The Guitarist Listens to His Own Questions
Metheny builds these songs like conversations where nobody's quite sure who's talking.
From This Place sits comfortably in Metheny's middle period—not revolutionary, but comfortable in ways that matter. By this point in his career, he'd already proven he could play anything, collaborate with anyone, and still sound unmistakably like himself. This record feels like the work of someone who's stopped trying to prove anything and just wants to make music that breathes. The songs are patient. There's space in them. Metheny's guitar doesn't dominate so much as lead the listener through rooms you didn't know existed, and the band follows without rushing.
What makes this different from his other work is the restraint. There's no showing off, no fusion excess, no genre-hopping for its own sake. The arrangements are clean and purposeful—you hear what each musician is doing because Metheny isn't drowning them out with chords. The interplay between guitar and piano (when both are present) feels genuinely conversational rather than competitive. The rhythm section sits in the pocket and stays there. It's the kind of album you don't necessarily want to play at a dinner party because it demands attention, but it rewards that attention completely.
This isn't the record to start with if you're new to Metheny—try Bright Size Life (1976) or 80/81 (1980) first. But if you've been with him for a while and wonder what he sounds like when he's not trying to reinvent jazz, this answers the question directly. It's mature without being stodgy, accessible without being compromised. That's harder to pull off than it sounds.
Who's playing
Nico Abondolodouble bass
Steve Dressdouble bass
Linda May Han Ohbass
Gwilym Simcockpiano
Pat Methenyguitar
Steve Holtmantrombone
Alex Ilestrombone
Bill Reichenbach, Jr.trombone
Heather Clarkflute
Steve Kujalaflute
Jenni Olsonflute
Antonio Sánchezdrums
Luis Contepercussion
Eun Mee Ahnviolin
Charlie Bisharatviolin
Jacqueline Brandviolin
Jacob Brauncello
Laura BrenesFrench horn
Robert Brophyviola
Eric Byerscello
Stuart Clarkclarinet
Meredith Crawfordviola
Alma Fernandezviola
Vanessa Freebairn‐Smithcello
Lorenz Gammaviolin
Julie Giganteviolin
Jessica Guideriviolin
Trevor Handycello
Dylan HartFrench horn
Tamara Hatwanviolin
Amy Hershbergerviolin
Dan Higginsclarinet
Benjamin Jacobsonviolin
Maia Jasperviolin
Songa Lee‐Kittoviolin
Natalie Leggettviolin
Phillip Levyviolin
Dane Littlecello
Shawn Mannviola
Grégoire Maretharmonica
Darrin McCannviola
Serena McKinneyviolin
Helen Nightengaleviolin
Sara Parkinsviolin
Cassandra Lynne Richburgviola
Andrew Shulmancello
Tereza Stanislavviolin
Sarah Thornbladeviolin
Cécilia Tsancello
Diana Wadeviola
David Waltherviola
Roger Wilkieviolin
Where next?
More by Pat Metheny
All 26 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
