Editing Pat Metheny

{{Short description|American jazz guitarist and composer (born 1954)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| image             = Pat metheny orch2.jpg
| caption           = Metheny in 2010
| background        = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name        = Patrick Bruce Metheny
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1954|8|12}}
| birth_place       = [[Lee's Summit, Missouri|Lee's Summit]], Missouri, U.S.
| genre             = {{flatlist|
*[[Jazz]]
*[[jazz fusion]]
*[[Latin jazz]]
*[[progressive jazz]]
}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
*Musician
*composer
*producer
*professor
}}
| instruments       = Guitar
| years_active      = 1974–present
| label             = {{flatlist|
*[[ECM Records|ECM]]
*[[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
*[[Warner Bros.|Warner]]
*[[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]]
*Modern Recording|Modern Recording
}}
| associated_acts   = {{flatlist|
*[[Gary Burton]]
*[[Jaco Pastorius]]
*[[Pat Metheny Group]]
*[[Lyle Mays]]
*[[Steve Rodby]]
*[[Charlie Haden]]
*[[Antonio Sánchez (drummer)|Antonio Sánchez]]
}}
| website           = {{URL|patmetheny.com}}
}}

'''Patrick Bruce Metheny''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|θ|iː|n|i}} {{respell|mə|THEE|nee}}; born August 12, 1954) is an American [[jazz]] guitarist and composer.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Silbergleit |first=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-8fDAAAQBAJ&dq=Patrick+Bruce+Metheny&pg=PA116 |title=25 Great Jazz Guitar Solos: Transcriptions * Lessons * Bios * Photos |date=2015-11-01 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=978-1-4950-5541-6 |language=en}}</ref>

He was the leader of the [[Pat Metheny Group]] (1977–2010) and continues to work in various small-combo, duet, and solo settings, as well as other side projects. His style incorporates elements of progressive and contemporary jazz, [[latin jazz]], and [[jazz fusion]].<ref name='Yanow2010'>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p7121|pure_url=yes}} |title=Pat Metheny |access-date=2010-04-06 |last=Yanow |first=Scott |year=2010 |work=allmusic |publisher=Rovi Corporation }}</ref> He has three [[gold albums]] and 20 [[Grammy Awards]],<ref name='methany2011'>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=pat+metheny&title=&year=All&genre=All|title=Past Winners Search |publisher=GRAMMY.com |access-date=November 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/lehigh-valley-music/mc-ent-pat-metheny-musikfest-cafe-interview-20190314-story.html|title=After 40 years at the top of jazz, guitarist Pat Metheny turns 'eye' to working with others on their way up|last=Moser|first=John J.|website=mcall.com|date=March 20, 2019 |access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref> and is the only person to have won Grammys in 10 categories.

==Biography==
===Early years and education===
Metheny was born in [[Lee's Summit, Missouri|Lee's Summit]], [[Missouri]]. His father Dave played trumpet, his mother Lois sang, and his maternal grandfather Delmar was a professional trumpeter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=lois-hansen-metheny&pid=154052594|title=Lois Hansen Metheny's Obituary on Kansas City Star|website=Kansas City Star|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2019/08/21/in-advance-of-next-weeks-show-at-the-kent-stage-pat-metheny-talks-about-his-side-eye-side-project|title=In Advance of Next Week's Show at the Kent Stage, Pat Metheny Talks About His Side-Eye Side Project|last=Niesel|first=Jeff|website=Cleveland Scene|language=en|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref> Metheny's first instrument was the trumpet, which he was taught by his brother, [[Mike Metheny|Mike]]. Pat's brother, father, and grandfather played trios together at home. His parents were fans of [[Glenn Miller]] and swing music. They took Pat to concerts to hear [[Clark Terry]] and [[Doc Severinsen]], but they had little respect for guitar. Pat's interest in guitar increased around 1964 when he saw [[the Beatles]] perform on TV. For his 12th birthday, his parents allowed him to buy a guitar, which was a [[Gibson ES-140]] 3/4.<ref name="Niles">{{cite book|last1=Niles|first1=Richard|title=The Pat Metheny Interviews: The Inner Workings of His Creativity Revealed|date=2009|publisher=Hal Leonard Books|location=Milwaukee, WI |isbn=978-1-4234-7469-2|pages=4–23}}</ref>

Pat Metheny's life changed after hearing the album ''[[Four & More]]'' by [[Miles Davis]]. Soon after, he was captivated by [[Wes Montgomery]]'s album ''[[Smokin' at the Half Note]]'' which was released in 1965. He cites the Beatles, [[Miles Davis]], and Montgomery as having the biggest impact on his music.<ref name="Niles" />

When he was 15, Metheny won a scholarship from ''[[Down Beat]]'' magazine to a one-week jazz camp where he was mentored by guitarist [[Attila Zoller]], who then invited him to New York City to meet guitarist [[Jim Hall (musician)|Jim Hall]] and bassist [[Ron Carter]].<ref name="Taylor1999">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Taylor |first=B. Kimberly|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com |title=Pat Metheny 2002 |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Pat_Metheny.aspx |access-date=2010-04-04|year=1999 |publisher=HighBeam Research, Inc }}</ref>

While playing at a club in Kansas City, Metheny was approached by [[William Franklin Lee III|Bill Lee]], a dean at the [[University of Miami]], and offered a scholarship. After less than a week at college, Metheny realized that playing guitar all day during his teens had left him unprepared for classes. He admitted this to Lee, who offered him a job to teach as a professor, as the school had recently introduced electric guitar as a course of study.<ref name="Niles" />

He moved to Boston in the early 1970s to teach at the [[Berklee College of Music]] under the supervision of jazz vibraphonist [[Gary Burton]]<ref name="Taylor1999" /> and established a reputation as a prodigy. He appeared on Burton's studio recordings, from ''[[Ring (Gary Burton album)|Ring]]'' in 1974 to ''[[Passengers (Gary Burton album)|Passengers]]'' in 1977.<ref name="Chinen2010">{{cite web |last1=Chinen |first1=Nate |title=19th-Century Concept, With a Few Upgrades|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/arts/music/31metheny.html|website=The New York Times |access-date=5 April 2010|date=28 January 2010}}</ref>
{{anchor|Debut album}}

===Early albums===
[[File:Pat Metheny KJAZ.jpg|left|thumb|Metheny at [[KEXC|KJAZ]] radio, [[Alameda, California]], December 1980]]
In 1974, he appeared on an album unofficially titled ''[[Jaco (album)|Jaco]]'' with pianist [[Paul Bley]], bassist [[Jaco Pastorius]], and drummer [[Bruce Ditmas]] on Carol Goss's [[Improvising Artists]] label—but he was unaware that he was being recorded.<ref>{{cite web |title=GUITARIST INTERVIEW with Pat Metheny |url=https://www.patmetheny.com/writings/full_display.cfm?id=12 |website=pathmetheny.com |publisher=justjazzguitar.com |access-date=28 December 2023 |date=23 April 2001 |quote=I didn’t know that it was to become an album – none of us did. I showed up to this place that I thought was a rehearsal hall and it turned out to be a recording studio.}}</ref> The next year he joined Gary Burton's band with guitarist [[Mick Goodrick]].

Metheny released his debut album, ''[[Bright Size Life]]'' ([[ECM Records|ECM]], 1976), with [[Jaco Pastorius]] on bass guitar and [[Rakalam Bob Moses|Bob Moses]] on drums. His next album, ''[[Watercolors (Pat Metheny album)|Watercolors]]'' (ECM, 1977), was recorded with [[Eberhard Weber]] on bass and [[Danny Gottlieb]] on drums, and significantly marked Metheny's first outing with pianist [[Lyle Mays]], who would become his key collaborator in forming the [[Pat Metheny Group]] later that year.<ref name="Ginell">{{cite web |last1=Ginell |first1=Richard |title=Watercolors|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/watercolors-mw0000649643 |website=AllMusic|access-date=11 January 2017}}</ref> With [[Mark Egan]] on bass, the lineup was set for the group's self-titled debut album, ''[[Pat Metheny Group (album)|Pat Metheny Group]]'' (ECM, 1978).

==Pat Metheny Group==
{{Main|Pat Metheny Group}}
[[Image:Steve Rodby and Pat Metheny.jpg|thumb|right|Left to right: [[Steve Rodby]] and Metheny]]
When ''[[Pat Metheny Group (album)|Pat Metheny Group]]'' (ECM, 1978) was released, the group was a quartet comprising Metheny, [[Danny Gottlieb]] on drums, [[Mark Egan]] on bass, and [[Lyle Mays]] on piano, [[autoharp]], and synthesizer. All but Egan had played on Metheny's album ''[[Watercolors (Pat Metheny album)|Watercolors]]'' (ECM, 1977), recorded the year before.<ref name="Niles" />

The second group album, ''[[American Garage]]'' (ECM, 1979), reached number 1 on the ''Billboard'' jazz chart and crossed over onto the pop charts. From 1982 to 1985, the Pat Metheny Group released ''[[Offramp (album)|Offramp]]'' (ECM, 1982), a live album, ''[[Travels (Pat Metheny Group album)|Travels]]'' (ECM, 1983), ''[[First Circle (album)|First Circle]]'' (ECM, 1984), and ''[[The Falcon and the Snowman (album)|The Falcon and the Snowman]]'' (EMI, 1985), a soundtrack album for the movie of the same name for which they collaborated on the single "[[This Is Not America]]" with [[David Bowie]]. The song reached number 14 in the British Top 40 in 1985 and number 32 in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/01/12/david_bowie_s_blackstar_could_be_his_first_no_1_album_we_can_do_this_america.html|title=David Bowie's Blackstar Could Be His First No. 1 Album. We Can Do This, America.|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=2016-01-12|work=Slate|access-date=2017-05-14 |language=en-US|issn=1091-2339}}</ref>

''Offramp'' marked the first appearance of bassist [[Steve Rodby]] (replacing Egan) and a Brazilian guest artist, [[Nana Vasconcelos]], on percussion and wordless vocals. On ''First Circle'', Argentinian singer and multi-instrumentalist [[Pedro Aznar]] joined the group; as drummer, [[Paul Wertico]] replaced Gottlieb. Both Rodby and Wertico were members of the [[Fred Simon (musician)|Simon and Bard Group]] at the time and had played in Simon-Bard in [[Chicago]] before joining Metheny.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

''First Circle'' was Metheny's last album with [[ECM Records|ECM]]; he had been a key artist for the European record label but left following disagreements with the label's founder, [[Manfred Eicher]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Aledort |first=Andy |date=Spring 1990 |title=Pat Metheny: Straight Ahead |magazine=Guitar Extra! |pages=62 }}</ref>

''[[Still Life (Talking)]]'' ([[Geffen Records|Geffen]], 1987) featured new group members: trumpeter [[Mark Ledford]], vocalist David Blamires, and percussionist [[Armando Marçal]]. Aznar returned for vocals and guitar on ''[[Letter from Home (album)|Letter from Home]]'' (Geffen, 1989).

With Metheny working on multiple projects, it was four years before the release of the next group record, a live album titled ''[[The Road to You]]'' (Geffen, 1993). This release featured live versions of tracks from the two Geffen studio albums as well as previously unreleased tunes.

Metheny and Mays have referred to the next three Pat Metheny Group releases as a triptych:{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} ''[[We Live Here]]'' (Geffen, 1995), ''[[Quartet (Pat Metheny album)|Quartet]]'' (Geffen, 1996), and ''[[Imaginary Day]]'' ([[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros]]., 1997). Moving away from the Brazilian-inspired styles which had dominated the releases of the previous ten years, these albums included experiments with hip-hop rhythms, sequenced synthetic drums, free-form improvisation on acoustic instruments, and symphonic signatures, blues, and sonata schemes.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

With ''[[Speaking of Now]]'' (Warner Bros., 2002), new group members were added: drummer [[Antonio Sánchez (drummer)|Antonio Sánchez]] from [[Mexico City]], Vietnamese-American trumpeter [[Cuong Vu]], and bassist, vocalist, guitarist, and percussionist [[Richard Bona]] from [[Cameroon]].

On ''[[The Way Up]]'' ([[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]], 2005), harmonica player [[Gregoire Maret|Grégoire Maret]] from Switzerland was introduced as a new group member, while Bona contributed as a guest musician. The album consists of a single 68-minute-long piece—split into four sections—based on a three-note motif: the opening B, A{{music|sharp}}, F{{music|sharp}}, and its later variation F{{music|sharp}}, A, B.<ref name="ratliff">{{Cite news|last=Ratliff|first=Ben|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/25/arts/music/pat-metheny-an-idealist-reconnects-with-his-mentors.html |title=Pat Metheny: An Idealist Reconnects With His Mentors |website=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 25, 2005|access-date=August 10, 2024}}</ref>

==Solo releases==
Metheny has recorded albums under his solo artist billing regularly throughout his career. His solo acoustic guitar albums include ''[[New Chautauqua]]'' (ECM, 1979), ''[[One Quiet Night]]'' (Warner Bros., 2003), and ''[[What's It All About (Pat Metheny album)|What's It All About]]'' (Nonesuch, 2011).

Building on the work of his experimental quartets {{See below|{{section link||Side projects}}}}, Metheny further explored fringes of the avant-garde on ''[[Zero Tolerance for Silence]]'' (Geffen, 1994), a solo electric guitar outing.

For the album ''[[Orchestrion (album)|Orchestrion]]'' ([[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]], 2010) Metheny hand-crafted an array of elaborate, custom mechanical instruments which allowed him to compose and perform as a one-person orchestra. By contrast, his album ''[[Secret Story (album)|Secret Story]]'' (Geffen, 1992) uses lush orchestral arrangements usually found in movie soundtracks, such as ''The Falcon and the Snowman'' {{see above}} and his own ''[[A Map of the World (album)|A Map of the World]]'' (Warner Bros., 1999) film soundtrack.

Recent solo-billed recordings include ''[[From This Place]]'' (Nonesuch, 2020), recorded with a variety of guest artists, and the all-guitar collaboration ''[[Road to the Sun]]'' (Modern Recordings, 2021).

==Unity Band==
In 2012, Metheny formed the Unity Band with [[Antonio Sánchez (drummer)|Antonio Sánchez]] on drums, [[Ben Williams (musician)|Ben Williams]] on bass and [[Chris Potter (jazz saxophonist)|Chris Potter]] on saxophone. This quartet released the album ''[[Unity Band]]'' (Nonesuch, 2012) and toured Europe and the U.S. during the latter half of the year. In 2013, as an extension of the Unity Band project, Metheny announced the formation of the Pat Metheny Unity Group, with the addition of the Italian multi-instrumentalist [[Giulio Carmassi]].

==Side projects==
{{See also|#Collaborators}}
Outside the Group, Metheny has shown different sides of his musical personality. An early duo billing with Lyle Mays, ''[[As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls]]'' (ECM, 1981), includes Brazilian percussionist and vocalist [[Naná Vasconcelos]] for an elegant set noted for its atmospheric, long-form title track. In 1983, Metheny and Mays wrote music for the [[Steppenwolf Theater Company]]'s production of Lyle Kessler's play ''[[Orphans (Lyle Kessler play)|Orphans]]''. It has remained special optional music for productions of the play around the world since.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kessler |first=Lyle |date=1985 |title=Orphans |pages=Copyrights }}</ref>

Metheny ventured into experimental jazz with the quartet releases ''[[80/81]]'' (ECM, 1980), ''[[Song X]]'' (Geffen, 1986) with [[Ornette Coleman]], and ''The Sign of 4'' headed by [[Derek Bailey (guitarist)|Derek Bailey]] (Knitting Factory Works, 1997).

In 1997, Metheny recorded with bassist [[Marc Johnson (musician)|Marc Johnson]] on Johnson's release ''[[The Sound of Summer Running]]'' (Verve, 1998). The next year, he recorded a [[Jim Hall & Pat Metheny|guitar duet]] with [[Jim Hall (musician)|Jim Hall]] (Telarc, 1999), whose work has strongly influenced Metheny's. He collaborated with Polish jazz and folk singer [[Anna Maria Jopek]] on ''[[Upojenie]]'' (Warner Poland, 2002) and [[Bruce Hornsby]] on ''[[Hot House (Bruce Hornsby album)|Hot House]]'' (RCA, 2005). He has also played on albums by his older brother, [[Mike Metheny]], a jazz trumpeter, among them ''Day In – Night Out'' (1986) and ''Close Enough for Love'' (2001).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikemetheny.com |title=Mike Metheny official website |publisher=Mikemetheny.com |date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=2011-07-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.methenymusicfoundation.org/history.htm |title=Metheny Music Foundation, Inc |publisher=Methenymusicfoundation.org |date=July 23, 2010 |access-date=2011-07-19 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721193652/http://www.methenymusicfoundation.org/history.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Influences==
As a young guitarist, Metheny tried to sound like [[Wes Montgomery]], but when he was 14 or 15, he decided it was disrespectful to imitate him.<ref name='Ratliff2005'>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Ratliff |title=Pat Metheny: An Idealist Reconnects With His Mentors |date=February 25, 2005 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/25/arts/music/25meth.html?pagewanted=4 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2010-04-11 }}</ref> In the liner notes on the 2-disc Montgomery compilation ''Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sides'', Metheny is quoted as saying, "''[[Smokin' at the Half Note]]'' is the absolute greatest jazz-guitar album ever made. It is also the record that taught me how to play."

Ornette Coleman's 1968 album ''[[New York Is Now!]]'' inspired Metheny to find his own direction.<ref name='Kitts2002'>{{cite book |editor1=Jeff Kitts |editor2=Brad Tolinski |title=Guitar World Presents 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |date=October 1, 2002 |location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin |page=70 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fg838EcECUwC |isbn=978-0-634-04619-3 }}</ref> He has recorded Coleman's compositions on a number of albums, starting with a medley of "Round Trip" and "Broadway Blues" on his debut album, ''Bright Size Life'' (1976). He worked extensively with Coleman's collaborators, such as [[Charlie Haden]], [[Dewey Redman]], and [[Billy Higgins]], and he recorded the album ''[[Song X]]'' (1986) with Coleman and toured with him.

Metheny made three albums on ECM with Brazilian vocalist and percussionist [[Naná Vasconcelos]]. He lived in Brazil from the late 1980s to the early 1990s and performed with several local musicians, such as [[Milton Nascimento]] and [[Toninho Horta]]. He played with [[Antônio Carlos Jobim]] as a tribute, in a live performance in ''[[Carnegie Hall]] Salutes The Jazz Masters: Verve 50th Anniversary''.

He is also a fan of several pop music artists, especially singer/songwriters including [[James Taylor]] (after whom he named the song "James" on ''Offramp''); [[Bruce Hornsby]], [[Cheap Trick]], and [[Joni Mitchell]], with whom he performed on her ''[[Shadows and Light (Joni Mitchell album)|Shadows and Light]]'' ([[Asylum Records|Asylum]]/[[Elektra Records|Elektra]], 1980) live tour. Metheny is also fond of [[Buckethead]]'s music. He also worked with, sponsored or helped to make recordings of singer/songwriters from all over the world, such as [[Pedro Aznar]] (Argentina), [[Akiko Yano]] (Japan), [[David Bowie]] (UK), [[Silje Nergaard]] (Norway), [[Achinoam Nini|Noa]] (Israel), and [[Anna Maria Jopek]] (Poland).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patmetheny.com/pat_recommends.cfm |title=Pat Metheny |publisher=Pat Metheny |access-date=2011-07-19}}</ref>

Two of Metheny's albums, ''[[The Way Up]]'' (2005) and ''[[Orchestrion (album)|Orchestrion]]'' (2010), show the influence of American minimalist composer [[Steve Reich]], with rhythmic figures structured around a recurring pulse. Decades earlier, Metheny had appeared on Reich's album ''[[Different Trains]]'' (Nonesuch, 1987) performing Reich's composition, ''[[Electric Counterpoint]]''.

==Guitars==
===Pikasso===
{{Main|Pikasso guitar}}
[[File:MethenyPikasso.JPG|thumb|Metheny with the 42-string Pikasso]]

Metheny plays a custom-made 42-string [[Pikasso guitar|Pikasso I]] created by Canadian luthier [[Linda Manzer]]. He plays it on "Into the Dream" and on the albums ''[[Quartet (Pat Metheny album)|Quartet]]'' (1996), ''[[Imaginary Day]]'' (1997), ''[[Jim Hall & Pat Metheny]]'' (1999), ''[[Trio → Live]]'' (Warner Bros., 2000), and the ''Speaking of Now Live'' and ''Imaginary Day Live'' DVDs. Metheny has used the guitar in his guest appearances on other artists' albums. He used the Pikasso on ''[[Metheny/Mehldau Quartet]]'' (Nonesuch, 2007), his second collaboration with pianist [[Brad Mehldau]] and his trio sidemen [[Larry Grenadier]] and [[Jeff Ballard (musician)|Jeff Ballard]]; the Pikasso is featured on Metheny's composition "The Sound of Water". Manzer has made many acoustic guitars for Metheny, including a mini guitar, an acoustic sitar guitar, and the [[baritone guitar]], which Metheny used for the recording of ''[[One Quiet Night]]'' (2003).

===Guitar synthesizer===
[[File:Pat Metheny Venice.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Metheny with the guitar synthesizer]]

Metheny was one of the first jazz guitarists to use the [[Roland GR-300]] [[guitar synthesizer]]. He commented, "you have to stop thinking about it as a guitar, because it no longer is a guitar." He approaches it as if he were a horn player, and he prefers the "high trumpet" sound of the instrument.<ref name=webb/> One of the patches that he has often used is on Roland's JV-80 "Vintage Synth" expansion card, titled "Pat's GR-300".{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}} In addition to the Roland, he uses a [[Synclavier]] controller.<ref name=webb>{{cite news|last=Webb|first=Nicholas|title=Interview with Pat Metheny|newspaper=Guitarist|url=http://www.joness.com/gr300/metheny.htm|date=May 1985}}</ref>

===Six-string and twelve-string electric===
Metheny was an early proponent of the [[twelve-string guitar]] in jazz. During his 1975 tour with the [[Gary Burton]] "Quartet" (five people, including Metheny), he primarily played electric twelve-string guitar against the six-string work of resident guitarist [[Mick Goodrick]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cooke|first1=Mervyn |title=Pat Metheny: The ECM years, 1975–1984 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2017 |pages=38 }}</ref>

Prior to Metheny, [[Pat Martino]] had used the electric twelve-string guitar on a studio album, ''[[Desperado (Pat Martino album)|Desperado]]'', and [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]] had used a double-neck electric guitar with the [[Mahavishnu Orchestra]]. [[Ralph Towner]] was perhaps the first<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fretboardjournal.com/features/focused-an-appreciation-of-the-genre-bending-guitar-work-of-ralph-towner/ |title=Focused: An appreciation of the genre-bending guitar work of Ralph Towner |magazine=Fretboard Journal |last=Cline |first=Nels |date=August 2017|access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref> to use acoustic twelve-string guitar extensively in jazz ("The Moors", from [[Weather Report]]'s ''[[I Sing the Body Electric (album)|I Sing the Body Electric]]'', Columbia, 1972), and [[Larry Coryell]] and [[Philip Catherine]] made extensive use of acoustic twelve string in alternate tunings at the 1975 [[Montreux Jazz Festival]], later releasing some of the material on their 1976 ''[[Twin House (Larry Coryell & Philip Catherine album)|Twin House]]'' album.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

Metheny used a twelve-string guitar on his debut album, ''Bright Size Life'' (1976), including alternate tuning on "Sirabhorn", and on later albums ("San Lorenzo", from ''Pat Metheny Group'' and ''Travels'').{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

===Use of hollow-body electric guitars===
[[File:Jazzvitoria Metheny.jpg|thumb|Metheny with his Ibanez PM signature model]]

At the age of 12, Metheny bought a natural finish [[Gibson ES-175]] that he played throughout his early career, until it was retired in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://equipboard.com/pros/pat-metheny/gibson-es-175-metheny-s|title=Gibson ES-175 – Metheny's|publisher=Equipboard, Inc.|access-date=12 February 2018}}</ref> After his first tour of Japan in 1978, he began an association with [[Ibanez]] guitars, who have since produced a range of PM signature models.<ref>{{cite news|last=Levy|first=Adam|title=Pat Metheny talks trios, tones & technique |newspaper=Guitar Player Magazine|url=http://hepcat1950.com/pmiv20010300al.html|date=Mar 2001}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Metheny is the younger brother of jazz [[flugelhorn]]ist [[Mike Metheny]]. He lives in [[New York City]] with his wife, Latifa (née Azhar), and three children. Latifa has been credited for album photography.<ref name="researchgate-324040116">{{cite journal |last1=Ruggeri |first1=Paolo |title='Beyond the Missouri Sky' – Pat Metheny in acustico |journal=Theses |date=March 2018 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324040116 |access-date=3 July 2022 |publisher=[[Università Iuav di Venezia]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Pat Metheny Group |title=Imaginary Day – CD (1997, Digipak) |url=https://www.musik-sammler.de/release/pat-metheny-group-imaginary-day-cd-1064933/ |website=Musik-Sammler.de |access-date=3 July 2022 |language=de}}</ref><ref name="guitarrecords-12312">{{cite web |last1=Metheny |first1=Pat |title=A Map Of The World |url=https://www.guitarrecords.jp/product/12312 |website=Guitar Records |access-date=3 July 2022 |language=ja}}</ref> Metheny was once in a relationship with [[Sônia Braga]].<ref name="globo-Metheny-Braga">{{cite news |title=Pat Metheny fala sobre relação com a ex-namorada Sônia Braga: 'Vou amá-la para sempre' |url=https://gshow.globo.com/programas/conversa-com-bial/noticia/pat-metheney-fala-sobre-relacao-com-a-ex-namorada-sonia-braga-vou-ama-la-para-sempre.ghtml |access-date=3 July 2022 |work=[[TV Globo]] |date=2021-06-07 |language=pt-br}}</ref> Due to an unscheduled medical procedure he had to interrupt his concerts in China in may 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pat Metheny : News: Tour Update |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515180628/https://www.patmetheny.com/news/full_display.cfm?id=155 |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.patmetheny.com}}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==
=== Grammy Awards ===
Pat Metheny is the only person to have won Grammy Awards in ten different categories.<ref name="Official awards">{{cite web|title=Pat Metheny: Awards| url= http://www.patmetheny.com/awards/|website= PatMetheny.com|access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=pat+metheny&title=&year=All&genre=All |title=Past Winners Search |publisher= [[Recording Academy]] |website= grammy.com |access-date=September 25, 2011}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Category
! Title
! Note
|-
| 2013
| [[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album|Best Jazz Instrumental Album]]
| ''[[Unity Band]]''
| With the Unity Band
|-
| 2012
| [[Grammy Award for Best New Age Album|Best New Age Album]]
| [[What's It All About (Pat Metheny album)|''What's It All About'']]
|
|-
| 2008
| Best Jazz Instrumental Album
| [[Pilgrimage (Michael Brecker album)|''Pilgrimage'']]
| (Won as producer)
|-
| 2006
| [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album|Best Contemporary Jazz Album]]
| ''[[The Way Up]]''
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| 2004
| Best New Age Album
| ''[[One Quiet Night]]''
|
|-
| 2003
| Best Contemporary Jazz Album
| ''[[Speaking of Now]]''
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| 2001
| [[Grammy Award for Best Improvised Jazz Solo|Best Jazz Instrumental Solo]]
| [[Trio 99 - 00 (album)|"(Go) Get It"]]
| (Won as soloist)
|-
| 2000
| Best Jazz Instrumental Performance
| [[Like Minds (album)|''Like Minds'']]
| With [[Chick Corea]], [[Dave Holland (bassist)|Dave Holland]], [[Gary Burton]], [[Roy Haynes]]
|-
| 1999
| [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance|Best Rock Instrumental Performance]]
| [[Imaginary Day|"The Roots of Coincidence"]]
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| 1999
| Best Contemporary Jazz Performance
| ''[[Imaginary Day]]''
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| 1998
| Best Jazz Instrumental Performance
| ''[[Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories)|Beyond the Missouri Sky]]''
| With [[Charlie Haden]]
|-
| 1996
| Best Contemporary Jazz Performance
| ''[[We Live Here]]''
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| 1994
| Best Contemporary Jazz Performance
| ''[[The Road to You]]''
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| 1993
| Best Contemporary Jazz Performance
| [[Secret Story (album)|''Secret Story'']]
|
|-
| 1991
| [[Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition|Best Instrumental Composition]]
| [[Question and Answer (album)|"Change of Heart"]]
| (Won as composer)
|-
| 1990
| [[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance|Best Jazz Fusion Performance]]
| ''[[Letter from Home (album)|Letter from Home]]''
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| 1988
| Best Jazz Fusion Performance
| ''[[Still Life (Talking)]]''
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| 1985
| Best Jazz Fusion Performance
| [[First Circle (album)|''First Circle'']]
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| 1984
| Best Jazz Fusion Performance
| [[Travels (Pat Metheny Group album)|''Travels'']]
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| 1983
| Best Jazz Fusion Performance
| ''[[Offramp (album)|Offramp]]''
| Pat Metheny Group
|}

=== Additional awards ===
Partial list of other (non-Grammy) awards and honors for Pat Metheny:
* ''[[DownBeat]]'' Hall of Fame, 2013
* Miles Davis Award, [[Montreal International Jazz Festival]], 1995
* Orville H. Gibson Award, 1996
* Honorary Doctorate of Music from [[Berklee College of Music]], 1996<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patmetheny.com/bio/|title=Pat Metheny : Bio|website= PatMetheny.com |access-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref>
* Guitarist of the Year, ''[[DownBeat]]'' Readers' Poll, 1983, 1986–1991, 2007–2016
* Best Jazz Guitarist, ''[[Guitar Player]]'' magazine, 1982, 1983, 1986
* Best Jazz Guitarist, ''Guitar Player'' magazine Readers' Poll, 1984, 1985, 2009
* Best Acoustic Guitarist, ''[[Acoustic Guitar (magazine)|Acoustic Guitar]]'' magazine Readers' Poll, 2009
* [[Echo Award]] for Best Guitar Instrumentalist – International for ''TAP: John Zorn's Book of Angels Vol. 20'', 2014
* Echo Award, International Ensemble of the Year, ''Kin'', 2015
* Missouri Music Hall of Fame, 2016
* Lifetime Achievement Award, JazzFM, 2018
* Elected into Royal Swedish Academy of Music, 2018
* 2018 [[NEA Jazz Masters]], 2017<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nonesuch.com/journal/pat-metheny-named-2018-nea-jazz-master-2017-06-13|title=Pat Metheny Named 2018 NEA Jazz Master |website=Nonesuch.com|date=June 13, 2017 | publisher= Nonesuch Records |language=en|access-date=2017-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url= https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/pat-metheny|title=Pat Metheny|date=2017-06-12|website= arts.gov| publisher= [[National Endowment for the Arts]]| location= US |language=en|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref>
* Honorary Doctorate of Music from [[McGill University]], 2019

== Discography ==
{{Main|Pat Metheny discography}}

{{div col}}
* ''[[Bright Size Life]]'' ([[ECM Records|ECM]], 1976) – rec. 1975
* ''[[Watercolors (Pat Metheny album)|Watercolors]]'' (ECM, 1977)
* ''[[Pat Metheny Group (album)|Pat Metheny Group]]'' (ECM, 1978)
* ''[[New Chautauqua]]'' (ECM, 1979) – rec. 1978
* ''[[American Garage]]'' (ECM, 1979)
* ''[[80/81]]'' (ECM, 1980)
* ''[[As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls]]'' with [[Lyle Mays]] (ECM, 1981) – rec. 1980
* ''[[Offramp (album)|Offramp]]'' (ECM, 1982) – rec. 1981
* ''[[Travels (Pat Metheny Group album)|Travels]]'' (ECM, 1983) – live rec. 1982
* ''[[Rejoicing (album)|Rejoicing]]'' (ECM, 1984) – rec. 1983
* ''[[First Circle (album)|First Circle]]'' (ECM, 1984)
* ''[[The Falcon and the Snowman (album)|The Falcon and the Snowman]]'' ([[EMI]], 1985) – soundtrack rec. 1984
* ''[[Song X]]'' with [[Ornette Coleman]] ([[Geffen Records|Geffen]], 1986) – rec. 1985
* ''[[Still Life (Talking)]]'' (Geffen, 1987)
* ''[[Letter from Home (album)|Letter from Home]]'' (Geffen, 1989)
* ''[[Question and Answer (album)|Question and Answer]]'' (Geffen, 1990) – rec. 1989
* ''[[Secret Story (album)|Secret Story]]'' (Geffen, 1992)
* ''[[Flower Hour]]'' (Beech Master, 1992) – live rec. 1990 
* ''[[The Road to You]]'' (Geffen, 1993) – live rec. 1991
* ''[[Zero Tolerance for Silence]]'' (Geffen, 1994) – rec. 1992
* ''[[I Can See Your House from Here (John Scofield and Pat Metheny album)|I Can See Your House from Here]]'' with [[John Scofield]] ([[Blue Note]], 1994)
* ''[[Dream Teams]]'' with [[Sonny Rollins]] trio (Bugsy, 1994) – live rec. 1983, 86 
* ''[[We Live Here]]'' (Geffen, 1995) – rec. 1994 
* ''[[Quartet (Pat Metheny album)|Quartet]]'' (Geffen, 1996)
* ''[[Passaggio per il paradiso]]'' ([[MCA Records|MCA]], 1996) – soundtrack 
* ''[[Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories)]]'' with [[Charlie Haden]] ([[Verve Records|Verve]], 1997)
* ''[[Imaginary Day]]'' ([[Warner Bros]]., 1997)
* ''[[Like Minds (album)|Like Minds]]'' ([[Concord Jazz]], 1998) – rec. 1997
* ''[[Jim Hall & Pat Metheny]]'' ([[Telarc]], 1999) – rec. 1998
* ''[[A Map of the World (album)|A Map of the World]]'' (Warner Bros., 1999) – soundtrack 
* ''[[Trio 99 – 00|Trio 99 → 00]]'' (Warner Bros., 2000) 
* ''[[Trio → Live]]'' (Warner Bros., 2000) 
* ''[[Speaking of Now]]'' (Warner Bros., 2002)
* ''[[One Quiet Night]]'' (Warner Bros., 2003)
* ''[[The Way Up]]'' ([[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]], 2005) – rec. 2003–04
* ''[[Metheny/Mehldau]]'' (Nonesuch, 2006)
* ''[[Metheny Mehldau Quartet]]'' (Nonesuch, 2007)
* ''[[Day Trip (album)|Day Trip]]''<ref name="Niles" />{{rp|155–158}} (Nonesuch, 2008) 
* ''[[Tokyo Day Trip]]'' (Nonesuch, 2008) 
* ''[[Upojenie]]'' with [[Anna Maria Jopek]] (Nonesuch, 2008)
* ''[[Quartet Live]]'' with [[Gary Burton]] (Concord Jazz, 2009) 
* ''[[Orchestrion (album)|Orchestrion]]'' (Nonesuch, 2010)
* ''[[What's It All About (Pat Metheny album)|What's It All About]]'' (Nonesuch, 2011)
* ''[[Unity Band]]'' with [[Chris Potter (jazz saxophonist)|Chris Potter]] (Nonesuch, 2012)
* ''[[The Orchestrion Project]]'' (Nonesuch, 2013) 
* ''[[Tap: Book of Angels Volume 20]]'' ([[Tzadik Records|Tzadik]]/Nonesuch, 2013)
* ''[[Kin (Pat Metheny album)|KIN (←→)]]'' (Nonesuch, 2014) 
* ''[[Hommage à Eberhard Weber]]'' (ECM, 2015) 
* ''[[The Unity Sessions]]'' (Nonesuch, 2016) 
* ''[[Cuong Vu Trio Meets Pat Metheny]]'' (Nonesuch, 2016)<ref name="AM discog">{{cite web |title=Pat Metheny {{!}} Album Discography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/pat-metheny-mn0000179698/discography |website=AllMusic |access-date=11 January 2019 |language=en-us}}</ref>
* ''[[From This Place]]'' (Nonesuch, 2020)
* ''[[Road to the Sun]]'' (Modern Recordings, 2021)
* ''Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)'' (Modern Recordings, 2021) – live rec. 2019
* ''Dream Box'' (Modern Recordings, 2023) 
* ''[[MoonDial]]'' (Modern Recordings, 2024) 
{{div col end}}

==Collaborators==
The following is a partial list of Metheny's notable collaborators:<ref name="Forte">{{cite web|last1=Forte|first1=Dan|title=Pat Metheny: The Jazz Guitar Prodigy at 60|url=https://www.vintageguitar.com/26318/pat-metheny-2/|website=Vintage Guitar|access-date=13 January 2017|date=1 December 2016}}</ref>

{{columns-list |colwidth=13em|
* [[Lyle Mays]]
* [[Bill Frisell]]
* [[Billy Higgins]]
* [[Brad Mehldau]]
* [[Charlie Haden]]
* [[Chick Corea]]
* [[Dave Holland (bassist)|Dave Holland]]
* [[Dewey Redman]]
* [[Eberhard Weber]]
* [[Herbie Hancock]]
* [[Jack DeJohnette]]
* [[Jaco Pastorius]]
* [[Jim Hall (musician)|Jim Hall]]
* [[John Scofield]]
* [[Joni Mitchell]]
* [[David Bowie]]
* [[Joshua Redman]]
* [[Marc Johnson (musician)|Marc Johnson]]
* [[Michael Brecker]]
* [[Mick Goodrick]]
* [[Roy Haynes]]
* [[Steve Swallow]]
* [[Tony Williams (drummer)|Tony Williams]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Florin, Ludovic, and Ségala, Pascal. ''Pat Metheny, Artiste multiplunique'' (in French). Éditions du Layeur, 2017. ({{ISBN|978-2-915126-35-8}})
* Goins, Wayne E. ''Emotional Response to Music: Pat Metheny's Secret Story''. [[Lewiston, New York]]: [[Edwin Mellen Press]], 2001.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.patmetheny.com Official site]
* {{discogs artist|20185-Pat-Metheny|Pat Metheny}}
* {{AllMusic|artist|pat-metheny-mn0000179698|Pat Metheny}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0582533|name=Pat Metheny}}
* [http://www.jazzguitar.be/guitar_rig_pat_metheny.html Pat Metheny's guitar rig]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110927021932/http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/artists/artist.aspx?id=3652 Pat Metheny's artist file at the Montreal International Jazz Festival's website]

{{Pat Metheny}}
{{Goya Award for Best Original Score}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Metheny, Pat}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Lee's Summit, Missouri]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:American jazz guitarists]]
[[Category:Jazz fusion guitarists]]
[[Category:Berklee College of Music faculty]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:University of Miami alumni]]
[[Category:University of Miami faculty]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Missouri]]
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[[Category:Pat Metheny Group members]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from Missouri]]
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[[Category:DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame members]]
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