Pat Metheny; Lyle Mays
As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls

ECM    821 416-2  (1981)

Jazz
CD, 5   Tracks, 43:34  Length
01 As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls Pat Metheny; Lyle Mays 20:45
02 Ozark Pat Metheny; Lyle Mays 04:03
03 September Fifteenth Pat Metheny; Lyle Mays 07:45
04 "It's For You" Pat Metheny; Lyle Mays 08:20
05 Estupenda Graca Pat Metheny; Lyle Mays 02:41
Music Details
Product Details
Packaging Jewel Case
Spars DDD
Sound Stereo
Musicians  &  Credits
Guitar Pat Metheny
Keyboards Lyle Mays
Percussion Nana Vasconcelos
Producer Manfred Eicher
Engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug
Personal Details
Index # 2169
Owner Dave
Tags Contemporary Jazz
User Defined
Purchased New
Imported from Germany
Notes
This joint solo effort by Metheny and regular pianist and collaborator Lyle Mays is an impressive outing. In the process of stretching out away from the confines of the quartet setting of prior albums, Metheny and Mays presage the sleeker and more ethereal sound of the band's Geffen years on portions of the title track. And while this side-long number has some dreamy moments, it also bogs down in a trite climax or two; one gets the sense of a jazz fusion and prog rock marriage Metheny luckily never fully explored. Minor flaws, really, since the piece holds together in spite of the worrisome lapses of taste. The balance of the album is just fine, with the highlight being the Bill Evans remembrance, "September Fifteenth" (the date of Evan's passing, which occurred while the album was being recorded). Metheny and Mays appropriately opt for a serene and slightly elegiac piano and acoustic guitar duet. The set is balanced out by the fleet Americana of "Ozark" and the streamlined swinger "It's for You." Topped off by integral and tasteful percussion by future band regular Nana Vasconcelos, this 1981 Metheny date is certainly a worthwhile disc for fans to seek out, while not being essential.