Pat Metheny - Letter From Home - Today Show on NBC

This is one my favorite Metheny songs. It's such a mixture of melancholy and beauty and never fails to put a smile on my face. This performance was taped on Aug. 24, 1989 on the Today Show on NBC with Bryant Gumble doing the interview and introduction.

[@embrown23]

Pat: "Let me get out my tiny guitar and play a song for you" All of us: CAN'T STOP CRYING

[@BryanBlock]

RIP, Lyle Mays. You were incredible and you will be missed and remembered.

[@silversurfer647]

Oh shoot. I didn't know he passed away. When did he ? I'm so sorry.

[@markwiechman8513]

I love this tune so much and I wish they had made a few more records together.

[@davidgeary490]

Lyle Mays - a great composer and keyboardist! Thank you for your inspired work! RIP.

[@doctorgarbonzo2525]

Greatest Duet since Davis & Coltrane, Lyle you & your Music are Sorely missed........... .......... ......

[@Splucked]

Met my late husband at the office and he got me into jazz. The highlight of our drive home was a local DJ who signed off with 'Letter from Home' every night. Looked forward to it. Always made the miserable rush hour traffic less miserable. We adored that song. I still do but now it's bittersweet. 😢

[@morrisonAV]

Thank you for sharing that wonderful memory. My ex-wife hated Metheny so I was on my own.

[@billvill61]

@morrisonAV Hahaha! I laugh because when I first met my wife some 34 years ago, we were going on a drive of about an hour and a half, I put on Metheny and after about 5 mins, she wanted to know where the words were. She didn't get him at all. She's slowly warmed up to him over the years. ...and by 'warmed up', I mean she'll tolerate him for a few songs.

[@jotape6748]

As an argentinian I still can't believe Pedro Aznar was part of that band. I mean, i do, because Pedro it's always amazing and still do but its incredible to hear Pat talking about him as part of the interpretation of his music. God Bless you Pat and Lyle y Dios te bendiga Pedro

[@doctorgarbonzo2525]

The Aznar years! Pedro's harmonizing & instrumental voice still ever so shining through

[@chrisbjork1093]

Why does Gumble ask questions if he doesn't want to listen to the answers? Metheny is pure class.

[@beatricejust7549]

I agree!! Pat handled himself so well!! I think Gumbel was rude!!

[@silversurfer647]

And by the time Pat answers the question, he already has another question. Thats one stupid dude. Like the rest of the Media. Relax and let someone answer entirely instead of being on some stupid ⏰ clock.

[@ericsearcy8939]

I was thinking the exact same thing!

[@pjost6643]

I’ve seen a skit of someone imitating him can’t recall but he keeps asking why? Why? Why? 🤣

[@BarbItalia]

I agree - it's like his first day on the job, wth.

[@Archer335]

Metheny & Mays - what a team: so brilliant. Letter From Home & Still Life (talking) - two of the greatest albums ever, in any genre. Street Dreams and Lyle Mays - two more brilliant albums. R.I.P. Mr. Mays. Thank you so much for contributing so brilliantly and positively to world culture. You will be missed.

[@silversurfer647]

Wow. I didn't know that Lyle passed away.

[@Doty6String]

imagine this on tv today....never happen. gorgeous

[@princessproncybonkly]

Pat Metheny is the first artist my dad ever showed me. I carry this song and this album in my heart always. Simply beautiful

[@wayofthinkin]

PMG . The most amazing instrumental group of all time.

[@JorgeOreMusic]

There's just something about Pat Metheny's pieces that sound so unique. His pieces are beautiful and haunting at the same time...it brings feelings of melacholy and nostalgia with a touch of happiness...

[@lastdaysguitar]

A big part of that sound (especially in this era) was the keyboard textures of the late great Lyle Mays. They absolutely were huge compositional influences on each other.

[@JorgeOreMusic]

@@lastdaysguitar Yes, Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny were worked so well together...🎶🎸🎹

[@sambochen2010]

Such a masterpiece!! RIP Lyle Mays. 🙏🙌

[@BrianBaggett]

And now I'm going to play a little guitar for you.

[@emilsabatini4038]

This piece of music is absolutely phenomenal amazing . None can do it better than Pat Metheny Group!

[@photopicker]

fantastic tune ... there is a lyrical haunting quality to this sound ... the harmonic choices are really interesting

[@mapexmac]

Quite possibly one of the most perfect pieces of music - of all genres of all time. Pure emotional, musical art.

[@tedhoeborn2310]

I've really appreciated these guys for over 30 years. They seem to be nice people. Metheny is great, Mays beyond compare. Both from the Midwest.

[@ruebenaguilera771]

And two of the finest people. American Treasures.

[@Enigma758]

Sadly, most people wouldn't recognize music this brilliant if it jumped up and bit them on the face.

[@SuperGuitarman69]

i was asked in an interview here in nashville 2 weeks ago, if i was stuck on a desert island and could only have one record to play what would it be? I had never even givin it any thought really. and this particular song came to mind and i said letter from home by pat metheny. They thought i'd give a typical nashville response of something I had played on or my own thing. Loved the reaction I got from other players in the room that applauded. Pat is my favorite composers!!!

[@afterpodcast]

Of all the AMAZING Pat Metheny albums...I consider "Letter from Home" his masterpiece!

[@rhythmfield]

This music is so evocative - seeing it live was an experience - they’d shift gears from wild free jazz and then bring it down to achingly soft heartfelt sounds of tears and spirits of ancient Europe and Africa / Brazil … nothing quite like the PMG touring bands before or since. Long live Pat Metheny.

[@smonkey957]

This is by far my favorite composition by Pat. I never seen it played live... Tears...That's all I got Beautiful..

[@biffburley1]

smonkey957 I finally saw him last fall after many, many tries, so keep trying! He keeps on touring!

[@johngarbarzyk5549]

I actually saw them play this song for the first time ever at a small show at the beginning of the Travels tour in 1983. It was still untitled and would be 5 years before they recorded it but I can still remember thinking what a beautiful tune it was when I first heard it.

[@smitty195]

I know this has been on KZbin for over a year, but I just found it. Man this is awesome. PMG in the 80's and 90's were absolutely fantastic! I've seen them a half-dozen times in different venues, and I get frickin' goose bumps when they play!!!

[@sseltrek1a2b]

absolutely transcendent...never seen a live version of this...

[@Elixear]

Very few others with his tiny Ibanez on the Internet. ;)

[@gcbranco]

Nobel Prize for Pat and the band

[@terit9045]

Metheny & Mays greatest duet since Davis & Coltrane, Old man in Socal listening to these sweet memories of yesteryear, Wish I had it all again

[@lastdaysguitar]

Agreed!

[@AECSRQ]

Great song, great musicians, lousy interviewer. Thank you Pat, Lyle, guys, for so much great music. You made part of the soundtrack of my life.

[@shakeAbooty88]

The guitar is an Ibanez mini PM20.

[@gervasi05]

Nostalgia

[@fhbob87]

"you know we could really call this tune my dog Gumble"

[@marksoria6487]

Tears to my eyes . . .

[@crescentsi]

Incredible, dense, psychical drama here, full of memories and nostalgia.

[@charlesdickey1002]

PM has always been a relentless promoter and touring artist. Especially back when this appearance was taped, he had to be. Virtually no radio stations played PMG music with the occasional exception of college stations. Note that Lyle Mays was perfectly happy to sit in the shadows and let PM bask in the limelight. I wish Metheny had mentioned that Mays was his equal and that crafted virtually every PMG tune together and that Mays was instrumental in shaping the PMG sound. Now that we have lost Lyle Mays I become more aware of his prodigious contribution to the music, the sound and the success of the PMG. They have been the soundtrack of my adult life and as an architect I was always and still am inspired and challenged to make art as beautiful as theirs. How fortunate are we to be on this earth at the same time as these two men, who have redefined jazz / contemporary music for over 50 years and introduced this truly American art form to a generation of young listeners and the world at large. I’ll be attending my 35th PMG / Lyle Mays concert soon for the Dream Box Tour. My first as a University of Florida student in 1978 when PM played solo in his bare feet. I was hooked.

[@morrisonAV]

Excellent post and thank you for your thoughts and memories. I was so happy when I recorded Pat that morning on the Today show. Sounds like we both discovered him around the same time. I've seen him at nearly every concert appearance he made here in the Tampa Bay area and he never failed to please. RIP Lyle.

[@gohuskies583]

What a great song!

[@annettescroggins3905]

Beautiful...love their music...complex sometimes

[@kevinmoney8951]

Greatest song I ever heard

[@fredfungalspore]

Pat and Jeff beck are my favourite guitar players they can become one with there music not many can achieve this in life

[@mauricioazevedosounddesigner]

It’s a little Master Piece!!! I love this music!!!!

[@TheMichaelseymour]

i hammered on my pull offs today.

[@TBlake34]

Gumbel's first question was so aggressive. He reacted like Metheny explained that he used child slaves to set up his equipment, "YOU DON'T LIKE NAMING THINGS!?!?!?!" That affected journalist persona is always good for a chuckle.

[@doctorgarbonzo2525]

This Incredible Album from the Band, It always makes my drink go down that much smoother,

[@mikesheridan4071]

GENIUS !!

[@lorij3738]

Simply LOVE Pat Metheny (PMG)! RIP Lyle Mays. Beautiful.

[@tiffanydouglas2686]

This is one of my favorite songs on this CD. I loved it!

[@alejandramarquez235]

This sounds so simple but at the same, it feels out of this world. Pure talent and magical. Would love to have seen the whole band play. Thanks a million for this

[@dawnthomas5299]

Pat ..i an english woman living in UK ..your music reached me and y friends ..keep ity up

[@DenissPashkevich]

great mood fantastic music! Thank You Pat.

[@BurnsRubber]

Many critics here, but I think Bryant Gumbel is great here. Can tell, he’s really into the music. Interesting questions, for a new, but interested audience.

[@pinkorpurple432]

0:52 "Hm, since you have so much trouble titling your songs, I guess you don't want to title your music." True class.

[@nonewmccarthyism]

Both guys seem to make points here. However, like most anything Pat does, I suspect he does it with full, unfettered commitment - and naming his songs is NO exception. I love his lyrical titles. They fit perfectly most of the time, and for me, they not only add dimension, but actually gently nudge me into certain thought processes. Pat may be an instrumental musician, but he is a very lyrical guy - he's also a very quotable guy , time and time again I've seen it happen. I love him for this, too.

[@Moreoff]

This was a sonically and technically perfect take on that song. Wow! Great find and thanks!

[@BarbItalia]

Perfection.

[@OccurInNature]

Wow. One of my faves from Pat. I just realized that this *must* have been an influence the Song "Sunshine" from my new album. (even though I have not heard it in many years) Thanks Pat!

[@eeandersen]

Skip over the interview (to 3:15), it adds nothing to the music. The music brings tears to my eyes; it touches me deeply.

[@DougSouthernOregon]

@AmorSabor88 So true about Lyle Mays. I've listened to The Pat Metheny Group for 25+ years and they never cease to amaze me. If I had to pick one favorite, I think it would be The Way Up (Live in Seoul). Varied time signatures - three different guitars, incredible synchronization. Bryant must be one of those straight ahead jazz fans. Nothing wrong with that. But Pat's music is far more complex. It's like comparing basic math to calculus.

[@zgress]

Thank You! Great video!

[@bakersupreme2010]

Minus Bryant Gumble, it would have been!

[@MaxFrankl]

Fantastic Video- I really enjoyed watching! Best wishes, Max

[@costafepkr9003]

gracias! :)

[@johnwest360]

Pat Metheny Brains of the Jazz Music... Cool relaxing music

[@biffburley1]

My dog spot! How freaking hilarious!

[@Centigonos]

Very wise words!

[@MaggotBrain123]

This is too good...

[@laypyu]

Beautiful...... :o

[@brandonj70]

yea i dig this clip. rare jem

[@ShotoJamf]

Thanks for sharing. And yeah, Gumbel could have stopped running his mouth a long time before he did.

[@SynclavierMPDR]

home sweet home.. that the message, think about all your family

[@ECexperimentales]

mi album favorito en este planeta llamado guitarras

[@FPS1200]

Goodbye Lyle. And thanks friend.

[@ulfthegoon]

Gumble is trying to make structure out of the abstract...Metheny's witty comebacks put Gumble in his place. Metheny outwits the interviewer in this one.

[@barnysan]

lo resumiré :) el tipo le pregunta (dentro de su ignorancia por el jazz) : por qué el disco letter from home tiene referencias a brasil. Pat le explica que al ser países multiculturales y multirraciales la expresión artística es mayor. desafortunadamente en la banda hoy no están ( el argentino y el brasileño) y así mismo habla de Aznar. que puede usar su voz como otro instrumento. lo cuál lo hace único, haciendo que él disfrute la composición de los temas.

[@pretorious700]

Pat looks like a giant on that guitar.

[@winterramos4527]

That crumpling of the paper... Come'on Gumble..

[@Shivasavasana]

Coolest shirt ever!

[@mariothepookster]

Of course the PM's music is jazz. What else would it be? Rap? Rock? Country? Soul? R&B? Avant Garde Experimental? Classical? Pat Metheny grew up at a time when he could be exposed to all kinds of music. He and his musical partner, Lyle Mays, are jazz musicians.

[@frododarg]

you are correct -my lack of knowledge didnt know the name was soprano - i said minature meaning smaller from a concert i was at and saw him use thanx for the info

[@dawudabdullaah6977]

Love this song. No one has Lyle Mays' touch on the piano, which makes PMG difficult to cover. That includes the current iterations of Pat's group.

[@pinkorpurple432]

...we could call it "Zero Tolerance for Silence," and who would know the difference?

[@markbutcher4100]

Mine was frizzbeed out of the car window

[@curitre]

One of my favorite Metheny compositions. Kudos to Bryant Gumbel for asking interesting and thoughtful questions. Who are the 19 children who gave this a thumbs down?

[@danoloane]

Are you kidding? Bryant Gumbel is a gasbag out of his depth interviewing Pat. Shut up and let the real artist do what he does...

[@curitre]

@@danoloane Regardless of your personal feelings towards Gumbel, the Today Show is not a Jazz Festival. Any interviewer from that show would be out of their depth speaking with Pat. But the questions he asked were appropriate for the audience and there were some answers I hadn't heard before, so ... yeah. Kudos to Gumbel for understanding the appropriate depth given the platform.

[@lukepoolservice]

RIP Lyle Mays

[@utube9000]

Notice how LAID BACK this whole presentation is. Back then, TV show TOOK THEIR TIME and spent time talking with the artist before they played. Nowadays, TV is so RUSHED, the editing is so quick and not a moment is wasted - they cut right to commercial. Somehow, we have lost the PACE of how society should really run and as a result, we MISS SO MUCH.

[@tedhoeborn2310]

This reminds me of Tommy Emmanuel's "Angelina." There are dozens of his songs which are more dynamic, but this one is more personal.

[@roscoegarbonzo9966]

This is Deep! Not for Casual Ears....

[@hemidesign]

Brazil

[@TheSpiritOfYah]

He's my absolute favorite composer of all time BUT... of all the tracks on Letter From Home, this was not the track that I would've introduced ourselves to a national audience. j/s

[@barnysan]

pat tirándole flores a pedro aznar !! un crack mundial

[@artbychristine]

@goforkt ... when worlds collide ...

[@TheMichaelseymour]

a six string one -with a pick up {just one } with a yellow color and its semi -automatic as well -i think its electric too . sounds nice !

[@dholmes974]

Picked this up New in 89'... Had just got back from 4 yrs in Europe and 1st marriage was ending; kind of ruined this disc for me. I forgot how great the cd was; gonna re-order it today!

[@djhamm721]

Yeah right! What is he playing?? as many times as I've seen PMG in concert (7, 8x?) I have never seen him play this tiny guitar. The 42 string Pikasa is still the most awesome and enjoy that every time. And now the Today Show would NEVER feature an artist in this kind of setting much less one who is not the tops on social media and wouldn't pull a huge crowd in next the their studio. Kudos to Gumbel however you feel about him to have Pat on that show.

[@divyx]

@smitty195 PMG is only band i'd really really would travel hundreds of miles to see. Not sure if they've ever been in Finland but, perhaps it's still not too late.

[@kenhoward3512]

The camera almost completely ignores Lyle Mays' part in this. That's TV for you (as opposed to people who really know and appreciate this music from the Pat Metheny Group).

[@michaelmione]

Gumble was acting like a dick with the "why do you find it hard to give it a name bit" but Pat kept the dialog professional . Great performance.

[@SeanFenlon]

Bryant Gumble is annoying as an interviewer. Pat Metheny is a genius as a musician and composer. This Letter from Home performance is sublime.

[@billyhw]

All newcomers please skip to 3:15 right away; the first 3 minutes will just ruin your appetite for good music.

[@pinkorpurple432]

@hemidesign: I was just laughing at the pronunciation.

[@radiodj1520]

I Believe This Was A Video Clip Of NBC News' Today's Entertainment News Report On Pat Metheny On Thursday Morning, August 24, 1989.

[@detodounpoco37]

Anyone knows the name of that mini guitar? I cant believe that that over-the-top reporter didnt say nothing about that cuttie beauty. Thanks

[@ShaulKohan]

does someone knows if this "little" guitar is an absolute custom from ibanez to pat or if it's a known thing like maybe a "piccolo guitar" or something like that?

[@misterfunnybones]

Gumble should have asked Pat about why he doesn't collaborate with Kenny G.

[@deanouellette1868]

Geez, a bunch of Bryant Gumbel haters on these posts. In my opinion, he's one of the best TV interviewers ever. Listen to the questions he asked and the answers he elicited from Pat...the man did his homework.

[@shakeAbooty88]

Gumble's not a bad bloke, friendly enough and really wants to know what Pat and his band are about... he's just a bit pushy and definitely not as intolerant or impatient as those who complain about him.