with your channel.

[@caprise-music6722]

Haha exactly the video I was looking for. I didn’t know it existed, but here we are. Awesome!

[@seanemmettfullerton]

Wow... thanks for this! As musicians (and listeners), many of us are eager to take a musical journey somewhere, an excursion or flight that stimulates our curiosity with surprises and breathtaking adventure :)

[@tjm9565]

Pat's amazing. His WIG is even more so!

[@MikeJamesMedia]

In short... I couldn't agree more. My parents were jazz musicians in the 50s and 60s, and I started playing drums in 1964, especially interested in jazz . My parents' music collection included most of the people that Pat mentioned, and in that of course involved Wes. My parents' guitarists wanted to sound like Wes, (and others too, of course) and I loved playing along with those records. (which often included Grady Tate on drums) Wes certainly had an individual sound, an individual concept, and brilliant ideas. We all miss him! ❤

[@beetlegin]

....... and he looks amazing for 70.

[@jorymil]

This is amazing! I'm imagining a 13-year-old Pat Metheny getting that issue of Down Beat in the mail, seeing his name there, and his parents being over the moon. In pre-internet days, that sort of thing happened: magazines came once a month, and that's how you found out about things. I imagine the "how are we getting Pat to Illinois" conversation came up!

[@jackwilloughby239]

When I was 11 and started playing guitar all I had was "the Monkees" songbook, but I learned "I'm not your Stepping Stone". I didn't hear Wes until I was 20 or so. Learned "Road Song", started playing those Octaves with my thumb. It took me a long time to "hear" Wes. It was all so Mysterious and Minor. That being said, I can relate to everything Pat says. Wes is probably the most coherent Improvisor I've ever heard, or am capable of "hearing", so I think of him as Great. I don't really know of anyone Greater. but I got to play some of Pat's music while in college after a stint in the Navy. Charts of "First Circle", "Have you Heard". Pat's pretty damn great too.

[@AndyNyle]

that’s how ritchie blackmore plays. great story telling with his solos even though they were fast in those days

[@ledaswan5990]

I love Ritchie. You’re absolutely right,he tells stories.

[@AndyNyle]

@@ledaswan5990 One way to tell, if you take a single note out of the solos the whole thing loses its structure. His phrasing is just perfect.

[@B1970T]

Awesome interview.Thanks!

[@jasphonk]

just brilliant - thanks very much

[@timbruer7318]

This is great, and I love how articulate Pat is about the subject.

[@brianhanson9367]

Contest story was fabulous …..smile

[@jorymil]

Pat's also right about storytelling: what you're really trying to do is play a melody that people can follow like that. When I listen to stuff like "Road Song" or "Last Train Home," it's like I'm sitting indian-style listening to a teacher reading to me, or like my father telling me improvised bedtime stories. It's love.

[@MichaelBerlin]

Great Interview, thank you very much!

[@vp3970]

Love Wes. 75 old here

[@jeffdawson2786]

It’s important to remember that young aspiring musicians in those days hadn’t any context as we do now. They didn’t have anything but liner notes on the records.

[@teelurizzo8542]

Pat is the man.

[@gitarrdanne]

Just amazing!

[@lessismore4470]

Brilliant. Greetings from Poland.

[@jaywalker8309]

PAT METHENY SYNTHESIZER GUITAR PLAYER

[@jaaklucas1329]

Brilliant musician here!

[@alexa-kimstone3656]

I think he likes Wes

[@JukeboxerWes]

Just a little. ;-)

[@bluexborn]

thanks

[@yurib7067]

Wes’s kid sounds just like Wes. Especially the laughs.

[@pederlong1784]

A great lesson

[@KoxxMobilhome]

So much wisdom.

[@chapero1]

That was so interesting.

[@mattobenvenuto]

Sempre un piacere ascoltare Pat.

[@furyofbongos]

Will I ever be able to purchase or pay to stream "Wes Bound?"

[@paulrodberg]

Fantastic

[@valeriemanners7796]

I was lucky to study here in Baltimore with Walt Namuth who was guitarist on the Buddy Rich band for a few years. He introduced me to Wes Montgomery's recordings. Listen to Walt's backing on Buddy's rendition of Being Green.

[@BoyWonder12]

🎉🎉🎉 wow keep it coming

[@mygicshow]

Great stuff

[@uhlijohn]

But Pat made his guitar SOUND like a trumpet! Example? "Are You Coming With Me" on the Off Ramp album! A friend of mine who heard it for the first time thought it WAS a trumpet but I told him it was Pat using some kind of a synthisizer that made his guitar sound like a trumpet.

[@David-cf2iq]

The first Wes tune that 'hit' me was The Sandpiper....

[@3rdandlong]

So bummed that Pat lost his "second brain" Lyle several years ago. I remember the joy of seeing Pat live for the first time back in the 80's-I believe 86 in Portland, and was hooked on his music ever since. Saw him him 3-4 more times later. I call him the "Guitar God". Because I think he is.

[@MarioGarde1965]

🎵🎸🌎🗽4:09 …to me it’s just MUSIC🎶👉🏻👉🏾Blues, Rock, Jazz or Avant~Garde: it’s MUSICA🎵😃🗽

[@paddyodriscoll8648]

For the past few years I’ve taken up playing with my thumb for the most part. Yesterday I was making soup from scratch and decided to use a mandoline to cut veggies. Needless to say, I can’t play my Wes licks now.

[@Decop4rk]

I clicked on the thumbnail cos I thought it was Dean Norris with a wig on

[@burtmantooth8913]

The son sounds exactly like Wes lol

[@humanbeing5300]

So funny to see people criticizing another mans hairstyle. Who gives a f, cut your hair however the f you want

[@XXjg_]

I can’t add anything new to what’s been said about Pat Matheny‘s incredible playing, so I’ll just say: what a damned incredible head of hair (though colored, obviously) for someone his age.

[@ScottStentenFilms]

Excelent!!!!!!

[@Mojokiss]

exactly

[@NeilRaouf]

😮❤

[@befromnova7144]

I didn't know Pat Metheny knew Wes Montgomery.

[@t.echieecho3480]

Damn yeaah

[@nthroop1]

Is it just me or does Metheny resemble a young Hank from BB

[@TaniaMazoni-tg3mi]

🌳🌹🌺🌻🌞🌄🎸🎼👏👏👏👏

[@andremoreira2674]

fine

[@fabiosky4368]

Pat Meth was a a big fan of Wes . and Lee rRtenour too. but pat meth never sounded like wes and to day too he doesnt play octaves so often, he is another kind of guitarist more modern more jim hall oriented, -Rit sounded like wes.he was wes! and played a high degree of octaves in all his records, ciao from Italy

[@joekniffin9184]

If only Wes and Coltrane lived as healthy as Pat . Man he's 8-10 years older than me and looks great. He is kinda the voice of jazz now

[@love.JESUS.2day]

How old is Pat?

[@joekniffin9184]

@@love.JESUS.2day Looks like he just turned 69. Seems like a clean living guy . Living legend

[@Tessasdadd0]

Wes is considered one of the forefathers of smooth jazz with his late entries in the jazz lexicon of music. It's ironic that Metheny, who has assailed smooth jazz artist, embraces Wes but ignore Wes's influence on smooth jazz. And it's ironic considering that for most jazz purist, Metheny's is a pop jazz/fusion/smooth jazz artist and not remotely legit straight ahead jazz. Now, I find some of Metheny's early recording to be some of the best guitar albums ever made, but I take issue with him putting down other musicians. Just don't do it. Unless you're George Benson, who only ever has good things to say about other artists, jazz musicians should learn to keep their mouths shut.

[@Johnnynbk]

Genius...wig

[@fernandesfernandes5997]

Pat , please , haircut one time in this life ! Rsrs Is not natural this hais..great musician !